Update: Daughter of missing Lyft driver, Gary Levin, confirms that her father has died
(Article updated: February 8, 2023) The human remains that were discovered in Okeechobee only two miles from where missing Lyft driver, 74-year-old Gary Levin was last known to be located have been identified. But yesterday, officials citing Marsy’s Law did not release the name associated with those remains. In a cruel and heart-breaking coincidence, on the same day that the Coroner’s final report was released to law enforcement, Levin’s daughter, Lindsay DiBetta, went on social media to announce that her father had passed away.
I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the outpouring love and prayers throughout this nightmare situation. At this time my family and I are asking for privacy so we can process the unfortunate information we have received.
My dad was truly a one of kind person, if you knew him or even met him once you know exactly what I mean when I say that. The stories I have received about him from friends, family and complete strangers over the last week have lifted me up more than you can ever realize.
We will be announcing information on services in my fathers honor in the next few days ~ Lindsay DiBetta
For more on the tragic passing of Gary Levin, see the video accompanying this article.
Ace News Today’s original reports on the missing Lyft driver appear below.
Update: Human remains found in general last known location of missing Lyft driver
(Article updated: February 5, 2023) On the evening of February 4, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office reported that human remains were found in a wooded area near a quiet Okeechobee neighborhood off Northeast 40th Avenue and State Road 70. Those remains were found earlier yesterday morning and only a few miles from where the missing Lyft driver, 74-year-old Gary Levin, dropped off a fare before he went missing on Monday, January 30.
Officials have stopped short of saying that the “badly composed” remains belonging to the white male discovered yesterday are actually those of Gary Levin. A coroner’s autopsy and report that should be able to identify those remains are not expected until Monday, February 6.
Matthew Flores, 35, who was found driving Levin’s car in North Carolina, remains in a Rutherford County, North Carolina jail. Ace News Today’s original report on the missing Lyft driver appears below in its entirety.
(Sources: CBS 12 News / WPTV-5)
(original article from February 3, 2023)
Murder suspect wanted in another case caught driving missing Lyft driver’s car
Gary Levin, a 74-year-old Lyft driver out of South Florida, has been missing since Monday, January 30, and was last seen picking up a fare in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Last night, it was reported that his car was spotted in North Carolina and that the man driving the car has been arrested. Unfortunately, Lyft driver Gary Levin is still missing.
Police in Palm Beach Gardens and Levin’s daughter, Lindsay DiBetta, were on social media Monday getting the word out about the missing Levin. The Police Department’s original Tweet said that Levin had been unreachable since January 20, but came back soon after to correct their statement to say that he had been unreachable since January 30.
Levin’s daughter has been keeping a running commentary on social media regarding her missing dad and confirmed that a man driving her father’s red 2022 Kia Stinger was arrested following a police chase in North Carolina last night – but that her dad was still missing.
2/2: Last calls made by my dad and Lyft locations point that my dad was last in Okeechobee FL around 4pm 1/30.
***the car was found in North Carolina, no sign of my dad. The driver is being questioned by authorities. ~ Lindsay DiBetta
WPTV reported that the man caught driving Levin’s car has been identified as Matthew Scott Flores, a man with a long and violent criminal history who had an active murder warrant out on him regarding another case in South Florida.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the car chase that ultimately stopped Flores as police chased him through three North Carolina counties. WSOC-TV reported the Rutherford County Sheriff as saying that Flores was wanted for at least one murder in Hardee County, Florida. Flores was hospitalized last night after a crash when the chase ended along Main Street and Hollis Road in Ellenboro.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) said on Friday, Jan. 27, Mathew Scott Flores, 35, had an active warrant out for his arrest in Hardee County, within the city of Wauchula.
According to the Wauchula Police Department, on Jan. 24, a man was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead a short time later. Photos from the sheriff’s office have the DCSO Dive Team looking for the suspected firearm used in the shooting. ~ WTVX
The search for the missing Gary Levin continues. For more on the story, including the arrest video of Matthew Scott Flores, see the video accompanying this article.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook. Twitter & Instagram
