Maryland Man Found Dead in Bahamas: Family Disputes Drowning Ruling, Demands Justice

The family of Dinari McAlmont seeks justice and clarity after the 23-year-old's body was found on a beach in the Bahamas, raising questions about the cause of his death with suspicions of foul play.

Nassau, Bahamas — The family of a 23-year-old Maryland man is demanding answers after he was found dead near the shoreline of Paradise Island just hours after arriving for a family vacation.

Dinari McAlmont’s body was discovered early Saturday morning, April 5, near the luxury Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, where he had been staying with relatives. Bahamian authorities have ruled his death as a drowning and stated that foul play is not suspected. However, McAlmont’s family says there are too many unanswered questions and believes he was assaulted before he died.

The young man was last seen by his family around 11 p.m. on Friday, April 4, after having dinner with them. He reportedly told them he would retrieve a coat but never returned. At approximately 5:30 a.m. the next morning, his body was found near the property.

In a troubling development earlier that same night, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., local officers reportedly knocked on the family's hotel room door, alleging Dinari had been involved in an altercation and had “spat on staff.” According to his mother, Michelle McAlmont, the family did not know about such an incident and were stunned to learn of his death hours later.

Authorities have stated that an autopsy revealed Dinari drowned. However, the McAlmont family strongly disputes this conclusion. His mother said she only saw her son’s body in a photo shown to her by officials—and what she saw was horrifying.

“I’m not accepting that because there is no way Dinari would have gone to the beach,” she told local media. “Dinari does not go to the beach. We just returned from Punta Cana in January, and he never stepped foot on the beach. If you told me, he drowned in a pool, maybe—but not the beach. That means someone beat him and took him there.”

Dinari’s aunt, Marcelle Bacchus-McPherson, confirmed that the family is arranging for an independent autopsy to be conducted in the United States. “His parents are still in the Bahamas. The American consulate is assisting them,” she said. “There are too many questions. Who took him to the beach at midnight? What happened before that? And what about the bruises?”

The family’s attorney, Keith Seymour Sr., criticized the investigation's handling and accused authorities of drawing conclusions before completing essential parts of the forensic process.

“When you read the police statement, it says a post-mortem showed drowning, but they’re still waiting for the toxicology report—and yet they’ve ruled out foul play,” Seymour stated. “That is premature and unprofessional. The proper conclusion should be that the investigation is ongoing and inconclusive now.”

Seymour emphasized that footage from security cameras around the resort has not been thoroughly reviewed, and key details about Dinari’s last movements remain unknown. “There are serious gaps in the timeline,” he added. “We don’t know who he encountered, how he got to the beach, or how he ended up dead.”

Dinari’s death has left his family devastated—especially given the circumstances. He was full of life, preparing for his future, and excited about the family vacation. In the wake of their grief, his loved ones have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for legal assistance and advocacy.

“We are writing this with heavy hearts following the tragic loss of our beloved Dinari, who was senselessly killed,” the family shared in the fundraiser description. “Our family is shattered, and we are determined to honor his memory by seeking justice. This campaign will support our legal efforts as we pursue accountability and aim to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”

The Royal Bahamas Police say the investigation remains open. They have confirmed that a forensic toxicology analysis is still pending and that the case will be forwarded to His Majesty’s Coroner for further review.