Airbnb sued for allegedly not vetting guest who murdered Saudi student in next room
Nicole Marie Rodgers, 19, pleaded guilty last December to third-degree murder, burglary, theft, and a weapons charge over 25-year-old Alwaleed Algheraibi's January 2023 death. She is now serving a sentence of 15 to 40 years at SCI Muncy, a Pennsylvania state prison for female offenders.
Algheraibi's death 'was obviously painful and terrifying to him,' according to the lawsuit by Abdullah and Eiman Algheraibi, which was filed initially in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and removed to federal court on May 16.
'He was stabbed multiple times in the neck and lungs, was dragged into a shower, and was left to die alone,' the couple's complaint states.
Host Gardith Edouard described the scene as 'the most horrific sight,' and said the walls and floor were drenched in blood.
'My whole body just shook,' Edouard told The Independent. 'I tried to resuscitate him, but by the time 911 got there, I knew he was dead… I'm still not well, it's just been horrible.'
Algheraibi, a computer science major at Chestnut Hill College, a private Catholic school founded in 1924, 'would not hurt a fly,' one of his instructors said in a posthumous tribute, recalling when he rescued an injured cricket in class.
The murder stemmed directly from 'the negligence of Airbnb, specifically, its failure to limit who can use the platform and its alleged lack of rigorous background checks.
Attorney Steven Harvey, who is representing Algheraibi's parents in court, said on Monday that Rodgers's motive remains 'unclear.'
'It may have been a petty robbery, it may have been a perceived slight,' Harvey told The Independent. '... Juvenile criminal records are sealed, so we don't have much of a window as to what led her to this.'
As for the Algheraibi family, Harvey said, 'The grief is extreme, and Al was about as sweet and lovely a young man as you could find. He liked to hang out in his room and play video games and talk to his fiancee from Saudi Arabia when he wasn't in school.'
Airbnb acknowledged a request for comment on Monday, but did not provide one by the time of publication.
In the summer of 2022, Edouard placed an ad on Facebook Marketplace for a room available for rent at a townhouse she keeps in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, according to the complaint filed by Algheraibi's parents.
At the time, Edouard, a Cornell graduate who is now attending medical school on the West Coast, lived down the street and earned extra money by taking in tenants at the five-bed, three-bath investment property.
Many of Edouard's tenants were students, and she paid a screening service to vet everyone before handing over the keys, the complaint states.
Before approving Algheraibi as a tenant, Edouard completed a 'proper screening,' including a phone interview and background check, according to the complaint. She further verified Algheraibi's bona fides by obtaining a copy of his passport, confirming his enrollment at Chestnut Hill College, and getting the name and number of his emergency contact, the complaint goes on.
'Ms. Edouard concluded that he checked out and that he sounded like a good person to have at the house,' the complaint continues.
Algheraibi signed an agreement to rent a room on the first floor of Edouard's house for six months, beginning in August 2022, the complaint states. It describes Algheraibi as 'a model tenant' who 'paid his rent on time and was pleasant to be around.'
'He was a good person, and was very kind,' the complaint says.
In December 2022, Algheraibi informed Edouard that he would need to extend his stay, as he needed to take an extra course to graduate, according to the complaint. He was disappointed about the turn of events, the complaint contends, because he had been looking forward to returning home to his family and fiancée.
Around that same time, Rodgers, a Georgia resident, requested a booking at Edouard's home through Airbnb, where Edouard often listed additional vacancies, the complaint states, noting that Rodgers's profile on the site was marked 'Identity verified.'
According to the complaint, Rogers wrote, 'Hi me and my dog are traveling to Philadelphia. We would be staying while I look for [a] house, and we would check in around 12-1pm Thursday afternoon.'
But, the complaint asserts, Edouard – who had previously rented a room to an 18-year-old who had caused extensive damage – was hesitant about renting again to another underage tenant. So, in response, she contacted Airbnb and said she did not want to host anyone younger than 21, the complaint says.
