Two of the three Americans who were tragically found dead in a Mexico City Airbnb after accidentally inhaling carbon monoxide remember their indelible mark as teachers.
Jordan Marshall, 28, and Courtez Hall, 33, were discovered dead alongside Kandace Florence, 33, on hire during a wellness check on Oct. 30.
Marshall, a Virginia native, taught in the Washington DC school system for about six years before moving to New Orleans in 2021.
His sister, Jasmine Marshall, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that her brother was a Grade 12 English teacher at the charter school Rosenwald Collegiate Academy.
“Jordan was very passionate about teaching. He was very fond of the students. We’ve actually heard from a few of them over the past few days just saying how much they’ll miss him and how much they love him,’ Jasmine said over the phone.
Jordan Marshall was one of three Americans found dead in a Mexico City Airbnb on Oct. 30 due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The 28-year-old spent around six years teaching in Washington DC after graduating from Hampton University and took a job in New Orleans last year as a 12th grade English teacher. year.
Cortez Hall had only taught for a year at a charter school in New Orleans. The 33-year-old died while vacationing in Mexico City on October 30
Her brother, she recalls, decided he wanted a new challenge and began applying to schools in California, Texas and New Orleans.
Jasmine praised Jordan for the positive impact he wanted to instill in the African American community.
“You don’t see a lot of black teachers. So that’s one thing I’m so happy that he was thinking mostly about black boys and girls,’ she said. “Just being that representation for them, I think, was just wonderful. He was a great mentor to them. Someone they could look up to. Just very passionate about making a difference in their lives and that’s what we’re most proud of.
Jasmine said her family last heard of Jordan when he called his mother to let her mother know he was on his way to the airport with Florence on October 29. They then met Hall, who flew separately that day.
Florence felt bad and told her boyfriend during a conversation. The phone call was dropped at some point and her boyfriend was unable to call her back. He then contacted the Airbnb host.
Virginia resident Kandace Florence flew to Mexico City to celebrate Day of the Dead festivities with two of her friends. Florence contacted her boyfriend on October 30 to tell him she was not feeling well. At some point the phone call was interrupted and her boyfriend tried to call her back on the phone. He then contacted the Airbnb host for a health check, and authorities found Florence and her two friends dead in the apartment.
Virginia Beach native Jordan Marshall was one of three Americans who died while vacationing in Mexico City last week. He and two friends were found dead inside the Airbnb home they were renting on October 30
The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office told DailMail.com that security and police visited the apartment after a report of a strong smell of gas was reported and discovered the death of Marshall, Florence and Hall.
Jasmine said she learned of her tragedy after Florence’s boyfriend contacted her via Instagram on October 31 and flew away with her parents on November 1.
She said her brother’s remains were repatriated to the United States on Tuesday and a funeral service was scheduled for Friday.
Jordan befriended Hall after moving to New Orleans and had known Florence since her high school days.
Hall, who was originally from Georgia, taught seventh-grade history at KIPP Morial School.
He had been teaching for only a year and had taken a liking to his new profession after working for Aetna and Target.
“Not only the staff loved him, but all the students loved him too. And he was just a great person all around. He loved teaching,’ Hall’s sister, Tanieeka Hall, told DailyMail.com.
Tamieeka described his brother as a “jokester” who was also serious about having a lasting impact on the lives of his students at the charter school.
“He always encouraged them to do their best,” she said. “Not only was he serious about being an educator, but he was also down to earth with the kids. But they knew that with their work, he was not playing with the work. I think that’s why the kids liked him so much because they could relate to them.
Unlike Marshall, Hall’s body is still in a morgue in Mexico City awaiting transport to New Orleans.
Although the families of Marshall and Florence learned on Tuesday that carbon monoxide played a role in their deaths, Tamieeka said her family isn’t sure that’s the case.
“We spoke to the US Embassy and others yesterday and they told us the investigation was still ongoing and we would like them to continue the investigation,” she said. . “They said they still haven’t determined the cause of death. They performed an autopsy, but they haven’t notified us yet. They said it would take time to get it. When they get it back, they’ll let us know.
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