‘It’s really like some Jeffrey Epstein stuff’: Florida couple books an Airbnb and ends up trapped in a room they could only escape with police help

Tanyka and Adani Harold recently found themselves trapped inside an Airbnb room in Florida, describing the experience as a “kidnapping situation” with “Jeffrey Epstein stuff” vibes. What started as a simple trip to Fort Lauderdale turned into a strange ordeal when they arrived at their rental, which was actually located in Plantation, Florida. They later shared their experience on TikTok. 

The trouble began after they entered the property using a provided code and closed their room door, only to realize they were locked in. According to Brobible, Tanyka noticed the doorknob was installed “inside out,” meaning the lock was on the outside, allowing someone to trap them in from the hallway.

After texting the host with no response, the couple called them. The hosts insisted being locked in was “impossible” and claimed they had left only an hour ago and were currently in Miami. They even suggested the couple try to pick the lock with a butter knife. During the call, Tanyka and Adani overheard the hosts arguing, with the man telling the woman to “shut the f— up” because he couldn’t think.

The property had several other disturbing details that made the situation even more alarming

The unsettling phone call brought other odd details about the property into focus for the couple. They recalled seeing what they initially believed were three eviction notices on the door. The room, which appeared painted in the listing photos, was actually made of concrete. The windows were also “blacked out,” which the couple found particularly disturbing.

“It’s really like some Jeffrey Epstein stuff,” Tanyka said in one of their videos, pointing to the external lock as proof it was a “kidnapping situation.” Epstein’s name has resurfaced in many disturbing contexts over the years, including cases where his alleged co-conspirators paid out millions despite denying any wrongdoing.

Eventually, police arrived at the scene along with another person who helped open the door, finally freeing the couple. After the ordeal, Tanyka and Adani found a hotel for the night. They later reported the incident to Airbnb and received a full refund, but they believe more needs to be done. They have been vocal about wanting Airbnb to investigate the property and potentially shut it down, feeling the refund was not enough given what they went through.

While the couple initially thought the door notices were eviction papers, a closer look at their video revealed something different. The documents were actually messages to the local Sheriff’s department, claiming that any “writ of possession” was invalid and citing various court cases. Another document stated that no one could enter the property without permission.

The language in these documents is similar to arguments made by “sovereign citizens,” individuals who believe they are exempt from standard U.S. legal jurisdiction. These arguments rarely hold up in court. The Epstein saga similarly involved elaborate legal maneuvering, including reports of how Epstein’s billionaire associate planned to evade law enforcement after his release from prison.

Even a police officer at the scene seemed to struggle with the situation, reportedly telling Adani that “maybe the door had a weird design,” a comment Tanyka quickly dismissed as making no sense. Comments on the couple’s TikTok videos showed strong support and concern from users who agreed something was seriously wrong. 

One comment said, “glad you two actually made it out. hopefully you took lots of pictures, & filled out a Police report. I’d definitely try to find a lawyer.” Another said, “How creepy. Glad you are both safe.” One person wrote, ““Plantation” was the first red flag …. I’ll finish watching video now 🤣”