However, the complaint alleges, Airbnb informed Edouard that if she refused tenants based upon their age, she could be flagged for 'discrimination' and removed from the platform.
Consequently, Edouard agreed to rent Rodgers a room from January 5, 2023 through January 23, 2023, according to the complaint.
It says Rodgers took a room on the third floor, and everything seemed fine for the duration of her stay – until the day she was set to move out.
'Prior to doing so, she, on information and belief, encountered Al and induced him to enter her room,' the complaint states. (Contemporaneous news reports said Rodgers asked Algheraibi to help her move some heavy items that she couldn't handle by herself.)
At that point, Rodgers stabbed Algheraibi 'multiple times,' piercing his neck and puncturing his lungs, according to the complaint.
'To attempt to evade detection, she dragged the grievously injured Mr. Algheraibi to the third-floor bathroom and left him in the shower,' the complaint maintains.
It says another tenant alerted Edouard to 'strange noises' emanating from the third floor, 'including what he believed was a large dog being 'shoved' into the bathroom.'
'Ms. Edouard entered Ms. Rodgers' room and saw her pouring bleach on the floor,' the complaint states.
Edouard told The Independent that when she arrived at the house, 'the smell of bleach was so overpowering, it gave me an instant headache.'
A bewildered Edouard then picked the locked bathroom door, where she discovered Algheraibi, mortally wounded, lying in a pool of blood, according to the complaint. After calling 911, Edouard tried to revive Algheraibi using chest compressions, but was unable, the complaint says.
Algheraibi was pronounced dead at the scene.
'After the murder,' the complaint concludes, 'Ms. Rodgers, who left the premises, was able to log back into the Airbnb platform and retroactively change her name to 'Nicole Jenkins' and also to change her profile picture.'
A week later, Philadelphia police arrested Rodgers. On December 27, 2024, Rodgers pleaded guilty to murder in the third-degree, burglary, theft, and possession of an instrument of crime with intent.
According to the Algheraibi family's complaint, Airbnb was negligent 'in numerous ways, including not limiting the ability of persons under age 21 from renting a property through Airbnb,' and 'not conducting sufficient screening of potential guests to make it safer for other people staying in an Airbnb property to be free from violent crimes committed by Airbnb renters.'
Airbnb, the complaint alleges, 'knew that younger renters such as Ms. Rodgers have less self-control and are more prone to commit criminal and other destructive acts, including physical harm to other persons who are staying or residing in Airbnb properties.'
Edouard told The Independent that she has since stopped renting individual rooms on Airbnb, and has been unable to bring herself to go back to the house where Algheraibi was killed.
Harvey, for his part, said Algheraibi's mom and dad are hoping their son's death will spur change in Airbnb business practices.
'His parents do want justice, though what does justice mean? What does justice look like? Nothing is going to bring their son back,' he told The Independent. 'They would like to see Airbnb take some responsibility for its policy that led to this horrific situation.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Pope Leo calls for release of gang hostages in Haiti amid changes on security front
Pope Leo XIV is calling for the release of eight hostages in Haiti, including a 3-year-old boy and a longtime Irish missionary who remain in captivity after being abducted from a mountaintop orphanage by armed gangs in the middle of the night. 'I make a heartfelt appeal to all responsible parties to release the hostages immediately,' the pope said. The pontiff's heartfelt appeal came Sunday during a prayer service where he condemned the widespread 'violence of all kinds, human trafficking, forced displacement and kidnappings' in the volatile Caribbean nation. The comments marked the pope's first public acknowledgement of the unraveling situation in Haiti, where some of his ancestors were from, since the U.S.