New York couple charged with Manslaughter after Cape Cod mother, young daughter, die in fire

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi announced today that Dennis Darcy, age 57, and Meredith Darcy, age 55, both from Hastings on Hudson, have been charged following an Indictment returned by a Dutchess County Grand Jury. Both Defendants were arraigned in Dutchess County Court on two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, in violation of Penal Law Section 125.15, subdivision (1), Class C Felonies.

District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “This devastating tragedy could have been prevented. The deaths of Shannon Hubbard and her young daughter in this senseless fire serve as a tragic reminder of the critical role smoke detectors play in safeguarding lives. Their absence was not only a failure of the necessary safety measures; the Grand Jury concluded, the Defendants were aware of and deliberately ignored the significant and unjustifiable risk of death that this absence created. As we mourn their loss, we must commit to ensuring that no other family faces this same devastating fate.”

The fatal incident occurred on October 13, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m., when John Hubbard IV, his wife Shannon Hubbard, and their two young children were occupying the residence located at 316-320 Clinton Hollow Road, Salt Point in the Town of Clinton. The Hubbards had rented the property from the Defendants though Airbnb from October 10, 2024, until October 14, 2024. The listing for the short-term rental indicated the presence of smoke detectors/alarms in the home.

That evening, the Hubbards noticed the smell of smoke while on the patio outside, while their children were asleep inside the home. Mr. Hubbard immediately called 911, while Mrs. Hubbard entered the home to rescue her children. Mr. Hubbard also attempted to rescue the children but was unsuccessful. First responders were eventually able to get Shannon Hubbard and the young children out of the home. However, Shannon Hubbard and her daughter both died as a result of the fire.

Hubbard was a preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School and The Greg Hill Foundation launched an online fundraiser for the family which has raised over $245,000 as of this writing.

Investigators later determined the residence the family was in had no smoke detectors or alarms.

Further investigation revealed that the property owned by the Defendants was not in compliance with fire, building, and residential codes for New York State, including the 2020 Residential Code Section R314.3, which mandates the installation of smoke detectors. Additionally, the Airbnb listing was false in claiming the presence of smoke detectors, and the Defendants did not possess a Short-Term Special Use Permit required by Clinton Zoning Law Section 250-69.1 to operate the rental. Through these violations, the Darcys are accused of recklessly causing the deaths of Shannon Hubbard and her daughter.

Judge Michael Hayes presided over the case set bail in the amount of $50,000 cash, $100,000 secured bond and $200,000 partially secured bond for each Defendant and scheduled the next appearance for April 7, 2025, before Judge Edward McLoughlin. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Anthony DeFazio and Assistant District Attorney Emily Wallshein.

As with any criminal case, the charges described above are merely accusations, and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.