Courtez Hall (left), Kandace Florence (center), and Jordan Marshall (right) were found dead in a Mexico City Airbnb last week (Pictures: GoFundMe)
Authorities are investigating the mysterious death of three Americans in an Mexico City Airbnb, whose bodies were discovered shortly after reporting feeling sick.
Jordan Marshall, Kandace Florence, and Courtez Hall were vacationing in Mexico for Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrated on November 1 and 2.
Marshall and Florence, both 28, were longtime friends from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hall, 33, was from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Florence was on the phone with her boyfriend on October 30 when she told him that she wasn’t feeling well. Shortly afterwards, their call was disconnected.
Kandace Florence owned a candle business in Virginia Beach, Virginia (Picture: Family Handout)
Florence’s boyfriend tried to get back in touch with her again, but repeated calls went unanswered. He then asked the Airbnb host to do a wellness check on the trio.
The host arrived to the Airbnb to find all three Americans dead. Mexican authorities are currently investigating the incident and determining a cause of death.
The US State Department said they were ‘closely monitoring’ the situation and investigation by Mexican authorities. ‘We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have nothing further to add at this time,’ the embassy stated.
Jordan Marshall, also from Virginia Beach, worked as a teacher in New Orleans (Picture: Family Handout)
Meanwhile, surviving relatives have claimed the language barrier has made it difficult to communicate with local authorities and the Airbnb host.
‘To lose your child is one thing, but in a whole other country and having to maneuver language barriers and travel and trying to get his body home, it’s been a lot,’ Marshall’s mother Jennifer Marshall told WAVY.
Hall’s family has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses and to repatriate his remains to the United States.
Marshall and Hall both worked as teachers in New Orleans. Hall had just started a job as a 7th grade history teacher at charter middle school KIPP Morial, the school confirmed to WDSU.
Courtez Hall, from Laplace, Louisiana, also worked as a teacher in New Orleans (Picture: GoFundMe)
‘This was Mr Hall’s first year teaching at KIPP Morial Middle School, and he quickly made a meaningful impact on our students,’ the school stated. ‘He was a bright light that helped our students shine in and out of the classroom. Our school community is heartbroken, and his family has our deepest sympathy, prayers, and condolences.’
Family members have not confirmed where Marshall taught in the city, but Jennifer Marshall did tell local news she was ‘glad that he did have that opportunity in his short time to make an impact.’
Florence owned her own candle business called Glo Through It. The company’s candles can be purchased both online and in local boutiques in Virginia Beach.
‘She wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people,’ Florence’s mother Freida Florence said.
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The trio reported feeling sick shortly before their bodies were discovered.
