Trio from Tennessee alleged of using Airbnb rental to intimidate WNC community

Three individuals have been arrested by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. According to sources, they had rented an Airbnb nearby and caused terror within the community for several weeks.

On June 5, the trio was apprehended, according to Sheriff Buddy Harwood of Madison County.

According to him, there have been over 48 cases of breaking and entering in the last month, which include thefts from cars and outbuildings. These incidents have occurred in various locations across the entire county.

According to him, detectives have viewed several videos and concluded that the group was committing the crimes between 2-4:30 a.m.

Harwood made the decision to shift all detectives to the late-night shift, which ultimately led to the tracking down of the suspects at a gas station in Mars Hill last Wednesday.

According to him, “As soon as my detectives identified those individuals, they were certain that they were the ones responsible for the recent string of burglaries in the county.”

Upon the capture of the trio, Harwood reported that a stolen firearm from Kentucky was discovered in the vehicle that the suspects were operating.

After the arrest, the sheriff’s office discovered that the trio had been renting an Airbnb in Barnardsville. According to Harwood, they had been using this as a base to terrorize the community in Madison County.

On June 12, 2024, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office apprehended three individuals who had rented a nearby Airbnb and caused terror in the community for several weeks. A photo credit goes to WLOS Staff for the accompanying image.

According to him, the individuals had a strong inclination towards committing car break-ins and thefts. They targeted hand tools and other easily accessible items that they could quickly load into the back of their truck. Additionally, he revealed that they had a buyer for the stolen goods.

According to Sheriff Harwood, the individuals involved in the case are originally from Elizabethton, Tennessee. He also revealed that they were suspected of being involved in breaking and entering incidents in Tennessee.

Harwood stated that although the oldest suspect, Kevin Craig, is a convicted felon, he is uncertain about the connection between the three individuals. Kevin Craig is 39 years old.

“He described them as individuals who came from Tennessee to North Carolina on a crime spree.”

According to Harwood, the Madison County community is facing a growing issue of individuals utilizing Airbnb’s as a means to commit crimes.

According to him, it is an ideal hideout for those who plan to engage in criminal activities as they can easily come and go after staying for a couple of days.

Harwood and the community are both experiencing a sense of relief now that the suspects are no longer on the streets. However, Harwood also recommends that residents who do not have a security camera system around their home should consider installing one.

He said that whenever a crime occurs, they make our jobs much easier.

The Madison County Jail is currently detaining all three suspects.

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