Airbnb has had its share of problems recently, but this is a whole new level.
Boris and Lydie Lavenir, who are international visitors from the French Island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, were on vacation near West Palm Beach in Wellington with their children when they put their 19-month-old daughter Enora down for a nap in their Airbnb rental.
When they checked on her two hours later, they said she was blue and foam was coming out of her mouth. Paramedics were unable to save her.
To the family's shock and horror, the toxicology report on their daughter showed that she died from fentanyl exposure. Even 200 milligrams of this synthetic opioid can kill grown adults (for heart surgery, an adult might get 250 micrograms).
Here's a recent video where a police officer needed three doses of the anti-opioid drug Narcan from her coworkers to save her after she was exposed during a routine traffic stop.
[Warning: Distressing]
Police searched the Airbnb that the Lavenirs were renting, but found no source of the deadly drug, adding another layer of mystery on top of tragedy. The previous renters, however, admitting to throwing a party there where cocaine was present.
Neighbors also reported another large party at the residence two weeks before the incident.
Here is what the family's attorney, Thomas Scolaro, had to say:
"They had all plans for a nice, simple family vacation. Everything seemed fine. They put their baby down for a nap after she played in the house for a little bit and then go to wake her up a few hours later, and they were met with a lifeless body. It's just every parent's absolute worst nightmare," he explained.
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"[Fentanyl] was in that house. I understand nobody would want to admit to that. I wouldn't want to admit to killing a child either, but these folks did and they're going to have to answer for it," he said.
The family is suing Airbnb, the owner of the rental property, and the previous renters of the property (believing them to have left behind drugs or drug residue).
Airbnb responded to multiple media outlets with this line: "Our hearts go out to the Lavenir family and their loved ones for this devastating loss."
Lars Noah, a law professor at the University of Florida, says proving the previous renters did something illegal "sounds monstrously difficult under these circumstances."
Both the property owner and the previous renter pointed the finger at the parents in their response to the court. The renter says he booked through Vrbo and can't be held responsible for what happened after he left the property.
