A 23-year-old Maryland man was found dead on a beach in the Bahamas shortly after arriving for a family vacation. His mother alleges he was “beaten to death.”
Dinari McAlmont, from Bowie, Maryland, had traveled with his parents to the Atlantis Paradise Island resort on April 4. The family had only just arrived when the incident occurred.
McAlmont was last seen at dinner with his parents at the resort. Family accounts indicate he left the table just before 9 p.m. to get a jacket and explore the resort’s grounds. When he did not return, his parents began searching for him.
Adding to the situation, resort officials reportedly approached Michelle McAlmont, Dinari’s mother, stating they were searching for her son due to an alleged incident where he spat on several staff members in a restaurant.
Unable to track Dinari’s phone, his parents filed a missing person report. Authorities later discovered McAlmont’s body on Paradise Island’s shoreline with “no vital life signs” at about 5:30 a.m. on April 5, nearly 12 hours after their arrival in the Bahamas.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched an investigation into the death but has not classified it as a homicide. Officials are waiting for autopsy results to determine the circumstances of McAlmont’s death.
Michelle McAlmont expressed concern over her son’s condition when found. She was shown a photo of his body on the beach, which she described as traumatic, claiming her son was unrecognizable due to his injuries.
“When I looked at the photo they showed me, my son was beaten; he was traumatized,” Michelle McAlmont told Bahamian media. She noted froth on his teeth and sand in his hair.
“That tells me they beat my son down in the sand. I need justice for my baby. I need justice,” she added.
According to news reports, McAlmont worked as a music producer and engineer at Lowcation Studios in Maryland, where he was professionally known as “Diddy.” Colleagues have expressed their grief over his unexpected passing.
McAlmont’s mother described feeling various emotions following his death, including anger and frustration. She questioned what she could have done differently to protect her son.
McAlmont’s parents are currently seeking legal representation, specifically an attorney specializing in international cases, as they await the outcome of the police investigation in the Bahamas.
The Atlantis Paradise Island resort, where the family stayed, released a statement offering condolences and affirming their cooperation with authorities.
This incident occurs amid growing safety concerns for American visitors to the Bahamas. On March 30, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the country, advising Americans to “Exercise Increased Caution.”
The advisory highlights concerns over violent crime, including armed robberies and assaults, particularly in Nassau and Freeport. It also warns that activities like boating and jet ski rentals are inadequately regulated and have been linked to injuries and assaults.
The advisory was already in effect before McAlmont’s death and was not issued in response to this specific case.