A 23-year-old man from Maryland was discovered deceased on a beach in the Bahamas just hours after he arrived for a family vacation. His mother has stated that he was “beaten to death.”
Dinari McAlmont, of Bowie, Maryland, had traveled with his parents to the Atlantis Paradise Island resort on April 4, in what was intended to be a relaxing family trip. The family had only just begun their stay when the incident occurred.
McAlmont was last seen dining with his parents at the resort. According to family accounts, he left the table shortly before 9 p.m. to get a jacket and explore the resort grounds. When he did not return, his parents began to search for him.
Adding to the confusion, resort officials reportedly approached Michelle McAlmont, Dinari’s mother, indicating they were searching for her son due to allegations that he had spat on several staff members inside a resort restaurant.
With Dinari’s phone location tracking not functioning, his parents filed a missing person report. Their fears were realized when authorities found McAlmont’s body on the Paradise Island shoreline, showing “no vital life signs,” just after 5:30 a.m. on April 5, approximately 12 hours after their arrival in the Bahamas.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched an investigation into the cause of death but has not yet classified the case as a homicide. Officials are awaiting autopsy results before determining the circumstances surrounding McAlmont’s death.
Michelle McAlmont has voiced concerns about the condition of her son’s body. She mentioned that police showed her a photograph of her son’s body on the beach, an experience she found extremely distressing, noting that 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 described seeing 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 several news reports, McAlmont was employed as a music producer and engineer at Lowcation Studios in Maryland, where he was professionally known as “Diddy.” His colleagues have expressed their sorrow over his sudden passing.
The grieving mother described experiencing a range of emotions following her son’s death, including anger, frustration, and hatred. She questioned what she could have done differently to protect her child.
McAlmont’s parents are now seeking legal representation, specifically an attorney specializing in international cases, while they await the conclusion of the police investigation in the Bahamas.
The Atlantis Paradise Island resort, where the family was staying, issued a statement expressing condolences and confirming their cooperation with authorities.
The incident occurs amid heightened safety concerns for American travelers in the Bahamas. On March 30, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Caribbean nation, advising Americans to “Exercise Increased Caution” when visiting.
The advisory specifically notes concerns about violent crime, including armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults, particularly in Nassau and Freeport. It also mentions that activities like boating and jet ski rentals are not well-regulated and have been associated with injuries, deaths, and sexual assaults.
This advisory was in place before McAlmont’s death and was not issued in response to this specific incident.
As authorities continue their investigation, McAlmont’s family remains in the Bahamas, determined to uncover the truth about what happened to their son during what was meant to be a family vacation.
