Two South Florida residents have been arrested in connection with the alleged burglary of the Coral Gables home of two Americans killed in a helicopter crash in Samburu County, with police saying the suspects entered the home less than 24 hours after the deaths were announced.
Geybert Alexander Garcia, 40, and Melany Perdomo, 24, allegedly broke into the home of Henry Parra, 55, and Adam Hlavaty, 42, and took artwork, jewellery, electronics, personal and business documents and two vehicles.
Parra and Hlavaty were among seven people killed when the helicopter crashed during a safari in Kenya on August 19. Five Americans were among the victims.
The burglary took place between Thursday and Saturday, according to Coral Gables police. A signal from a stolen MacBook helped investigators identify Garcia and Perdomo.
The two face several charges, including burglary and grand theft auto. They appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer, who found probable cause and ordered them to stay away from the Coral Gables home. They were held without bond.
A family friend told the court that the suspects left extensive damage behind. The security system had been broken into, while the front door and lock were damaged and will have to be replaced.
The helicopter crashed at 9.13am while flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said.
Journalist José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49 and Telemundo Fort Myers-Naples, was among those killed. Suárez had previously worked at CBS Miami in the 1990s.
Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte also died in the crash, his family said in a statement, describing themselves as “devastated and heartbroken”.
CBS News Miami reported that a neighbour gave police surveillance footage showing the suspects leaving the property.
Hlavaty’s mother declined to comment when approached by CBS News Miami.
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