Maryland
Maryland man visiting Mexico for a wedding mysteriously found dead
The search for answers is underway after a Maryland man visiting Mexico for a destination wedding was mysteriously found dead at a popular resort in Cancun.
A week after the death, the family of Chez Johnson, 31, said his body still has not been sent to the United States.
Yulanda Williams, Johnson’s mother, told WJZ on Wednesday the last time she spoke with her son was before he left on Jan. 15 for a co-worker’s destination wedding.
The next day, she said she received a call from a family friend stating that he had been found dead.
“I got a call around 12-1 o’clock that Chez had died, that he had fallen off a balcony in Mexico,” Yulanda Williams said.
Williams describes her son as a “character” who loved fashion, traveling, and his family. He was looking to further his education after graduating from Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) two years ago.
“He was my partner in crime,” Williams said. “He went to every function I ever wanted to go to. He was pescatarian. We always seemed to be eating seafood.”
Now, Williams is demanding for the official police and autopsy report from Mexican authorities and wants answers as to how her son died less than a month after his 31st birthday.
“They just would not talk to me”
Williams shared Johnson’s last known location with WJZ. He was at the all-inclusive Riu Caribe hotel in Cancun, Mexico, for his co-worker’s wedding.
The only way Willaims got any information regarding her son’s death was by FaceTiming a family friend who was also on the trip.
“The young lady Tierra, who is my uncle’s daughter, had confirmed it,” Williams said. “So I needed her to call me, so she FaceTimed me, and I wanted to see Chez’s body. But they wouldn’t let me see. So, she had to confirm that it was him.”
Williams said, “Tierra was telling them, ‘This is his mom. You know, this is his mom. Y’all have to talk to her,’ and they just would not talk to me.”
“He is a gay male so it’s no telling how they treat people over there,” said Shantia Smith, Johnson’s sister-in-law.
“Who was the last person to see him?”
Nearly a week after the incident, Williams says no local law enforcement agency in Mexico has yet to reach out to her directly about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. She only knows what friends on the trip have been told.
The only video and pictures she had received are of the now empty stairwell and balcony the alleged incident happened.
“They said he had no defensive wounds on him, his body was the impact on his body from the fall,” Williams said. “He told me it wasn’t from him falling down the steps. It was from him falling from a height. They first told me that his leg was broken. Then they told the young lady, Tierra, told me that his ankle was broken. So, like, what is it? So that’s why I was like, ‘I need to get the police report, because it’s conflicting stories.’”
Williams said, “She said they were like big boulders about ‘this big,’ like eight of them when they showed her. And she said when she went back, everything was gone and everything was cleaned up.”
Williams continued, “Cameras didn’t point into the stairwell. They pointed outside. When she asked about the camera, I asked ‘Well, do they have audio? No audio.’”
“We called the police station, we were on hold, they hung up,” Smith said. “We called again and said they do not speak English and they hung up. The hotel has not answered the phone.”
Smith and Williams also expressed difficulty working with a funeral director in Cancun.
“They changed the price twice, because at first it was like 174,000 pesos,” Smith said. “Then we had our funeral home here contact them. She said that she would discount it to like $7,000. But then, when she found out that we had an insurance policy that can cover some of the expenses, she took the price back up.”
Smith added, “Y’all dangling him in front of us, like, ‘hey, look, you can have this property when you pay the money, we’ll send the property.’ It’s the same thing.”
“I am in mommy mode trying to get things done, I am on the phone all day, trying to, you know, try to maneuver some things,” Williams said. “So, it’s heartbreaking. And my family is really suffering because Chez was loved by my family and so many people.”
WJZ reached out to the U.S. Consulate General Merida and received an automated voicemail and email.
Riu Resorts has yet to respond to our inquiries.
“Maybe somebody can investigate this place, I know it is all inclusive but you have, it has to, it has to be a limit,” Williams said. “He was my youngest, my youngest son. I just needed confirmation. I don’t want them there, I really want him home. So that I can put him in his resting place. That’s what I want.”
Johnson’s sister-in-law said as of Thursday morning, the family has set up an online fundraiser and they are working with the Mexican embassy on a potential investigation. But still a lot of questions remain, including how they’re going to get his body home.
Other recent reports of deaths in Cancun
In 2024, a 12-year-old boy was killed after gunmen on jet skis opened fire at a beach in Cancun, authorities said, marking another incident of deadly violence at a Mexican resort in recent years.
Mexican prosecutors said in a statement, that the gunmen were targeting a rival drug dealer on the beach and fled after the barrage of bullets.
