A family member says authorities have revealed to them the cause of death for the three Americanswho were found dead in an Airbnb they rented in Mexicoto celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Jasmine Marshall tells PEOPLE that her 28-year-old brother, Jordan Marshall, died of carbon monoxide poisoning last month. His friend Kandace Florence, also 28, and boyfriend, Courtez Hall, 33, were alsofound dead inside an Airbnb in Mexico City’s La Rosita neighborhoodon Oct. 30.
Jasmine said her father received an email from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, which included a translated police report that indicated the cause of death.
“As of right now they believe there was a water heater that was improperly installed that caused the carbon monoxide poisoning,” she tells PEOPLE. “They are still investigating to see who installed it. Hopefully they will continue to update us. But that is the latest update we received.”
A rep for Airbnb did not reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
(L-R) Jordan Marshall, Kandace Florence, and Courtez Hall.FaceBook
The American trio were in Mexico’s capital city for Dia de Los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, a national holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, Jasminepreviously told PEOPLE.
After finding out from Kandace’s boyfriend, Victor Day, that their loved one had died, Jordan’s family traveled to Mexico City in search of answers and to arrange for a funeral home there to ship his body home for burial.
Day was not with the group in Mexico but had been talking to Kandace, whotold him she wasn’t feeling wellin the early hours of Oct. 30. After he was unable to get a hold of her in the morning, he contacted the Airbnb host and asked if they could check on the group.
The host called Day back and told him “they found all three of them in the apartment unresponsive without vital signs,” he previously told PEOPLE.
When he heard from the host again, he was told “that they were all pronounced deceased.”
“We can confirm the death of three U.S. citizens in Mexico,” a State Department spokesperson told PEOPLE on Nov 8. “We are closely monitoring local authorities' investigation into the cause of death. 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.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Jasmine previously told PEOPLE that her brother loved to travel and had visited Croatia, Iceland, Morocco, and Italy during his time off as a school teacher in Virginia Beach.
About a year ago,he started a travel consultancy business. “That’s how Jordan was,” his mother, Jennifer Marshall, told PEOPLE. “He was a free bird.”
Loved ones said that Kandace, who “worked tirelessly” for her future, was an inspiration to her Virginia Beach community.
“We lost a massive light in our community when we lost Kandace, owner of Glo Through It candles + self-care,” read a message on aGoFundMestarted to help her family with memorial expenses.
Her mother, Freida Florence, told WTKR that instead of celebrating her 29th birthday on Nov. 10, they would be holding a candlelight vigil.
“It’s been so hard,” Ceola Hall told New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU. “I would hate to see any parents go through what I went through with my son, I didn’t expect to hear this about my son. No one expects that.”
source: people.com
