Officials in the Bahamas have revealed that there was no foul play in the death of a 23-year-old Maryland man whose body was found on a Paradise Island beach while on vacation with his family.
On Wednesday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force announced that Dinari McAlmont, of Bowie, Maryland, died from drowning although his mother alleged that her son had been ‘beaten to death.’
“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.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Florida woman found dead weeks after airport reunion with boyfriend who served 3-year prison sentence
“Foul play is not suspected at this time,” officials stated, adding that police are still awaiting the results of a forensic toxicology exam.
Nonetheless, McAlmont’s parents are far from convinced by the findings of the authorities.
“There is foul play,” his mother, Michelle McAlmont, told Fox 5 DC. “Because of all the bruises and you can see when somebody is abused and hit at, yes, and that is what I am saying.”
The Mayland family arrived in the Bahamas and was staying at the Atlantis Paradise Bahamas resort, after their arrival on the night of April 4.
Only a few hours later, the death of the Maryland man unfolded at the tropical destination when their son, who decided to tour the resort, couldn’t be found after many minutes.
Around 8:45 pm, McAlmont went to explore the resort the same night and disappeared after a dinner with his parents, Fox 5 reported.
The morning after at 5:30 a.m., the Maryland man was found dead by authorities on the shoreline of Paradise Island.
His mother immediately suspected foul play and says justice needs to be served.
“When I looked at the photo they showed me, my son was beaten; he was traumatized,” she told a Bahamian outlet Monday.
“They beat my son down in the sand,” she said, adding through tears, “I need justice for my baby. I need justice.”
In the early hours of April 5, long before the body was found, cops were looking for McAlmont after he had been reported for spitting on a staff member at a restaurant in the resort, as per Fox 5 DC.
The grieving mother was not able to corroborate the allegations against her son and said something was clearly not adding up.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our guests. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. We are fully cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation,” Atlantis Paradise Resort said in a statement to Fox News.
The US Department of State advised Americans to not travel to the Bahamas, placing a level 2 advisory on the nation in the Caribbean.
