Found Deceased Dominican Republic - Orlando Moore & Portia Ravenelle, from NY on vacation, April 2019

[ilovechili]

I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist, but this all does seem odd. Leaving a Jane Doe dying in a hospital for days left a lot of time to get stories straight, ducks in a row, etc. if any type of corruption or cover-up was going on.....

I don't think questioning a lack of information or facts that do not come together makes anyone a conspiracy theorist. In fact, that is often said and it is supposed to make us not question anything ever? I would sure hope jurors are not like that and do for sure look things over, analyze and question and come to the logical and most likely conclusion.

Not directed at you, I am just saying this case has too many questions yet and if human nature and our brains do not say hmm this is not adding up yet, explain it to me, well then I do not want to be part of that lol

I am also saying you are not a conspiracy theorist to do that

ETA: imo. and to clarify a setnence.

 

[LadyL]

is the car steering wheel on the right or left in a Dominican Republic car? I found one link that says the right but it only refers to Dominica so don't know if it means DR

if on the right, it would make sense that's Orlando's arm resting on the window if he's driving

and if the photo is of the car at the hotel, they could have had a guest in the back seat

 

[ilovechili]

is the car steering wheel on the right or left in a Dominican Republic car? I found one link that says the right but it only refers to Dominica so don't know if it means DR

if on the right, it would make sense that's Orlando's arm resting on the window if he's driving

and if the photo is of the car at the hotel, they could have had a guest in the back seat

Interestingly enough, we were looking that up at our house last night and had a very difficult time finding results. Based on what we could find, we decided it was likely on the left especially if a rental for an American tourist--and we also know they drive on the right side of the road it appears. Do not take my word for it though, it was just the likely conclusion we reached. Just like you, we had a difficult time finding results on those questions.

 

[bradfordsleuth]

The steering wheel is on the left side and you drive on the right side of the road in DR.

 

[Two for the road]

is the car steering wheel on the right or left in a Dominican Republic car? I found one link that says the right but it only refers to Dominica so don't know if it means DR

if on the right, it would make sense that's Orlando's arm resting on the window if he's driving

and if the photo is of the car at the hotel, they could have had a guest in the back seat

They drive just as we do in the U.S. except their traffic laws are more like guidelines. The DR was at one time (I haven't checked updated info) the 2nd highest per capita for auto related deaths. Many people have died in case accidents there. Which is why I'm having a hard time understanding why all the conspiracy theories.

 

[Micmecca]

Timeline of events: 3/27 they leave hotel, 3/27 Portia is found badly injured and taken to hospital, 3/31 Orlando's body is found, 4/4 Portia dies, 4/4 DR authorities begin looking for missing couple, 4/9 fishermen claim they heard crash, 4/9 fishermen lead police to a spot where they say a car is on the seabed, 4/9 authorities announce they have found car and have identified the bodies of the couple, 4/9 authorities say it appears it was an accident.

 

[TTF14]

Timeline of events: 3/27 they leave hotel, 3/27 Portia is found badly injured and taken to hospital, 3/31 Orlando's body is found, 4/4 Portia dies, 4/4 DR authorities begin looking for missing couple, 4/9 fishermen claim they heard crash, 4/9 fishermen lead police to a spot where they say a car is on the seabed, 4/9 authorities announce they have found car and have identified the bodies of the couple, 4/9 authorities say it appears it was an accident.

Thank you, MM. When did their families in the US report them missing? When were DR officials notified they were missing?

 

[katsrfun]

I'm still uncertain. That interview with the Canuks makes it seem like they had only realized that last day, when they visited the waterfall prior to sharing the bottle of rum, how far the airport actually was to travel to. Doesn't seem like they'd already driven it from the airport to the hotel.

Hello, all. Still they had to get from the airport to the hotel somehow. So, they must have had a clue how far it actually was, no? I am baffled here as to what happened to these people. Very sad, whatever, accident or something else. JMO. Katt

 

[thelesis]

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

My bet is on incompetent police and not any sort of deliberate cover-up. Tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless. Americans and Canadians really seem to be into the idea that anywhere outside a handful of countries is really a hellhole where you'll be murdered any minute. I did the resort thing in DR and felt safe. I would feel safer there than a lot of places in the US, that's for sure!

