A New York couple is facing serious legal trouble after a tragic house fire claimed the lives of a mother and her young daughter last October.
Dennis and Meredith Darcy, both in their 50s, have been charged with two counts of manslaughter following the deaths of 35-year-old Shannon Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter, Maggie. The fire broke out on the night of October 13, 2024, at the Darcys’ Airbnb rental home in Clinton, New York, turning what should have been a peaceful stay into an unimaginable nightmare.
Shannon and her husband, John, were on the patio when they noticed smoke. Thinking fast, she told John to call 911 while she rushed inside to save their children, 3-year-old Jack and baby Maggie. Firefighters and emergency crews arrived to find the mother and children trapped on the second floor. They were pulled from the burning home and rushed to the hospital, but tragically, Shannon and Maggie did not survive their injuries.
An investigation later revealed that the rental home lacked working smoke detectors and violated multiple fire and building codes. Fire officials determined that the blaze started in the chimney flue and was accidental, but the absence of proper safety measures proved deadly.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi expressed his frustration over the preventable tragedy, saying, “The deaths of Shannon and her young daughter are a heartbreaking reminder of why smoke detectors are so important.”
The Darcys were arrested and appeared in court, where a judge set bail at $50,000 cash or a higher secured bond option. Both have since posted bail and are due back in court on April 7.
Shannon, a preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School, was remembered by her colleagues and students as a warm and dedicated educator. School district superintendent Scott Carpenter described her as “a beloved member of our community” whose kindness touched many lives.
John Hubbard, a police officer in Dennis, Massachusetts, has received an outpouring of support from his department and community. In a statement, Police Chief John Brady expressed his condolences, calling John “a valued officer, a dedicated father, and a friend.”
As the legal case unfolds, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety—and how the failure to follow basic precautions can lead to devastating consequences.
