CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Just days after a Coral Gables couple was killed in a helicopter crash thousands of miles away in Kenya, their Florida home was allegedly ransacked, with police saying thieves stole valuable artwork, vehicles, personal documents and other belongings.
The home in the 500 block of Valencia Avenue belonged to Henry Parra, 55, and Adam Hlavaty, 42. The couple was among seven people killed in a helicopter crash last Wednesday in northern Kenya’s Samburu County.
According to Coral Gables police, the burglary occurred sometime between Thursday and Saturday, shortly after news of the deadly crash.
Investigators later arrested Geybert Alexander Garcia, 40, and Melany Perdomo, 24, a couple who live together in northwest Miami-Dade County.
Police accused the pair of entering the residence and removing numerous belongings belonging to the deceased couple.
Artwork, Jewelry and Cars Reportedly Stolen
According to an arrest report, the suspects allegedly ransacked the residence and took personal and business documents, jewelry, electronics and artwork.
Among the most valuable items taken were the couple’s vehicles, including a 2023 Land Rover and a 2020 Porsche Taycan. The burglary was discovered Sunday when the couple’s housekeeper arrived at the residence.
Investigators then began tracking some of the stolen property.
A signal from the couple’s stolen MacBook and location information connected to the stolen Range Rover eventually led investigators to a home in the 8300 block of Northwest 195th Terrace, where Garcia and Perdomo lived.
Police confirmed the stolen vehicles were parked outside the residence before obtaining a search warrant.
Police Find Stolen Artwork Worth More Than $500,000
Coral Gables police and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies executed the search warrant Tuesday. Investigators said Garcia attempted to hide in a closet while officers located Perdomo in an upstairs bedroom.
Inside the home, officers reportedly discovered numerous stolen documents belonging to Parra and Hlavaty, along with the key fob for the Range Rover.
But the discovery of artwork was among the most significant findings.
According to the arrest report, officers recovered several valuable pieces of artwork, including a sculpture belonging to the victims that was valued at more than approximately $500,000.
The search also allegedly uncovered items and instruments that investigators said were consistent with the production or alteration of fraudulent identification documents and personal identifying information.
Police also found a Ford F-250 with an altered vehicle identification number, which investigators determined had been reported stolen from Indian River County.
Investigators Have Not Explained How Suspects Knew About Deaths
The arrest report references the deadly helicopter crash in Kenya, but it does not explain whether investigators believe Garcia and Perdomo knew about Parra and Hlavaty’s deaths before allegedly entering the home.
That detail could be significant because the burglary happened only days after the crash.
The couple had been killed along with five other people in the helicopter accident in Samburu County, a region in northern Kenya. The crash also involved other people with South Florida connections.
Authorities have not publicly established how the suspects allegedly became aware that the residence could be vulnerable.
Two Suspects Face Multiple Felony Charges
Jail records show Garcia and Perdomo were each arrested on multiple felony charges, including burglary and grand theft auto.
Both were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Wednesday morning, with their bonds listed as “to be set.” Perdomo’s jail record also contained an immigration hold, although her arrest report listed her as having been born in Florida.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the items recovered from the suspects’ residence and determining the full extent of the alleged theft.
For the families of Parra and Hlavaty, the burglary adds another painful chapter to a tragedy that began with the fatal crash in Kenya.
What do you think about the alleged burglary happening just days after the couple’s deaths? Share your thoughts in the comments.
