The late Gary Levin, Kia Stinger owner & Lyft driver
The man identified as “a person of interest” in the disappearance and death of Palm Beach Gardens Lyft driver Gary Levin has been extradited to Florida from North Carolina to face charges in a separate case, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported Tuesday.
Mathew Scott Flores, 36, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Jose Carlos Martinez on January 24th in Wauchula, a town located approximately 50 miles southeast of Tampa. Flores is currently being held at the Hardee County Jail.
Flores is also a suspect in the disappearance of Levin. Levin’s remains were found in a wooded area in northern Okeechobee County after his family reported him missing. No charges have been filed yet in connection to Levin’s death. The case is still under investigation.
Levin’s stolen Kia Stinger was found in possession of Flores, who had been arrested by North Carolina authorities on Feb. 2 after a chase across multiple counties. The details of how Flores obtained Levin’s vehicle are still unknown.
Levin went missing after he didn’t return from driving for Lyft. He was last seen picking up a passenger in Delray Beach and may have traveled to Okeechobee before disappearing. Levin’s Kia Stinger was tracked from Miami to Gainesville in Florida. On February 4, the human remains were found and identified as belonging to Levin. His family later confirmed his death publicly.
The District Attorney of Rutherford County, Ted Bell, stated that his office decided not to pursue charges against Flores. This means that the county in western North Carolina will delay presenting its case to a grand jury. The priority will be given to Flores’ cases in Florida. The move allows North Carolina to pursue its charges at a later date.
North Carolina authorities charged Flores with driving while intoxicated (DWI), fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and possession of a stolen vehicle after apprehending him in Rutherford County, which is located approximately 70 miles west of Charlotte. The incident occurred on a late summer evening when Flores was spotted by a vigilant police officer who noticed erratic driving behavior. As the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Flores accelerated and attempted to evade capture, leading to a high-speed chase through the scenic countryside.
Stungbykia.com website reported on Mr. Levin’s dissapreance on February 7th, and the confirmation of his death on February 8th, 2023.