 

[Vern]

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

My bet is on incompetent police and not any sort of deliberate cover-up. Tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless. Americans and Canadians really seem to be into the idea that anywhere outside a handful of countries is really a hellhole where you'll be murdered any minute. I did the resort thing in DR and felt safe. I would feel safer there than a lot of places in the US, that's for sure!

Me too. DR as well as some 3rd world countries.

 

[Plo_Koon]

They drive just as we do in the U.S. except their traffic laws are more like guidelines. The DR was at one time (I haven't checked updated info) the 2nd highest per capita for auto related deaths. Many people have died in case accidents there. Which is why I'm having a hard time understanding why all the conspiracy theories.

So since they have the 2nd highest per capita for auto related deaths that means that all deaths there should automatically be chalked up as auo-related? I don't have an opinion either way, but just because someone may want some firm information doesn't automatically mean you should label them as conspiracy theorists. I believe it was said above that the United States State Department wanted more information on the case, so I guess they are purporting a conspiracy theory.

 

[Plo_Koon]

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

My bet is on incompetent police and not any sort of deliberate cover-up. Tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless. Americans and Canadians really seem to be into the idea that anywhere outside a handful of countries is really a hellhole where you'll be murdered any minute. I did the resort thing in DR and felt safe. I would feel safer there than a lot of places in the US, that's for sure!

Quite a broad brush you used there to paint us all with.

 

[Two for the road]

So since they have the 2nd highest per capita for auto related deaths that means that all deaths there should automatically be chalked up as auo-related? I don't have an opinion either way, but just because someone may want some firm information doesn't automatically mean you should label them as conspiracy theorists. I believe it was said above that the United States State Department wanted more information on the case, so I guess they are purporting a conspiracy theory.

Calm down. That's not what I said. I'm just saying if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck...it's a duck. We have a car in the sea, two dead and nothing else. If they were being robbed, the thieves went through an awful lot of trouble to dispose of the car when they could have sold it piece by piece for scrap.

I think people are viewing this through a "this is how we do it here" lens when in reality there is a very big difference in the way investigations are conducted here versus there.

 

[Satchie]

Although I believe it was an accident, the timeline bothers me:

Left Halifax friends to pack between 9:30 & 10:00 to catch a 2:00 plant 2:20 drive.

My husband & I could pack-up 4 days of clothes in less than 1/2, but let's presume 1 hour? That would put them leaving at 10:30 or 11.00. Add say 2 1/2 trip which could include checking out, which would put them at the airport at 1:30.

The were at the toll both 9 minutes after the flight left. Presuming the plane left on time, that's about 40 minutes difference and that nags me.

I remember following a trial on this site which depended on surveillance footage (from 2013), and the forensic expert explained that every single CCTV system had an incorrect date stamp, he'd had to correct for the error to determine the real time. I don't know whether that issue has been solved since then, or the kinds of systems in toll booths in the DR, but ever since, if a time stamp seems to make no sense, I consider it's possible it's inaccurate.

Also, there is a flight to Newark leaves at 1:30, I think they would have been aiming for that.

 

[margarita25]

I don't think questioning a lack of information or facts that do not come together makes anyone a conspiracy theorist. In fact, that is often said and it is supposed to make us not question anything ever? I would sure hope jurors are not like that and do for sure look things over, analyze and question and come to the logical and most likely conclusion.

Not directed at you, I am just saying this case has too many questions yet and if human nature and our brains do not say hmm this is not adding up yet, explain it to me, well then I do not want to be part of that lol

I am also saying you are not a conspiracy theorist to do that

ETA: imo. and to clarify a setnence.

I’m still catching up and behind, but thank you for saying this because I felt a little odd questioning further.

We are Web Sleuthers who have collectively seen infinite cases. If WE see the need to question certain things, then I trust in this process. It doesn’t mean it’s the “be all end all”, just means we are questioning further. We are only crossing our “t’s” and dotting our “i’s”.

Was this just an unfortunate accident? It is likely that it very well was.

(Ftr: I’d be lying if I said Princess Di didn’t pop in my head)

 

[Satchie]

Pretty sure the vehicle is being retrieved and the FBI will reconstruct what happened to it, probably not so much expertise on that in DR.

 

[margarita25]

Pretty sure the vehicle is being retrieved and the FBI will reconstruct what happened to it, probably not so much expertise on that in DR.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — FBI

Central America :: Dominican Republic — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency

——

ETA: Wow!! Just seeing this! (Sorry I told you guys I was behind!)

