A New York couple has been charged with manslaughter following a tragic house fire at their Airbnb rental in Clinton, N.Y., that claimed the lives of a mother and her 1-year-old daughter in October 2024. Dennis Darcy, 57, and Meredith Darcy, 55, face two counts of second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony, for the deaths of Shannon Hubbard, 35, and her daughter Margaret “Maggie” Hubbard, according to a March 20 news release from the New York State Police (NYSP).
The fatal fire occurred on October 13, 2024, around 10:30 p.m. EST. Shannon Hubbard and her husband, John, 39, were on the patio when they noticed smoke. Shannon urged her husband to call 911 while she rushed inside to rescue their children. Emergency responders, including the NYSP, East Clinton Fire Department, and the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, arrived to find Shannon and her children, Jack, 3, and Maggie, on the second floor of the burning home.
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All four family members were rescued and transported to nearby hospitals, but Shannon and Maggie succumbed to their injuries. An investigation revealed that the Darcys’ rental property lacked functional smoke detectors and violated fire and building codes. Fire investigators determined the blaze originated in the chimney flue and was accidental, according to the NYSP.
Dutchess County Judge Michael Hayes set bail at 50,000 cash, 50,000 cash,100,000 secured bond, or $200,000 partially secured bond for each defendant. Both Darcys posted bail, and their next court appearance is scheduled for April 7.
“This devastating tragedy could have been prevented,” Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi told WRGB-TV News on March 19. “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.”
Shannon Hubbard was a beloved preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School. In an October 16, 2024, statement, Monomoy Regional School District Superintendent Scott Carpenter described her as “a dedicated and engaged educator, and a truly kind person.”
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John Hubbard, a patrolman with the Dennis Police Department, received an outpouring of support from his colleagues. Police Chief John Brady expressed the department’s grief, stating, “Patrolman Hubbard is a valued member of our department and community, and more importantly, our friend. We extend our deepest sympathies to him and his family.”
A fundraiser organized by The Greg Hill Foundation has raised $246,780 to support the Hubbard family in the wake of the tragedy. The case continues to highlight the importance of fire safety measures in rental properties.
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