Woman who went missing in Dominican Republic lay dying alone in hospital for EIGHT DAYS after fatal car crash which also killed her boyfriend as friends searched desperately for the couple

  • Portia Ravenelle, 32, and Orlando Moore, 43, were due to fly home on March 27 
  • Dominican police believe the pair suffered a car accident en route to the airport  
  • Woman was found unconscious on March 27 but died eight days later at hospital
  • A man's body with a tattoo consistent with Moore's washed ashore in the vicinity
  • Authorities believe the couple got into a car accident and plunged into the sea
  • Francesca Figueroa said on Wednesday that she was in Dominican Republic searching for the couple when they didn't return back to New York 
  • She said had she known her friend, Ravenelle, was dying in a hospital, she would've 'been there holding her hand'

The heartbroken friend of a New York couple said she was in the Dominican Republic searching for them while one lay dying in a hospital bed for eight days following a fatal car crash. 

Dominican Republic authorities announced the recovery of two bodies they believe are Orlando Moore, 43, and 32-year-old Portia Ravenelle on Tuesday night.  

The couple had not been heard from in two weeks and were last seen on the evening of March 26 before heading to the Las Americas airport for their 2am flight back to the US.

Francesca Figueroa said on Wednesday that she's been friends with Moore for 25 years.

Figueroa said she was in the Dominican Republic when authorities believe the couple got into a car accident and plunged into the sea.

'She had to die by herself,' Figueroa told CNN, referring to a local police report that said a woman, believed to be Ravenelle, was found injured on the highway and taken to the Darío Contreras Hospital unconscious with multiple injuries on March 27. 

The woman died eight days later, on April 4. 

Figueroa said had she known her friend was in the hospital, 'one of us could have been there holding her hand'. 

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Missing New York couple Portia Ravenelle, 32 (left), and Orlando Moore, 43, who vanished after checking out of their hotel in the Dominican Republic, were warned not to stop for locals while driving to the airport, which was about 100 miles away

Missing New York couple Portia Ravenelle, 32 (left), and Orlando Moore, 43, who vanished after checking out of their hotel in the Dominican Republic, were warned not to stop for locals while driving to the airport, which was about 100 miles away

Figueroa said she and her family went looking for the couple when they didn't return to New York on March 27. 

On March 31, Figueroa spoke to a US Embassy representative who told her 'no bodies were found' and there were no accidents reported, according to CNN.

But on Tuesday, authorities announced that the couple may have been involved in a car accident. 

Figueroa said she heard the news as she was on her way to the airport to go back home.

'I am saddened it took this many days to find out,' Figueroa told CNN.

Police said on Tuesday that they located a rental car at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea near the highway to the airport in Santa Domingo. The car is believed to be the couple's rental.

National police chief spokesman Col Frank Félix Durán Mejia said the car appeared to have been involved in a crash during the 100-mile journey to the airport in the early hours of March 27.  

Local authorities recovered a decomposing body on March 31 from the shore in Sans Souci. It is believed to be Orlando Moore

Local authorities recovered a decomposing body on March 31 from the shore in Sans Souci. It is believed to be Orlando Moore

Dominican police believe that the couple possibly suffered a car accident along the Las America freeway while en route to the Las Americas International Airport. The airport is about a two-hour drive from the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa, where the couple had been staying

Dominican police believe that the couple possibly suffered a car accident along the Las America freeway while en route to the Las Americas International Airport. The airport is about a two-hour drive from the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa, where the couple had been staying

From there it's believed that Moore's body was pushed about 19 miles from the crash site by the current. His body was found on the shores of San Souci

From there it's believed that Moore's body was pushed about 19 miles from the crash site by the current. His body was found on the shores of San Souci

Also on March 27, a woman, believed to be Ravenelle, was taken to a local hospital with multiple injuries. She died on April 4.  

On March 31, local authorities recovered a decomposing body on the shore in Sans Souci, roughly 19 miles from where the car accident took place.

Mejia said the two victims have 'similar characteristics' to Ravenelle and Moore. 

A tattoo on the decomposing body reportedly reads 'MILANO', which is consistent with one hat Moore has, according to CBS News.  

