A Lyft driver in South Florida who went missing for more than a week has died, his daughter confirmed Tuesday.
Lindsay DiBetta posted on Facebook that the family would announce information about services for his father, Gary Levin, in the coming days.
“My dad was truly a unique person, if you knew him or even met him once you know exactly what I mean when I say that,” DiBetta wrote. “The stories I’ve received about him from friends, family and complete strangers over the last week have lifted me more than you can imagine.”
Levin, 74, disappeared on January 30 after dropping off a customer in Okeechobee, a small town north of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. His family reported him missing when he did not return home and his cell phone was turned off.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office previously announced the discovery of human remains near Levin’s last known location before he went missing. FDLE reported Tuesday that it had confirmed the identity of the person found in Okeechobee and notified the person’s family, but declined to publicly identify the victim, citing a Florida state constitutional amendment that allows crime victims or their relatives hide their names in public reports.
Levin’s red 2022 Kia Stinger was spotted in Miami, Okeechobee and Gainesville in North Florida last week. Was arrested Thursday night in North Carolina where a regional task force of the US Marshals asked authorities to be vigilant.
The driver, Matthew Flores, was arrested after a police chase through three counties, Rutherford County, North Carolina, Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said. Flores, 35, fled but was captured a short time later in Ellenboro, North Carolina.
He is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled for a hearing on February 22.
He will eventually return to Florida to face second-degree murder charges in the January 24 death of José Carlos Martínez in Wauchula and in the death of Levin.
It was not known if Flores has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
Authorities are investigating how Flores obtained the missing Lyft driver’s car. Levin’s family said they don’t know if Flores was the passenger Levin picked up in Delray Beach on Monday.
In an emailed statement Friday, Lyft said, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Levin’s family and loved ones during this most troubling time. We have been in contact with his family to offer our support, as well as law enforcement to help with his investigation.”
DiBetta previously said the Lyft concert was great for Levin, who loved to tell dad jokes and would often tell them over and over again.
“It was the perfect scenario for him,” he said. “He got a new audience on every trip.”
Levin lived in the Philadelphia area and was a huge Eagles fan. He worked in auto body sales until he retired in Florida about two years ago. He loved to drive for Lyft, where he often told jokes to his customers, his daughter said.
He had a son and a daughter and four grandchildren.