-born pontiff became the Catholic Church's first American pope in May following the death of Pope Francis in April. During the prayer service, in which he also highlighted other global conflicts, the pope called on the international community to provide tangible support to help create the social and institutional conditions 'that will allow the Haitian people to live in peace.' A week ago Sunday armed gangs breached the Saint-Hélène Orphanage in Kenscoff, an expansive rural enclave in the mountains above Port-au-Prince that has been under constant attack since the start of the year. Once inside, gangs grabbed Gena Heraty, an Irish national who has been working in Haiti since 1993, along with other adults and children. The orphanage is affiliated with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, NPH International, which confirmed the abductions on its website. The charity was founded by Father William Wasson, a Catholic priest, and serves vulnerable children in nearly two dozen countries across Latin America and Haiti. The kidnappings once more brought Haiti's rise in gang violence to the forefront. In Haiti, Saint-Hélène's orphans include children with disabilities from other orphanages that were attacked. 'The situation of the Haitian people is increasingly desperate,' the pope later said in a post on X. On Friday, the new head of Haiti's beleaguered Transitional Presidential Council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, said the climate of fear, violence and instability that reign inside the country has made life unbearable for the population of nearly 12 million. This includes more than 1.3 million who have been forced to flee their homes, of whom nearly 500,000 are children. Haitians are demanding only one thing, security, Saint-Cyr said, as he announced the firing of the head of the Haiti National Police, Rameau Normil , after 13 months and 20 days on the job. He was replaced by André Jonas Vladimir Parison, the former head of security for the National Palace. The change in leadership of the police came amid growing frustration with the force's failure to rein in armed gangs that now control about 90% of Port-au-Prince and are expanding elsewhere. Last year, more than 5,600 people died in Haiti in gang-related violence, according to the United Nations, and already this year, the country has logged more than 4,000 deaths. EarIier this month, the U.N. announced that more than 1,500 Haitians had been killed between April and June, while hundreds of kidnappings and rapes continue to be documented. At the same time, members of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition had pillaged and/or burned at least 410 residences and other buildings, including six schools, health centers and local nongovernmental organizations during the period. Normil first served as director of the Haiti National Police in August 2019 when he replaced Michel-Ange Gédéon. He was fired in November 2020 and then brought back in June 21, 2024, replacing Frantz Elbé. But his tenure was marked by questionable arrests, too much territory lost to gangs, poorly executed police operations, a combative personality and a slow pace in recruiting new cops. Normil also faced questions over corruption and competence after the disappearance of a hotel manager and U.S. veteran, Patrice Miot Jacquet, who was working with a private military contractor in Port-au-Prince and disappeared along with police-issued weapons. But the most damning criticism Normil faced was the loss of 18 territories in 10 months to increasingly powerful gangs despite having more resources at his disposal than Elbé.. Despite that support, the police continued to face issues as Normil failed to effectively coordinate with the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, cast aside qualified senior officers over accusations they were not loyal to him or were after his job, and his officers became overwhelmed while facing better armed gangs. Paraison, known for his 'warrior' approach to fighting gangs as he defended the National Palace earlier this year, has the confidence of most of the ruling presidential council but faces tough scrutiny as he takes on mired in corruption and human rights abuse allegations. Saint-Cyr called on Paraison to prove himself as a man of action, telling him 'to take all necessary measures to restore security' with the support of the Haitian Armed Forces and the Kenya-led mission. 'Rally your valiant... officers, earn their trust, intensify operations on all fronts, secure vulnerable areas, consolidate the territories we control, and liberate one by one those territories where our compatriots can no longer live in peace,' Saint-Cyr said 'Fear must change sides.'