The boy, a local resident, was apparently lying on a lounge chair on the beach with his family when he was hit by stray bullets. The boy was taken to a local hospital where he later died, according to authorities.
In February 2024, three people were shot dead by gunmen – one who arrived and fled aboard a boat – in Acapulco.
In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs.
In 2021, further south in Tulum, two tourists — one a California travel blogger born in India and a German national — were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dea.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel alert in Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is located. The alert warns travelers to “exercise increased caution” in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
Online, the advisory summary notifies tourists of the violent crimes that can take place, and can include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery.
LAUREL, Md. (7News) — Police in Laurel are investigating a shooting that injured two people during what authorities said was an online marketplace meet-up.
ALSO READ | Laurel police identify wanted suspect in Cinco de Mayo shooting
The incident was reported around 12:35 p.m. on Sunday.
Officers responded to the 14700 block of Baltimore Avenue, police said, where they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds near the Harris Teeter in Laurel Towne Centre.
Both victims were taken to trauma centers with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said. Investigators said preliminary findings indicate the shooting happened during a planned exchange tied to an online sale.
SEE ALSO | At least 1 hurt after pair of shootings in Laurel
In a statement, a police spokesperson urged residents to use designated safe-exchange locations when completing online transactions. The investigation remains ongoing.
MARYLAND (WBFF) — Gov. Wes Moore vetoed a bill that was backed by Maryland press organizations that sought to steer more state advertising dollars to local news outlets.
The Local News for Maryland Communities Act of 2026, also known as Senate Bill 459, would have established a goal for state agencies to spend at least 50% of their advertising budgets with Maryland news organizations. The measure exempted campaigns aimed at out-of-state audiences, including tourism and recruitment advertising.
The bill’s third reader passed the General Assembly’s Senate unanimously both times and went 129-7 in the House of Delegates.
Supporters said the bill would provide financial support to local journalism without requiring additional state spending. They also argued it could serve as a model for other states looking to bolster local media.
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.
Maryland
Governor Moore Continues “Delivering for Maryland” Tour in Allegany and Garrett Counties One Year after Historic Floods, Highlighting Infrastructure and Recover
Updated:
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today concluded a two-day “Delivering for Maryland” tour through Allegany and Garrett counties. The tour highlighted the Moore-Miller Administration’s investments in rural infrastructure and long-term recovery following last year’s devastating floods. Throughout the tour, Governor Moore emphasized the administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind when crisis strikes.
“When our people need help, political parties do not matter; what matters is that we are all Marylanders,” said Gov. Moore. “This tour is a testament to what we can achieve when local and state leaders come together to rebuild, and support our neighbors in need. We are committed to delivering for Western Maryland because leaving no one behind isn’t just a slogan—it is the guiding principle of how we govern.”
The governor began the day touring the City of Frostburg’s Water Treatment Plant. Governor Moore highlighted the city’s use of $400,000 from the Fiscal Year 2027 capital grants investment to address water infrastructure upgrades and their water resiliency project. State funding will target critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs to the plant, which serves 9,500 local customers and faces increased demand as it regularly supports the broader George’s Creek Valley water system. As climate variability and regional reliance place growing strain on the City of Frostburg’s existing infrastructure, the project is a critical investment in public health, sustainability, and regional cooperation.
“The City of Frostburg is incredibly grateful to Governor Moore and the General Assembly for prioritizing Western Maryland’s needs, and for helping us to ensure the availability of safe, clean water to our citizens, and others throughout Allegany County,” said Frostburg Mayor Todd Logsdon. “The Frostburg Water Sustainability Project is a great example of how leaders can come together to put our citizens first and ensure that the people of Frostburg and all of Western Maryland have a better quality of life.”
Governor Moore then visited the Town of Midland, making history as the first sitting governor to visit the municipality in its recorded history. Alongside Mayor John Monahan, the governor toured the construction site of the new Midland Town Hall, supported by a $50,000 state legislative bond initiative. The former town hall is the oldest operating town hall in Maryland. The governor’s flood recovery investments through the FY 2027 budget include $5.5 million for George’s Creek riverbed restoration, which will directly mitigate sediment build-up along the riverbanks, prevent future breaches, and protect local homes and public parks in Midland.
