A couple who were reportedly vacationing in Florida were accused of leaving a seafood restaurant without paying. The internet decided to band together to help identify them, which they apparently did successfully. As a result, the restaurant owner has filed a police report and is planning to prosecute them.
The case was recently summarized by Abby Blabby, a true crime and travel content creator. The events took place back on Saturday, February 21. According to owner Amanda Gallagher, a family of four visited Dusty’s Oyster Bar & Eatery in Panama City Beach, Florida, and “enjoyed a full meal with drinks totaling around $150.”
However, security footage shows the woman allegedly leaving with the couple’s two children, leaving the man behind. Then he is accused of picking up the check, crumpling it, tossing it onto a plate, and walking out without paying.
Amanda, of course, was mortified. She said, “We are a locally owned restaurant. Our servers work hard for their tips. When someone chooses to dine and dash, it doesn’t hurt a corporation…it hurts real people.”
The Florida restaurant owner shared photos of the couple in an attempt to find someone who could help her identify them.
Couple Identified, Report Filed
Thankfully for Amanda, Abby, and another true crime content creator, True Crime Mama, managed to identify them. Allegedly, they are Salina and Cory Coffey, an Ohio couple who were vacationing in Florida.
Abby shared photos of the couple at Disney World, SeaWorld, and at a football game, revealing that they vacation often.
Then she detailed that a follower claimed the Coffeys were in such a rush to leave the Florida restaurant that they even hit a car as they drove away. This claim remains to be verified.
“Way to set an example for your children,” Abby said.
Fortunately for Amanda and Dusty’s Oyster Bar & Eatery, the information gathered by users and compiled by Abby and True Crime Mama helped them out big time. In an update, the Florida woman said that they have filed a report and that they “will be moving forward with prosecution.”
“To everyone who shared, tagged, messaged, and stood behind us… We see you, and we are so grateful. Small businesses survive because of strong communities like ours,” Amanda added.
Users roasted the alleged “dine and dashers,” saying they were happy they would face consequences for their actions.
“Glad you put them on blast,” one user said. Another one commented, “They support SeaWorld. That says enough.” A third one added, “They have money for vacations… but not a meal.”
