Bodies found confirmed to be missing NY couple in Dominican Republic: officials

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — Two bodies found days ago have been confirmed to be a missing couple who were vacationing in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Republic Embassy said Wednesday.

The embassy said in a statement Wednesday that Orlando Moore and Portia Ravenelle died due to a car accident that occurred “a few days ago” near the airport in Santo Domingo.

Orlando Moore and Portia Ravenelle were supposed to return to New York from the Dominican Republic on March 27, said Moore’s half-sister, Lashay Turner, who said she reported him missing two days later after the couple didn’t return.

Moore’s family had not heard from him since he left for the Dominican Republican on March 23 from Newark Liberty International Airport, Lashay Turner said. The couple left a car at the airport.

Authorities believe the couple’s rental car plunged into the ocean in the early hours of March 27 as they were on their way to catch a flight home.

A review of the airport surveillance cameras revealed that the couple never made it inside the airport building.

Fishermen reported a vehicle in the ocean, according to Duran Mejia. Divers have not been able to identify the vehicle because of rough seas.

Authorities said earlier Tuesday there is no evidence of foul play in the disappearance of the couple, who were vacationing in the Caribbean country.