Minnesota Senate Candidate Convicted After Evicting Tenant with "Home Alone" Inspired Tarantula Attack

Minnesota's Marisa Simonetti was convicted of assault after throwing a live tarantula at an Airbnb tenant. Simonetti claimed she was inspired by Home Alone.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 4:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Daily Mail.

A Cinematic Approach to a Civil Dispute

The intersection of cinema and criminal law took center stage in a Minnesota courtroom Friday as U.S. Senate candidate Marisa Simonetti was convicted of multiple misdemeanors. The 32-year-old independent candidate faced charges of domestic assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct following a 2024 incident involving a live arachnid. Simonetti openly admitted to investigators and media outlets that her tactics were directly inspired by the 1990 film Home Alone, specifically the scene where a child uses a pet tarantula to repel intruders.

The Airbnb Conflict Escalates

The dispute began at Simonetti’s residence when 32-year-old attorney Jackie Vasquez rented the basement via Airbnb for $1,500. Simonetti alleged that Vasquez became a "squatter" after her reservation was canceled due to disruptive behavior, including late-night shouting. However, Vasquez maintained she was a legal tenant who felt trapped in a "hostile environment" created by Simonetti. The situation reached a boiling point after a physical altercation involving a door, prompting Simonetti to take matters into her own hands when she felt local law enforcement provided insufficient assistance.

"Unhinged" Eviction Tactics Caught on Video

In an effort to force Vasquez out, Simonetti and an unidentified male accomplice removed the basement door. Vasquez, retreating to a back room, left a laptop recording at the base of the stairs. The resulting footage, described in criminal complaints, captured a chaotic scene: Simonetti blasted Christian music and banged pots and pans while unleashing a live tarantula down the staircase. Responding officers later discovered the stairs littered with the contents of a terrarium, pins, tacks, nails, and small toys—mirroring the improvised traps used in the movie that inspired the act.