16-04-2025
Maryland man's family questions death, say he didn't drown in Bahamas
(NewsNation) — The family of a 23-year-old Maryland man who died during a weekend getaway to the Bahamas is questioning the circumstances surrounding his death, citing a lack of transparency from local authorities and resort officials.
Dinari McAlmont of Bowie, Maryland, was found dead April 5 near the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, according to the Royal Bahamian Police. His family arrived at the resort April 4.
McAlmont disappeared after leaving a family dinner around 8:30 p.m. to retrieve his jacket from their room and visit the casino. When he didn't return, his parents tried to contact him but were unsuccessful.
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Around 2 a.m., police informed the McAlmonts that their son had been involved in an altercation where he allegedly spat on restaurant workers. Though police assured them he was okay, his parents still couldn't reach him and began searching themselves.
Later that morning, police discovered McAlmont's body. On April 9, authorities announced he had died by drowning, stating that 'foul play is not suspected at this time.'
However, the McAlmont family has raised several concerns about the investigation. Michelle McAlmont, Dinari's mother, told NewsNation that her son couldn't swim and would never have gone to the beach voluntarily.
The family also claims they were not allowed to see or identify the body immediately, instead being shown only a photograph which appeared to show signs of beating. When finally permitted to view the body a week later, Michelle McAlmont was only allowed to see her son's face, where she noticed a laceration on his jaw and puffiness on one side.
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'His face was damaged,' his mother said. 'That tells me they beat my son. … I need justice for my baby.'
Jasmine George, McAlmont's cousin, expressed frustration over the limited information provided to the family.
'We have repeatedly asked to see the location where the body was found. We have no idea where it was found,' George told NewsNation. 'We have asked for security footage from the night that he disappeared that has not been provided to us.'
George also questioned how authorities could determine so quickly that no homicide had occurred.
'They told her right then and there that it was not a homicide. Now, how exactly they came across this information without having completed an autopsy is anyone's guess,' she said.
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The U.S. State Department had updated its travel advisory for the Bahamas just two weeks before the incident, maintaining it at Level 2 ('Exercise Increased Caution') and noting specific risks related to armed robberies, burglaries and sexual assaults.
In a statement, the Atlantis resort said: '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 McAlmont family continues to seek answers about what happened during the approximately five-hour gap between when Dinari McAlmont was last seen and when his body was discovered.
'With all my heart, I believe that something untoward happened to Dinari on Atlantis grounds,' said George. 'We need America's help to understand what happened.'
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