The lifeless bodies of three American friends vacationing in Mexico were found in an Airbnb that they had booked for their stay in the North American nation, authorities and relatives said on Wednesday, per NBC News. The deceased individuals were said to have traveled to Mexico City to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
The deceased individuals were identified as 28-year-old Kandace Florence, Jordan Marshall, 28, and Courtez Hall. Their relatives told the news outlet that Florence and Marshall had been friends since high school. Hall, on the other hand, was Marshall’s friend.
Prosecutors in the North American nation’s capital city said that investigators suspect their cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Marshall was a teacher at a high school in New Orleans. His mother, Jennifer Marshall, said that her son enjoyed traveling. “In his short 28 years, we can draw comfort from the fact he did travel and he did live a very, very full life,” she said.
The Day of the Dead, which is known as Día de los Muertos, is a traditional Mexican holiday that is observed on the 1st and 2nd of November. The trio had traveled to the city to celebrate the holiday that pays homage to the dead, their relatives said.
On October 30, Florence had a phone conversation with her boyfriend where she told him that she was under the weather, WAVY reported. The call later disconnected, and efforts by Florence’s boyfriend to re-establish contact with her proved futile. As a result, he reached out to the Airbnb host and requested a checkup on the trio.
The group was later found dead by authorities, and officials have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“We are closely monitoring local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” a statement from the State Department said.
Airbnb also said it has temporarily taken down the listing and also canceled pending reservations as it looks into the incident. The company added that it has been in communication with the Airbnb host as well as the U.S. Embassy.
“Our priority right now is supporting those impacted as the authorities investigate what happened, and we stand ready to assist with their inquiries however we can,” the company said in a statement.
At the time of her death, Florence’s mother, Freida Florence, said her daughter was running a candle business. “She was a dreamer, ‘dreamer’ meaning she wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people,” she told WAVY.
And though Jennifer Marshall also said that she had usual concerns over her son’s traveling hobby, she said she never tried to get him to stop doing what he loved. “Of course you worry as a parent. But he usually traveled with groups of friends, and we would tell him there’s safety in numbers, stay together, stay vigilant,” she said.
“But we never tried to deter our son from living his best life and experiencing other cultures. He loved history, he loved to learn about the cuisine and culture and the people of other places. So I never wanted him to live in fear and not to experience life because of things that could happen.”
Hall, just like his friend Marshall, was also a teacher. His mother, Ceola Hall, told WDSU that her son was a “joyous child.” “He loved me, he loved his family. He loved to make everyone laugh,” she added.
