Multiple agencies continue to search for missing Lyft driver

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, North Carolina. On Saturday, an interagency search for a missing Palm Beach Gardens Lyft driver continues across several states, driven by a man arrested in North Carolina and charged with the murder of a man in Vochula.

Gary Levin, 74, has been missing since Monday when his family said he picked up a client in Delray Beach.

On Saturday, Levine’s daughter, Lindsey DiBetta, posted a message on Facebook.

His red 2022 Kia Stinger was spotted in Miami, then in the countryside north of Lake Okeechobee, and then in Gainesville.

On Thursday evening, Matthew Scott Flores, 35, was spotted in a car and detained in North Carolina after a three-county search that began in Florida. On Friday, Flores appeared before Judge Michelle McIntyre in Rutherford County, 72 miles west of Charlotte.

WHNS

He is accused of killing Jose Carlos Martinez in Hardy County. Stephanie Velgara, the woman authorities say helped Flores escape police, will be charged ex post as an accessory to Martinez’s murder.

Flores is being held on $2 million bail for a getaway warrant in Florida, as well as second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm, firing a firearm in public, evading law enforcement, speeding, and drunk driving. Flores has another hearing scheduled on February 22.

On Saturday, Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg did not return calls or messages from North Carolina-based WPTV reporter Dave Bonman.

Flores, from Hendersonville, 44 miles west of Rutherford County, has an extensive record of drug possession and running from the police.

WPTV visited a house connected to Flores relatives who once lived in Hendersonville and found it boarded up and abandoned.

Neighbors told WPTV they don’t remember Flores or his relatives, but say the neighborhood has improved since Hendersonville built a new police department in 2021, after Flores’ family members moved to Florida.

VPTV

Levin’s car was spotted Thursday night in North Carolina after the US Marshal’s regional task force asked authorities to be on the lookout.

Flores is suspected of murder on January 24, almost a week before Levine disappeared on Monday.

Palm Beach Gardens Police Department

Authorities are investigating how Flores got the car — Levin’s family said they don’t know if Flores was the passenger Levin picked up at Delray Beach.

Vochula is about 70 miles southeast of Tampa and about 127 miles northwest of Levin’s home in Palm Beach Gardens.

DiBetta told The Associated Press that the family learned that Levin took the unknown client to Okeechobee, a small town on the shores of Lake Okeechobee, and completed the trip sometime after 4:00 pm on Monday.

He also spoke to friends on the phone around 4:00 pm that day.

DiBetta said her father was a coach salesman before he retired to Florida and that his car “was his brainchild”.

The missing man’s brother, 80-year-old Donald Levin, told WPTV in a phone interview Friday night: “I hope he’s there and we’ll find him alive by some miracle.”

The brothers grew up sharing a room in Philadelphia.

Nephew of Gary Levin

Both share a love for the Philadelphia Eagles and enjoy watching Sunday games at Donald’s house.

Donald said his brother enjoys meeting new people, including being a Lyft driver.

“I think most of the passengers liked it, and I think there were some who wanted a quiet ride, but that was not what you got with Gary,” said Donald Levin.

On Friday, WPTV visited Levin’s home and found a neighbor’s handwritten note taped to his garage door.

The note read: “Gary, we love you and pray that you return safely to your family.”

Eric Pasquarelli/WPTV

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has set up a helpline for this case at 239-278-7170 or you can contact Palm Beach Gardens Police at 561-799-4445.