New York lawmakers urge FBI to investigate crash that killed Mount Vernon tourists in Dominican Republic

“Two New York congressman have asked the FBI to investigate the deaths of a Westchester couple who died after an apparent car wreck while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.”

Snip

““We write to request an immediate investigation into the reported deaths of Orlando Moore and Portia Ravenelle who never returned from their vacation in the Dominican Republic,” U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel and Adriano Espaillat said in a letter Wednesday to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

“The FBI must work quickly to conduct a thorough investigation regarding details of their reported deaths that raise questions for us. It is essential that this investigation be conducted expeditiously so that both families can receive the closure they deserve.”

(Well darn, I don’t feel bad at all anymore for wanting to “dot my i’s”...)

 

[acutename]

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

My bet is on incompetent police and not any sort of deliberate cover-up. Tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless. Americans and Canadians really seem to be into the idea that anywhere outside a handful of countries is really a hellhole where you'll be murdered any minute. I did the resort thing in DR and felt safe. I would feel safer there than a lot of places in the US, that's for sure!

a lot of the travel web sites say to not drive at night- so, it makes you think it is not safe, IMO.

 

[ilovechili]

I’m still catching up and behind, but thank you for saying this because I felt a little odd questioning further.

We are Web Sleuthers who have collectively seen infinite cases. If WE see the need to question certain things, then I trust in this process. It doesn’t mean it’s the “be all end all”, just means we are questioning further. We are only crossing our “t’s” and dotting our “i’s”.

Was this just an unfortunate accident? It is likely that it very well was.

(Ftr: I’d be lying if I said Princess Di didn’t pop in my head)

Very well said. Asking questions to get all of the answers is not conspiracy for goodness sakes.

Princess Di now there was a case with many questions from a variety of different countries and places in the world, a variety of people from all walks of life, etc. no doubt

It may be just me but I do not see looking into cases without then taking sometimes the few bits we are provided and asking questions and connecting the pieces or dots together to get the full picture. At least to me, that is what it is about as well as a deep sympathy for victims and their loved ones.

The State Department, authorities here, congressmen and the families have questions per an article posted earlier and want further answers. I do not think they are conspiracy theorists (the families are victims) and if they have questions, why wouldn't others? They and LE know more than we do. In fact, I would have to look back but even the Dominican was still trying to determine the reason for the "crash" (paraphrasing). Why would anyone assume we know more than all of the foregoing mentioned when it is still being looked into quite seriously, as it should be, and there will likely be more information to come? Just my opinion though

There are several cases in which I have no problem knowing in fairly short order the perp is guilty, it was just one perp and I convict (make my own call on what I think). In others I have questions. Each case is different and I am pretty sure I will have questions in some and not as many in others.

As you say, some of us need to dot the i's, cross the t's or connect the dots.

I see since I started you are starting to catch up with reading further articles and posts

In this case here, dots do not connect yet for me.

That is just my opinion though and I do not expect anyone else to have anything but their own opinion as well

Finally, I think most people if this was your sister or brother or daughter or son would be surprised how many questions we ourselves would have as the family of the victim, feel the need to ask and have the answers to, etc.

All just my opinion.

 

[Indy Anna]

a lot of the travel web sites say to not drive at night- so, it makes you think it is not safe, IMO.

In the video of the drive along the highway posted by Satchie (# 150), there are street lights but I wonder if all of them are lit at night. In the town where I used to live, here in the U.S., city council decided to leave many of the street lights off at night to save energy costs. When my sister was visiting, she commented on how dark it was in places.

When the road is so dark for lack of lighting, it can be hard to discern the road from a nearby body of water. At least, that was my experience when I was about 10 and my family stopped at a campsite while on vacation. A tornado and heavy rainfall had just been through the area, so much of the campground was under water. My dad was driving to the camp store to purchase something and I went with him. It was a terrifying experience, as I couldn't tell if we were still on the road.

If PR (presuming she was driving) turned around momentarily as they came to the curve in the road, she could easily have become disoriented if the road wasn't well lit, and lost control. I wonder if it's possible she was ejected through the windshield. I was very confused after reading last night about the bodies found, but after reading here it seems more plausible it was an accident. However, I hope there is a thorough investigation. I was hoping so much the couple would be found alive, but knew it was unlikely at this point. :-(