American on Bahamas Vacation Got Up from Dinner to Take a Walk. He Was Later Found Dead on the Beach: 'Beaten'

A Maryland family is grieving after their 23-year-old was found dead while they were vacationing in the Bahamas.

The family told Fox 5 DC and Eyewitness News Bahamas that Dinari Mcalmont, 23, was found dead on the shore of Paradise Island near Nassau, Bahamas on Saturday, April 5, about 12 hours after they had arrived in the country.

“My son was beaten,” Dinari’s mother, Michelle McAlmont, claimed to Eyewitness News Bahamas after local authorities showed her a photo of her deceased son for identification.

She added, “He was traumatized. His face is damaged. His teeth [had] a lot of froth. His hair that he normally takes so much pride in, he spent a lot of money on products. He takes a lot of pride in his hair — full of sand.”

“That tells me they beat my son down in the sand,” she continued. “I need justice for my baby. I need justice.”

The family told Fox 5 DC that they were planning to stay there for a weekend trip, leaving their hometown of Bowie, Md. on Friday, April 4 and returning on Monday, April 7. However, they are still on the island as local authorities investigate Dinari’s death. 

Per the outlet, they also said that Dinari left his parents during dinner to explore the Atlantis resort, where they were staying. They said that nothing was amiss until hours later when resort staff members came to his parent’s room to ask about his whereabouts.

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According to Fox 5 DC, When Dinari’s parents noticed that his location sharing service became inactive, they began searching the property. Michelle also told Eyewitness News Bahamas that she had been trying to text her son to figure out where he was at the time.

They eventually filed a missing person’s report when they were unable to find him. After 1 a.m. local time on Saturday, Dinari’s parents were contacted by police about a report that her son allegedly “had spat” at someone, though the details were unclear, per Eyewitness News Bahamas.

Resort staff eventually returned to Dinari’s parent’s room to inform them that he was dead, Fox 5 DC reported.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our guests. Our thoughts and condolences are with the guest’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. This is an active police investigation, and we are fully cooperating,” a spokesperson for Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas Resort tells PEOPLE.

Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Shanta Knowles told Eyewitness News Bahamas that they are waiting on the results of Dinari’s autopsy before sharing more information with the public on their investigation into this case. 

However, authorities told the outlet that they have not classified the case as murder.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for comment.