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Man who overstayed his visa stole food aid from thousands of needy Californians, feds say
A man believed to have been a part of a Romanian criminal organization was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week after he stole tens of thousands of welfare cards across California and New York. Catalin-Marius Graur, 43, was sentenced Aug. 4 after pleading guilty in October 2024 to one count of bank fraud. When he was arrested at a New York City Airbnb apartment in June 2024, he had over $37,000 in cash and nearly 1,500 stolen account access numbers in his possession, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. In his scheme, officials said Graur targeted those receiving Electronic Benefit Transfer funds, which are distributed by social services departments to help low-income communities receive food and cash aid. In California, these are accessed through programs like CalFresh — previously known as food stamps — and CalWORKS. According to DOJ officials, Graur would steal EBT card information by attaching 'sophisticated skimming devices' to ATMs and other sales machines across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Once the victim entered their card, the device captured their information. Fraudulent cards can be made with the stolen information and used to withdraw EBT funds. Graur was not living in the United States legally, according to officials. A Romanian citizen, he entered the U.S. in 2020 on a tourist visa but overstayed his visit, the release said. He worked with multiple people internationally in the scheme, with one accomplice receiving more than 36,000 stolen EBT card numbers from Graur over the course of three years, the statement said. Another co-conspirator involved in the scheme, Mihai-Adrian Humoiu, was sentenced to over seven years in prison in May, according to the FBI. According to the Los Angeles division of the FBI, which investigated Graur's case, there are multiple instances of Romanian citizens coming to the U.S. to commit bank fraud. The agency has investigated that crime route in particular for many years. In 2023, The Times reported on a string of Romanian citizens who had been arrested for skimming EBT funds through ATMs, including Virgil Negru, a member of the Eforie City Council, who was charged with felony forgery and identity theft. Because the process of skimming is complicated and requires lots of different steps, the crimes are often organized and conducted in groups. It's a crime of opportunity, they said, and scammers travel anywhere they think they could find success — it's not exclusive to California or Romania. Unlike modern debit or credit cards, EBT cards traditionally have not had microchips, making them especially easy to clone. But that changed in California in April, when the state rolled out new cards with microchips, said Gerry Bonilla, the division chief for program compliance in the state's Social Services Department. Customers with the new cards can use the tap function for transaction at all businesses with the feature available on their sales machines. Since issuing the new cards, Bonilla said that the department has received fewer reports of EBT scamming. Nowadays, most of the reports his office receives of EBT card scamming come from stores without microchip readers on their point of sale machines. The Times also reported that wait times for EBT fund reimbursement after reporting a scam could take weeks, as agencies became overwhelmed with requests. In California, this process has quickened in recent years, with the process now being nearly 'instantaneous,' Bonilla said. Customers have to file a benefit reimbursement claim within 90 days starting on the day of the theft. The state requires that claim to be processed within 10 days, but Bonilla said it often only takes one or two days, depending on the circumstances of the theft. CalFresh has additional requirements for reimbursement. Customers cannot be reimbursed twice in one Federal Fiscal Year and the amount 'cannot exceed the equivalent of two months' worth of their monthly allotment per occurence,' Bonilla said in an email. Separately, another person, also from Romania, plead guilty to bank fraud and asylum fraud in San Francisco for the same type of scam with EBT cards, according to another DOJ statement. Marius Marian, 39, illegally accessed over $500,000 in EBT funds through attaching skimming devices to ATMs. Marian is a Romanian citizen who illegally entered the U.S. and then was deported in 2019 after serving eight months in custody for bank fraud. In an application for asylum, submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security around April 2023, he knowingly failed to disclose his previous deportation, the statement said. His sentencing is scheduled for October.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
New Denver City Attorney is former trial attorney, corporate lawyer
CBS News Colorado has learned Michiko Ando Brown, known as Miko, a former corporate lawyer for Airbnb and a trial attorney at two major Denver law firms, will be named Denver's next City Attorney by Mayor Mike Johnston, according to four sources with knowledge of the selection. Brown, 51, was a trial attorney at Denver law firm Davis, Graham and Stubbs and had clients in 24 states, according to an online bio. She has also served as President of the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Most recently, Brown was associate general counsel for Airbnb from 2020- 2024. She has received awards for her efforts toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, according to information she listed online. None of the four sources with knowledge of the appointment were at liberty to speak publicly, but two who know Brown said she would be an asset for the city and a good leader for the Denver City Attorney's office. Brown did not respond to calls and text messages from CBS this weekend, and a spokesperson for Mayor Johnston declined to comment on the CBS report. Brown attended Manual High School in Denver and went on to the University of California, Berkeley, and received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Several of the sources who spoke to CBS said they expected an announcement as early as Monday. Brown was also a standout tennis player in Colorado during her collegiate years. In 1991, Brown was named to the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame for her tennis accomplishments.
