Have you seen this man? Photos: Facebook/Searching for Darryl Fornatora
A few weeks ago, I wrote a story about Darryl Fornatora, a surfer who vanished under mysterious circumstances in the Dominican Republic. Now, almost three months after his disappearance, new details have come to light that makes his travel partner, Matt Rigby, look pretty bad.
Back in late January, Fornatora and Rigby got off the plane. They checked into their hotel in Cabaret, Fornatora texted his mother, and then went for a surf. His mother never heard from him again. Although the pair was supposed to fly home together on January 31st, Rigby abruptly changed his flight and returned to Florida on January 28th. In his possession was Fornatora’s computer and surfboard. Fornatora’s ticket went unused. The day after he got back, Rigby called Nancy Fornatora, the missing man’s mother, and told her that he hadn’t seen or heard from her son since the 27th. Soon after, his story changed, and Dominican authorities were immediately suspicious. Initially, Rigby claimed there was no surf, so he came home while Fornatora stayed behind. Then he claimed that Fornatora became irate one night and disappeared.
After searching for an unspecified amount of time, authorities called it quits after ruling out drowning. Then, a few weeks ago, a diver found Fornatora’s wallet in the sand. The money inside was partially burned. The case was opened up again, and Dominican officers turned the spotlight on Rigby.
Fornatora’s wallet washed up near the place of his disappearance. Photo: Facebook/Searching for Darryl Fornatora
Although initially Rigby stated he would tell authorities what he knew, according to WPTV, when they traveled to Palm Beach to question him, he clammed up, canceled the interview via text, and hired an attorney.
“It leaves big question marks,” said Mrs. Fornatora, “about why he would tell us in early March that he was willing to talk to investigators and tell them anything that he knew… and now when they’re here, all of a sudden he doesn’t. It just leaves a big question in my mind.”
A $25,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to Fornatora. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the embassy tipline at 809-368-7713.
