A heartbreaking tragedy involving two South Florida residents killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya has been followed by an equally disturbing burglary at their home, with police arresting two suspects accused of stealing luxury vehicles, jewellery, electronics and valuable artwork.
Henry Parra, 55, and Adam Hlavaty, 42, were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed in Samburu County, northern Kenya, on August 19, 2026.
The aircraft was carrying tourists when it went down near Mount Ololokwe, with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
But as relatives and friends began coming to terms with the devastating news, their Coral Gables, Florida, residence was allegedly targeted by burglars.
According to Coral Gables police and US media reports, the break-in happened between August 20 and August 22, less than 24 hours after news of the couple’s deaths emerged.
Their housekeeper later discovered that the residence had been ransacked.
Luxury vehicles among items stolen
Investigators said the suspects allegedly removed numerous belongings from the Valencia Avenue property, including personal and business documents, electronics, jewellery and artwork.
The thieves also allegedly drove away with two luxury vehicles belonging to the couple, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover and a 2020 Porsche Taycan.
One of the most valuable items reportedly taken from the residence was an artwork sculpture valued at more than $500,000, equivalent to roughly Sh64 million.
Police later recovered the sculpture during their investigation.
The burglary has attracted particular attention because of its timing.
The couple had only recently died thousands of kilometres away in Kenya when their Florida home was allegedly targeted.
A family friend told a Miami court that the burglary compounded the grief being experienced by the victims’ relatives, saying the property had been damaged and security equipment had allegedly been ripped away.
Stolen MacBook helps police crack the case
The investigation took an unexpected technological turn after detectives were able to trace one of the stolen devices.
Police said a location ping from the couple’s stolen Apple MacBook led investigators to a residence in the Miami-Dade area.
Investigators also used location information from the stolen Range Rover to establish where some of the property had been taken.
After confirming the vehicles were at the location, detectives obtained a search warrant.
Inside the property, officers allegedly discovered documents belonging to Parra and Hlavaty, the Range Rover’s key fob and several pieces of artwork believed to have been taken from the victims’ home.
The technological trail ultimately led authorities to two suspects identified as 40-year-old Geybert Alexander Garcia and 24-year-old Melany Perdomo.
Police said Garcia was found attempting to conceal himself inside a closet when officers entered the residence, while Perdomo was located upstairs.
Both were taken into custody.
Suspects face serious charges
Garcia and Perdomo were arrested on multiple felony allegations, including burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
They appeared before a Miami-Dade judge as investigators presented evidence linking them to the alleged burglary.
The court proceedings took another dramatic turn when Garcia’s lawyer presented a notarised document that allegedly gave him permission to possess the vehicles and enter the property.
However, prosecutors questioned the authenticity of the document, while a police detective told the court he believed it was fraudulent.
A family friend also strongly disputed the suggestion that the deceased couple could have authorised Garcia to use their vehicles.
Judge Mindy Glazer appeared sceptical of the document and ordered Garcia and Perdomo to remain in custody without bond, according to reports. Perdomo was also subject to an immigration hold.
A tragedy that crossed continents
The burglary has added another layer of shock to the deaths of Parra and Hlavaty, whose lives ended during a safari trip in Kenya.
The August 19 crash claimed seven lives, including South Florida figures such as Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez and Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte.
Ecuadorian couple Michele Sensi-Contugi and Stephany Hollihan and pilot Josh Outram were also among those killed.
The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was flying in northern Kenya when it crashed near Mount Ololokwe. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
For the families of Parra and Hlavaty, however, the tragedy did not end with the fatal crash.
As they mourned the sudden loss of their loved ones, they were confronted with news that their home had allegedly been broken into and their possessions taken.
The eventual recovery of the stolen property, helped by the digital trail left by a MacBook and the vehicle-tracking data from the Range Rover, has provided investigators with a crucial breakthrough as the criminal case moves through the courts.
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