A Marine Corps drill instructor was found dead in a hotel room in Starke, Florida, officials confirmed Monday. On May 30, 24-year-old Sgt. Albert Haynes II was discovered dead at a hotel in Starke, Florida. According to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Sgt. Haynes was a drill instructor assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. The Bradford County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, fellow Marines, and loved ones of Sgt. Haynes. His service to this country deserves honor and respect — and his family deserves answers.

While the investigation is ongoing, families in similar situations often have important legal rights they are not yet aware of. This article explains what Florida law may allow when a loved one dies at a hotel, and what steps families should consider taking now.

The Bradford County Sheriff's Department is actively investigating the death of Sgt. Haynes. In cases like this, law enforcement focuses on determining the cause and manner of death — whether it involves criminal activity by a third party, a failure by the property, or other circumstances.

Regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, a separate civil investigation may be warranted to determine whether the hotel's security failures — broken access controls, inadequate lighting, lack of security personnel, or failure to respond to prior incidents — contributed to the conditions that led to this tragedy.

A criminal investigation and a civil negligent security claim are two separate legal processes. One does not need to conclude before the other can begin.

Florida premises liability and negligent security law imposes a duty on hotels to take reasonable steps to protect their guests from foreseeable harm — including criminal activity by third parties.

To establish a negligent security claim against a hotel, Florida law generally requires showing:

1. The hotel owed a duty of care to the guest — hotels owe the highest duty of care to paying guests
2. The hotel breached that duty by failing to provide adequate security measures
3. The breach was a cause of the injury or death
4. Damages resulted — physical injury, death, and financial losses suffered by the victim and family

The critical legal question is whether the harm was foreseeable — meaning the hotel knew or should have known that criminal activity or violence was a risk on or near the property.

Common hotel security failures that Florida courts have examined in negligent security cases include:

• Broken or unsecured room door locks — a guest's room must be a secure space
• Malfunctioning key card systems that allow unauthorized access to guest floors or rooms
• Inadequate security cameras in hallways, stairwells, parking areas, and entrances
• Lack of security personnel during overnight hours
• Failure to respond to prior incidents of violence, trespassing, or criminal activity at the property
• Poor lighting in corridors, parking lots, and exterior areas
• Failure to screen or remove dangerous individuals from the property
• No emergency response protocols for guest safety incidents

When a person dies due to another party's negligence in Florida, surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim under Florida's Wrongful Death Act (§768.16–768.26).

For a 24-year-old victim like Sgt. Haynes, the potential damages can be significant and may include:

• Loss of companionship and protection for surviving parents and siblings
• Mental pain and suffering for surviving family members
• Loss of future net accumulations — the income and savings Sgt. Haynes would have earned over a full career and lifetime
• Medical and funeral expenses incurred as a result of the death
• Loss of support and services provided to the family

Florida's wrongful death statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death (§95.11(4)(d)). For a death that occurred on May 30, 2026, that deadline is May 30, 2028 — but waiting is never advisable. Evidence disappears quickly, and the sooner an attorney begins investigating, the stronger the case.

In hotel death cases, critical evidence can be lost within days:

• Security camera footage is typically overwritten every 24 to 72 hours — some systems overwrite even faster
• Hotel incident reports and maintenance records may be altered or withheld once litigation is anticipated
• Key card access logs showing who entered and exited the room and when
• Staff communications about the incident
• Physical evidence at the scene that may already have been disturbed

An experienced Florida negligent security attorney can send a legal hold letter to the hotel immediately, demanding that all surveillance footage, access logs, incident reports, maintenance records, and security staffing records be preserved. This is one of the most important steps a family can take in the days following a tragedy.

Sgt. Haynes served his country with honor. His family has the same legal rights as any other Florida family when it comes to holding a negligent property owner accountable for a preventable death.

Military service does not limit or waive a family's right to pursue a civil negligent security or wrongful death claim against a private hotel or property owner in Florida. These are entirely separate from any military proceedings or benefits.

Juan Cordero Lawyers represents victims and families throughout Florida in negligent security, wrongful death, and premises liability cases — including hotel deaths, apartment complex violence, and other crimes and tragedies that occur on commercial property.

Attorney Juan J. Cordero is a Top 100 Trial Lawyer with 26+ years of experience fighting for Florida families. He is also a former Special Operations Army Aviation soldier who served with Task Force 118 — giving him a deep personal respect for those who serve in uniform and a commitment to fighting for their families when they need it most.

We handle all wrongful death and negligent security cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.

Call us 24/7 at 305-525-8957 for a free, confidential consultation.

If your loved one was killed at a Florida hotel and you have questions about your legal rights, we are here to help. There is no obligation and no cost to speak with us.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and details may change as more information becomes available. Juan Cordero Lawyers extends its condolences to the family and fellow Marines of Sgt. Albert Haynes II.

Related: Jacksonville Hotel Shooting: Negligent Security & Wrongful Death Claims | What Is Negligent Security in Florida? | Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida?