‘None of it makes sense.’ Missing South Florida Lyft driver’s car used in N.C. chase
The car of a missing South Florida Lyft driver was at the center of a police chase in North Carolina Thursday, reports say. The driver was put in cuffs, and is wanted in Florida for murder. The missing man still hasn’t been found.
Gary Levin, 74, hasn’t been heard from since Monday after he completed a roughly three-hour, 100-mile ride from Delray Beach to Okeechobee, his family said. His car was seen heading north past Gainesville on Wednesday.
Rutherford County, North Carolina, Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg told the Associated Press Levin’s car, a 2022 red Kia Stinger, was seen in the state on Thursday evening after U.S. Marshals were alerted to be on the lookout.
Matthew Flores, 35, was behind the wheel of the car and is wanted in North Carolina and Florida for multiple felonies, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook. In Florida, he is facing charges of second-degree murder, possession of firearm by convicted felon, discharge firearm in public and violation of supervised pre-trial release. Details of the charges were not immediately available.
After a multi-county police chase, Flores was arrested by authorities and treated for suspected drug use.
Levin’s children are searching for answers on their father’s disappearance. His daughter Lindsay DiBetta, 36, told the Miami Herald that something wasn’t adding up.
“None of it makes any sense,” DiBetta said. “Not in my wildest dreams could I fathom something like this ever happening.”
Authorities told DiBetta that Levin started a Lyft ride around 1:30 p.m. Monday in Delray Beach. After picking up the passenger, he drove to Okeechobee, completing the ride around 4:30 p.m.
His phone then turned off shortly after and hasn’t come back on since.
Since retiring, Levin worked with Lyft for the last five years and is no stranger to completing long rides, some lasting up to two hours, DiBetta said. But he’s never cut off contact nor driven so far.
A Lyft spokesperson said in a statement, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Levin’s family and loved ones during this deeply concerning time. We’ve been in touch with his family to offer our support, as well as with law enforcement to assist with their investigation.”
The next morning, his car was seen going north past Sumter County and Gainesville, she said.
“There would be no one he is going and seeing that wouldn’t say he got there,” DiBetta said. “He doesn’t know anyone out there.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call Palm Beach Gardens Police at 561-799-4445.
This story was originally published February 2, 2023 at 7:32 PM.
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