According to a press release issued by the New York State Police (NYSP) on Thursday, March 20, a woman and her daughter, who was one year old at the time, were killed in a house fire that occurred at the couple’s Airbnb property in October 2024. The mother and her daughter were both charged with manslaughter.
Dennis Darcy, age 57, and Meredith Darcy, age 55, have been charged with two counts of manslaughter in the second degree, which is a Class C felony. These charges are in connection with the losses of Shannon Hubbard, age 35, and her daughter Margaret “Maggie” Hubbard, first grade.
On October 13, 2024, at around 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the rental property that the Darcys were living in in Clinton, New York, caught fire, resulting in the losses of Shannon and Maggie.
While they were on the patio at the time of the incident, Shannon and her husband John, who was 39 years old at the time, saw smoke. Shannon instructed her husband to phone 911 while she tried to save their children. Those that responded to the site were the New York State Police, the East Clinton Fire Department, and the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division.
In accordance with a press release issued by the New York State Police on October 15, first responders discovered Shannon and her children, Jack, who is three years old, and Maggie, on the second story of the property. Following that, they were taken from the residence.
After that, the family of four was taken to hospitals in the surrounding region, where Shannon and Maggie ultimately passed away as a result of injuries incurred in the fire.
According to the findings of an inquiry carried out by the New York State Police, the residence of the Darcys was not adequately equipped with smoke detectors that were in working order, and it also violated both fire and construction rules. According to the press release that was issued on March 20, “Fire investigators came to the conclusion that the fire originated in the chimney flue and was not something that was intentionally set.”
Justice Michael Hayes of Dutchess County has decided that each defendant will be required to post bail in the amount of $50,000 cash, $100,000 secured bond, or $200,000 partly secured bond. According to the New York Post, both individuals have paid bail. They are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, April 7th.
According to a statement that was released by the District Attorney of Dutchess County, Anthony Parisi, to WRGB-TV News on March 19, “This heartbreaking tragedy could have been prevented.” “The tragic losses of Shannon Hubbard and her young daughter in this senseless fire serve as a tragic reminder of the critical role smoke detectors play in protecting lives,” reads the statement issued by the fire department.
According to a statement sent out by Scott Carpenter, the Superintendent of the Monomoy Regional School District, on October 16, 2024, Shannon worked as a preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School.
“Shannon was a beloved member of our school community, a dedicated and engaged educator, and a truly kind person,” Carpenter said in a separate message posted on Instagram. “Shannon was a compassionate individuals.” “From the bottom of our hearts, our deepest condolences go out to her family, loved ones, colleagues, students, and anyone else who had the privilege of knowing her.”
Following the passing of Shannon and Maggie, the Chief of Police of the Dennis Police Department, John Brady, delivered a statement on behalf of Patrolman John Hubbard. The members of the Dennis Police Department, both male and female, are in grief on account of this devastating news. It is vital to note that Patrolman Hubbard is not only a respected member of our department and the community, but also a friend to us,” Brady wrote. Our sincere condolences go out to him and his family at this difficult time. Following the passing of Shannon and Maggie, the Greg Hill Foundation has been able to collect a total of $246,780 in order to provide financial assistance to the Hubbard family.
