Family Questions Cause Of Death For Tourist Who Died At Bahamas Resort

BOWIE, MD — Just a few hours after arriving in the Bahamas on a dream vacation with his family, 23-year-old Dinari McAlmont of Bowie was found dead by the ocean.

The family had arrived at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island for a weekend trip Friday, April 4, to Monday, April 7. McAlmont was found dead that same day on the shoreline, reported FOX 5 DC. His family said from the start they suspected foul play, but officials in the Bahamas have ruled otherwise, according to the New York Post.

The Royal Bahamas Police said in a statement on Facebook Wednesday that McAlmont died from drowning, despite claims from his family that he had been beaten.

“A post-mortem examination was performed, and the pathologist’s findings revealed that the deceased died as a result of drowning,” the RBPF said in a news conference Wednesday, Fox News reported. “Foul play is not suspected at this time."

According to the family, McAlmont decided to explore the resort on his own after dinner Friday around 8:45 p.m. His parents began searching for him when hotel staff went to their room to ask where he was.

Early on April 5, before his body was discovered, police were looking for McAlmont after he had been allegedly reported for spitting on a staff member at a restaurant in the resort, according to Fox 5 DC.

When his phone location stopped updating, they created and distributed a missing person flier. But by the early morning hours Saturday, McAlmont's body had been found, FOX 5 DC reported.

Michelle McAlmont said authorities wouldn't allow her to see his body. They would only show her a photo to confirm his identity.

“My son was beaten,” she said to Eyewitness News Bahamas. “He was traumatized. His face is damaged. His teeth [had] a lot of froth. His hair that he normally takes so much pride in, he spent a lot of money on products. He takes a lot of pride in his hair — full of sand.”

"When I looked at the photo they showed me, my son was beaten," she told Fox 5 DC through tears. "They beat my son down in the sand. I need justice for my baby. I need justice."

Marcelle Bacchus, Dinari McAlmont's aunt, said his loved ones are frustrated.

"We don't have answers,” Bacchus told NBC Washington. “We don't really know, but it's very frustrating. Seems as though everything is being pushed under the rug."

They also question why no surveillance video has been released.

"We're just here in the dark,” Bacchus said. “We really need some help, some eyewitness, somebody to come forward and help us to just solve this puzzle."

The family has hired an international attorney, reports say.

McAlmont was an audio engineer at Lowcation Studios where he produced music.

“I just broke down,” Oliver Franklin, owner of Lowcation Studios, told NBC Washington when he learned of his employee's death. “He was, he was really young, and it's just, it's just devastating."

A spokesperson for the Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas Resort issued the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our guests. Our thoughts and condolences are with the guest's family and loved ones during this difficult time. This is an active police investigation, and we are fully cooperating.”

The U.S. State Department continues to maintain a Level 2 travel warning for the Bahamas, urging citizens to use greater caution due to violent crime, with an increased emphasis on the island of Nassau.