The couple's rental car was discovered by group of fishermen on a seabed near the Las Americas Highway, but as yet divers have been unable to recover the vehicle because of water conditions, police spokesman Colonel Frank Felix Durán said in a press conference on Tuesday. 

Durán said that they would be sending finger prints to the United States Embassy to help identify the bodies.

The Kia that the couple were said to have been driving is seen above

The Kia that the couple were said to have been driving is seen above

Colonel Frank Felix Durán (pictured) said in a press conference on Tuesday that police had located the couple's rental car in the Caribbean sea

Colonel Frank Felix Durán (pictured) said in a press conference on Tuesday that police had located the couple's rental car in the Caribbean sea 

The pair had been staying at the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa hoel in Samana (pictured). They checked out on March 26

The pair had been staying at the Gran Bahia Principe Cayacoa hoel in Samana (pictured). They checked out on March 26

Authorities had said earlier Tuesday that there was no evidence of foul play. 

The pair flew to the island on March 23 and met fellow holidaymakers Cheryl Freeman and her boyfriend Carter Washington at their resort in Samana. 

Freeman said Ravenelle told her she and Moore had gotten a good deal on their flights home without realizing the airport was so far away from where they were staying. 

The two couples made plans to spend the day together on March 26, taking Moore and Ravenelle's rental car to El Limón for guided sightseeing on horseback, which Moore had arranged.

While driving to the city, which is around 15 miles from Samana, Freeman said Ravenelle told her that she was very nervous about making the drive to the airport for their return flight to America. 

During that journey, a group of local men on motorbikes rode up to their car, and Ravenelle told Moore not to roll down the windows. 

On the way back, Freeman said Ravenelle kept asking Moore to be sure they had enough gas in the vehicle to make it to the airport without stopping.

The couples went their separate ways for dinner, Freeman said, and reconnected at around 8.30pm to go to a disco in Samana.

Ravenelle (right) had told Cheryl Freeman and her boyfriend Carter Washington (left) about the warning during a joint sightseeing on horseback excursion on March 26

Ravenelle (right) had told Cheryl Freeman and her boyfriend Carter Washington (left) about the warning during a joint sightseeing on horseback excursion on March 26

After a later trip to the disco in Semana on March 26, the two couples then said their goodbyes in the lobby at the resort between 9.30pm and 10pm. Washington (left) sent an email to Moore (right), Freeman said, wishing them well on the drive, but never got a reply

After a later trip to the disco in Semana on March 26, the two couples then said their goodbyes in the lobby at the resort between 9.30pm and 10pm. Washington (left) sent an email to Moore (right), Freeman said, wishing them well on the drive, but never got a reply

They then said their goodbyes in the lobby at the resort between 9.30pm and 10pm, and Ravenelle and Moore said they were going to pack and then get on the road to the airport.

Washington sent an email to Moore, Freeman said, wishing them well on the drive, but never got a reply.  

A spokesperson for the Dominican Republic State Department told DailyMail.com on Monday: 'We are aware of reports regarding a US couple missing in the Dominican Republic. 

'The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State.

'We stand ready to provide appropriate assistance to US citizens in need and to their families.

'When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts and share information with families however we can. 

'Due to privacy considerations, we have no further information to offer at this time. 

'For questions regarding investigations in the Dominican Republic, we refer you to local authorities.' 

The Dominican Republic is a popular choice for spring breakers and, in the resort-heavy area where the couple were staying, there are few safety concerns.   

While out on March 26, Freeman (right) said Ravenelle (left) told her she was told by the rental car company that locals would recognize the white Kia they were driving as a rental and may try to mug them

While out on March 26, Freeman (right) said Ravenelle (left) told her she was told by the rental car company that locals would recognize the white Kia they were driving as a rental and may try to mug them

Freeman said Ravenelle told her she and Moore had gotten a good deal on their flights home without realizing the airport was so far away from the resort where they were staying in Samana

Freeman said Ravenelle told her she and Moore had gotten a good deal on their flights home without realizing the airport was so far away from the resort where they were staying in Samana


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