CBS4 Exclusive: Teen Investigated For Stealing Car From Airbnb Rental, Causing Fatal Crash
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A devoted South Florida father died last month when he was hit by the teenage driver of a stolen car. CBS4's Carey Codd has unraveled the bizarre and surprising details of how that teen got access to the car in the first place. It's the story of an Airbnb home rental, a teenage party and allegations of a cover up.
Charlie Ruiz's life ended on a busy stretch of Sample Road near 441 in late September.
He was driving home to spend time with his 13-year-old daughter.
Family members say Ruiz was a beloved man and a devoted father.
"He always had a hug for people who needed it," said Debbie Ruiz, Charlie's sister-in-law.
Debbie Ruiz said Charlie, who worked for Delta Airlines at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, doted on his daughter.
"He lived for her," Debbie Ruiz said. "That was his world and anyone would tell you that."
That's what makes what happened in late September so tragic.
A Coral Springs police photo of the aftermath of the crash shows Ruiz's white car smashed up after being hit and rolling over. The photo also shows a black BMW on its roof.
Police believe Gregory Holt, 18, was driving the BMW that hit and killed Ruiz.
The story of how Holt is accused of getting the BMW is a cautionary tale for anyone who's considered renting out their home.
Police say Holt was attending a party with other teens at a Coconut Creek house.
The homeowner was out of town at the time and rented the home on Airbnb.
Investigators believe Holt found the key to the BMW under the floor mat of the car.
One partygoer told police she "…saw (Holt) with the keys to the BMW, as he was flaunting them to the guest."
Investigative documents reveal that after the deadly crash, Holt apparently borrowed a cellphone from a witness, logged into several of his social media accounts and fled.
Holt is charged with stealing the car but has not been charged in the deadly accident at this point.
However, the police report makes clear that several witnesses put Holt behind the wheel. Investigators also say that Holt asked at least one person at the party to tell police someone else was driving the car.
This bizarre case motivated us to ask attorney Mark Eiglarsh about what people need to know before renting their home on a website like Airbnb.
Eiglarsh is not involved in the case but did speak about how homeowners can protect themselves from these types of situations.
"The homeowner needs to think what could possibly go wrong, turn the clock back and then eliminate any potential hazards," Eiglarsh told CBS 4 News.
When CBS 4 News initially reached out to Airbnb for a comment on this story, we were directed to some documents on the company's website regarding safety issues. The information online indicates that Airbnb will offer up to a $1 million insurance policy for damages or injuries that occur on the rental site.
After our story aired, an Airbnb representative reached out to CBS 4 News and provided the following statement:
"Like the entire Broward community, we are stunned and saddened by this unconscionable tragedy. It is disturbing that one person's reckless behavior deprived a teenage girl of her loving father. We hope the person who stole the car and committed this crime is brought to justice and held accountable.
Trust between hosts and guests is the bedrock principle of the Airbnb community, and that trust was violated in this case. As such, the individuals involved in this booking have been banned from the Airbnb platform and we are working with the host to best support her."
For the family of Charlie Ruiz, they want the person responsible for the crash held accountable.
"We want justice," Debbie Ruiz said. "There is no reason for Charlie to be where he is today. No reason."
