4 months ago
10
(NewsNation) — The household of a 23-year-old Maryland man who died during a play getaway to the Bahamas is questioning the circumstances surrounding his death, citing a deficiency of transparency from section authorities and edifice officials.
Dinari McAlmont of Bowie, Maryland, was recovered dormant April 5 adjacent the Atlantis edifice connected Paradise Island, according to the Royal Bahamian Police. His household arrived astatine the edifice April 4.
McAlmont disappeared aft leaving a household meal astir 8:30 p.m. to retrieve his overgarment from their country and sojourn the casino. When helium didn't return, his parents tried to interaction him but were unsuccessful.
Around 2 a.m., constabulary informed the McAlmonts that their lad had been progressive successful an altercation wherever helium allegedly spat connected edifice workers. Though constabulary assured them helium was okay, his parents inactive couldn't scope him and began searching themselves.
Later that morning, constabulary discovered McAlmont's body. On April 9, authorities announced helium had died by drowning, stating that "foul play is not suspected astatine this time."
However, the McAlmont household has raised respective concerns astir the investigation. Michelle McAlmont, Dinari's mother, told NewsNation that her lad couldn't aquatics and would ne'er person gone to the formation voluntarily.
The household besides claims they were not allowed to spot oregon place the assemblage immediately, alternatively being shown lone a photograph which appeared to amusement signs of beating. When yet permitted to presumption the assemblage a week later, Michelle McAlmont was lone allowed to spot her son's face, wherever she noticed a laceration connected his jaw and puffiness connected 1 side.
"His look was damaged," his parent said. "That tells maine they bushed my son. ... I request justness for my baby."
Jasmine George, McAlmont's cousin, expressed vexation implicit the constricted accusation provided to the family.
"We person repeatedly asked to spot the determination wherever the assemblage was found. We person nary thought wherever it was found," George told NewsNation. "We person asked for information footage from the nighttime that helium disappeared that has not been provided to us."
George besides questioned however authorities could find truthful rapidly that nary homicide had occurred.
"They told her close past and determination that it was not a homicide. Now, however precisely they came crossed this accusation without having completed an autopsy is anyone's guess," she said.
The U.S. State Department had updated its question advisory for the Bahamas conscionable 2 weeks earlier the incident, maintaining it astatine Level 2 ("Exercise Increased Caution") and noting circumstantial risks related to equipped robberies, burglaries and intersexual assaults.
In a statement, the Atlantis edifice said: "We are profoundly saddened by the passing of 1 of our guests. Our thoughts and condolences are with the guest's household and loved ones during this hard time. This is an progressive constabulary investigation, and we are afloat cooperating."
The McAlmont household continues to question answers astir what happened during the astir five-hour spread betwixt erstwhile Dinari McAlmont was past seen and erstwhile his assemblage was discovered.
"With each my heart, I judge that thing untoward happened to Dinari connected Atlantis grounds," said George. "We request America's assistance to recognize what happened."
