He Once Opened His Airbnb to Hurricane Harvey Victims. Now, He’s Accused of Murdering a Mom of Three

A Texas man who was once praised for opening his Airbnb to families displaced by Hurricane Harvey is now facing a murder charge in connection with the disappearance of a 46-year-old mother of three. Daren Monk, 42, was arrested after investigators came to believe that Julia Renee Carter had been killed. But even after his capture, one heartbreaking question remains unanswered: Where is Julia’s body?

Carter was reported missing on October 16, 2026, after she failed to show up for work several days in a row. Concerned by her unexplained absence, her employer requested a welfare check at her home in Kountze, Texas. What began as a missing-person investigation soon took a more serious turn. Investigators spoke with people close to Carter and gathered evidence that led authorities to believe she had been killed in an act of domestic violence. According to investigators, they believe the killing occurred on October 13.

Monk, who had reportedly been romantically involved with Carter, became the focus of the investigation. Authorities alleged that he left the area after speaking with police on the day Carter was reported missing. A murder warrant was subsequently issued, and the search for him expanded beyond Hardin County. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies, Monk was eventually located and arrested in Katy, Texas, on October 21. He was charged with murder and is being held on $1 million bond.

While the allegations against Monk have shocked the community, his past has added another unexpected layer to the case. In 2017, when Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and left tens of thousands of people homeless, Monk opened his 10-acre property and Airbnb to families affected by the disaster. His gesture was featured on a local community blog, where he reportedly offered to provide temporary accommodation to a hurricane-affected family for two days each month over the following year. At the time, he was portrayed as someone willing to help neighbors during a difficult period.

A separate controversy also resurfaced after his arrest. In 2023, a Facebook user publicly accused Monk of using aliases and taking photographs of women and young girls from social media for inappropriate purposes. However, the Hardin County District Attorney’s Office told PEOPLE that although officials were aware of an alias mentioned in the post, Monk had not been formally accused of wrongdoing related to those claims. They remain separate from the current murder case.

For Carter’s family, the most painful part of the investigation is that her remains have not been found. Her loved ones, including her mother, three children and friends, have been sharing appeals and organizing efforts to locate her. Her sister-in-law, Cortney Shaw, has publicly urged Monk to tell investigators where Carter is so that her family can bring her home. A fundraiser has also been established to help support the family’s search efforts. As the legal case moves forward, Carter’s loved ones are left waiting for answers and hoping they can finally give her a proper farewell.

Source: https://people.com/he-helped-shelter-hurricane-harvey-victims-in-his-airbnb-years-later-he-s-accused-of-kidnapping-a-mom-of-3-12224063