NY Couple Charged with Manslaughter After Fatal Airbnb Fire

Dennis and Meredith Darcy face charges for allegedly misrepresenting safety features at their rental property, where a fire killed Shannon Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter.

• The October 2024 fire, caused by flames from the chimney flue, killed Shannon Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter at an Airbnb in Dutchess County, New York.
• Investigators determined the property lacked functional smoke detectors and violated New York State fire and building codes.
• Dennis and Meredith Darcy, the property owners, are accused of falsely claiming in their Airbnb listing that the home had smoke detectors.
• The Darcys were charged with manslaughter in March 2025 and released on bail pending an April 7 court appearance.
• The tragedy has reignited discussions about safety compliance in short-term rental properties and the responsibilities of hosts to prevent avoidable deaths.

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