“We want to thank the Governor for joining us in Midland today during his time in Mountain Maryland, and for being the first governor to visit us in our town’s recorded history,” said Midland Mayor John Monahan. “It was a great opportunity to show him how state investment contributed to our new town hall, and to show him the baseball fields and playground that were proudly rebuilt by our community following last year’s floods. And I’m thankful for the Governor’s flood investments into the region. As I’ve said, I didn’t want a politician, I wanted our town to have a friend. In Governor Moore, we have a friend.”
The governor then traveled to Westernport, where he toured the newly renovated first floor of Westernport Elementary School. One year ago, rising floodwaters forced emergency swiftwater rescue teams to evacuate approximately 150 students and 50 adults from the school. Working in lockstep with the state, the school system leveraged $5 million in insurance funding to complete repairs ahead of schedule, officially reopening the first floor earlier this month.
“We are so happy that the governor is here to celebrate the resiliency of our community,” said Allegany County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano. “It really matters a lot to our community overall that he is here acknowledging the hard work and dedication about carrying it out.”
The governor then visited the temporary space of the Westernport Library—the heart of the Westernport community—and walked to the Potomac Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 Firehouse to address families, volunteers, and local leaders from Westernport, Lonaconing, Midland, Cumberland, and Frostburg.
During his remarks, the governor detailed his $12 million flood recovery operating investment included in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The investment includes $5.5 million for George’s Creek riverbed restoration to mitigate future flood risks; $5.5 million for repairs to infrastructure, including sewers, waterlines, roads, and bridges; and $1 million to restore the foundation and structural stability of the Westernport Library. These investments follow the nearly $1.5 million in immediate relief provided through the State Disaster Recovery Fund and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to support impacted families last year. The governor also presented a Governor’s Citation to Mayor Judy Hamilton, honoring her dedicated public service as her tenure concludes at the end of the month.
“Today is about more than the reopening of a library — it’s a testament to the resilience of Mountain Maryland,” said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. “I remember well just a year ago trudging through the deep mud and witnessing the overturned bookshelves alongside Governor Moore and local leaders. Moreover, I came away with a deep respect for the kind neighbors who quickly arrived with shovels in hand. At a time when the Trump Administration repeatedly denied well-deserved FEMA emergency funding, our Governor stepped up with aid because he believes that no Marylander should ever be left behind. I was proud to work with Team Maryland on recovery efforts and to witness our Governor’s $12 million investment in these communities so they have the necessary resources to rebuild and recover.”
“The Westernport Library has always been the heart of our town, a safe gathering space where our community connects, learns, and grows,” said Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton. “Governor Moore’s $12 million flood recovery investment, including his $1 million investment to rebuild our library, ensures that the heart of Westernport will beat stronger than ever. We are profoundly grateful for the governor’s recognition of what this space means to our residents, and for his standing by us as we rebuild our beloved community.”
“Disaster recovery takes partnership and collaboration at every level. We authorized the first-ever use of the State Disaster Recovery Fund for Allegany County residents which is still supporting recovery efforts today, and the placement of a Maryland Mesonet weather station in Westernport will enhance warnings for residents in future storms,” said Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russ Strickland. “We will continue to support Mountain Maryland in their recovery efforts.”
Governor Moore concluded his visit to Allegany and Garrett counties alongside Mayor Don Sincell at the newly relocated and restored Bethel AME Church in Mountain Lake Park. Originally established in Oakland in 1872, the church is the first historic African American house of worship in Garrett County. The structure was salvaged, relocated, and rededicated as a cultural center to share the overlooked history of Black railroad, farm, and service workers who helped build the Western Maryland region. The restoration project was made possible through a strong partnership with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Historical Trust.
“Bethel AME Church is a cornerstone of our community’s history, and preserving it means preserving the soul of Mountain Lake Park and Garrett County,” said Mountain Lake Park Mayor Don Sincell. “We are incredibly grateful for the state funding that has made this relocation and restoration a reality. Having Governor Moore here to witness this milestone shows his genuine commitment to protecting the heritage and future of every Maryland town, no matter how small.”
The governor’s engagements in Allegany and Garrett counties began yesterday at Frostburg University, where he delivered the commencement address to the Frostburg State University (FSU) Class of 2026. The governor celebrated the exceptional service and action demonstrated by Class of 2026 and recognized the university’s vital civic role during the 2025 flood crisis. Later that afternoon, the governor joined bluegrass music legend and National Heritage Fellow Del McCoury at the 18th annual DelFest at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. Before a crowd of thousands, Governor Moore declared Thursday, May 21, 2026, as “Del McCoury Day” in Maryland, celebrating Del’s legacy in traditional bluegrass and Appalachian culture.
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