Marisa Simonetti is facing legal action after an incident involving a live tarantula, which she claims was a result of an eviction dispute.
Marisa Simonetti, a candidate for the Hennepin County Board in Minnesota, was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly throwing a live tarantula at her tenant, Jackie Vasquez. The incident arose from a dispute over Vasquez’s refusal to leave the property, according to Simonetti’s account.
In an interview with NBC News, Simonetti claimed that she had rented a room in her five-bedroom house to Vasquez through Airbnb, but canceled the reservation after several disagreements. She said that Vasquez had caused disturbances, including sending long, aggressive texts and making loud phone calls late at night. Simonetti stated that after these incidents, she became concerned about the situation escalating and ultimately decided to cancel the booking.
However, Vasquez, who disputed Simonetti’s version of events, accused the landlord of disconnecting her internet service, creating a “hostile environment,” and making it difficult for her to leave the house. Vasquez asserted that she didn’t refuse to leave but fled only after Simonetti was arrested.
The case has attracted attention, with Simonetti explaining that her actions were influenced by memories of watching “Home Alone” as a child, where a similar scenario involving a tarantula was portrayed. The charges against her stem from the alleged assault, and the situation has sparked debate on the handling of rental disputes and tenant rights.
