NEW ORLEANS — The families of three Americans -- including two from Virginia Beach -- who died while staying at an Airbnb in Mexico City announced plans of legal action against the international homestay service on Thursday.
On October 30, high school friends Jordan Marshall and Kandace Florence of Virginia Beach, along with Marshall’s friend from New Orleans, Courtez Hall, were found dead in their high-rise Airbnb apartment while visiting Mexico for "Dia de Muertos," or Day of the Dead.
It was later revealed that the three died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The victims' parents were in New Orleans Monday with nationally-recognized attorneys Michael Haggard and L. Chris Stewart, who has represented the families of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
Along with accepting full responsibility for their children's deaths, the families demanded that Airbnb mandate the installation of a carbon monoxide detector in every unit the company rents out.
"We're asking to sit down with Airbnb leadership to see if we can work out a way that this can be mandated to avoid having to do this legal battle and save lives, locally and internationally," said Stewart during Thursday's press conference. "A large percentage of Airbnb's business comes from international listings."
In a statement to 13News Now, a spokesperson for Airbnb said: "This is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones as they grieve such an unimaginable loss. Our priority right now is supporting those impacted as the authorities investigate what happened, and we stand ready to assist with their inquiries however we can."