A Cuban national is facing accusations of burglarizing a luxury townhouse in South Florida. This property belonged to a couple who tragically died in a helicopter crash in Kenya. Geybert Alexander Garcia, 40, and Melany Pavon-Perdomo, 24, were arrested on August 25. According to Miami-Dade court records, Garcia is a U.S. citizen.

An ICE spokesperson said Pavon-Perdomo was arrested for burglary and grand theft. Officers encountered her at the Turner Guilford Knight Center and lodged a detainer with local authorities.

Pavon-Perdomo is in the country illegally. She entered the U.S. at an unspecified time and has not adjusted her immigration status.

Details of the Burglary

The accused stole two luxury vehicles, personal documents, jewelry, and artwork. Among the items was a sculpture valued at over $500,000. The residence belonged to Henry Parra, 55, and Adam Hlavaty, 42. Both were among the seven people killed on August 19 in a helicopter crash in Kenya.

The property is worth nearly $3 million.

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The helicopter crash involved several notable individuals. Among them were Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte and José Suárez from Telemundo. Also on board were Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador’s intelligence chief, his wife Stephany Hollihan, and the pilot, Josh Outram.

Parra was a former Navy aviation support technician and co-founder of an aviation company. Hlavaty was a real estate executive and development company co-founder.

“They cherished their time together, traveling, making memories with family and friends,” a statement from friends read.

Investigation Details

The couple had left their South Florida home on August 12. They arranged for their housekeeper to visit daily. Police determined the home and its contents remained intact after the couple’s death.

Between August 20 and 22, the home was broken into, and many items were stolen. These included business documents, jewelry, electronics, and artwork. The theft also involved a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover and a 2020 Porsche Taycan.

Police used the Find My service from Apple to trace a stolen MacBook to a residence in northwest Miami-Dade. Data from a spare key and the Range Rover’s app also led to this location.

Officers found both vehicles parked near this residence. A search revealed Garcia hiding in a second-floor closet while Pavon-Perdomo was located in another bedroom.

Legal Actions and Future Proceedings

Officers recovered documents belonging to the victims and a Range Rover key fob. They also found several valuable artworks, including the sculpture. Materials for producing fraudulent identification documents were discovered.

Garcia faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, two counts of vehicle grand theft, and first-degree grand theft. Pavon-Perdomo faces similar charges. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 28.

“Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S. We will arrest and deport you,” an ICE spokesperson emphasized.