New push to solve Florida tennis pro's disappearance in D.R.

CABARETE, Dominican Republic -- Six months after his disappearance, the family of a Florida tennis pro who vanished while on a surfing trip to the Dominican Republic say they're making a new push for answers.

Darryl Fornatora of West Palm Beach was last seen Jan. 27, 2016 in Cabarete, on the Dominican Republic's northern coast, where he had been traveling with a friend for two days. Family is calling the 45-year-old's disappearance highly suspicious, but investigators have not named a suspect.

CBS affiliate WPEC reports that Fornatora's cell phone was found in a car returned to a rental agency by his travel companion, who returned to South Florida alone. The travel companion has reportedly refused interview requests from the station. In March, a day after reporters from the station traveled to Cabarete to investigate, Fornatora's cash-filled wallet was found washed up on a shore by a junk diver.

Family says they have more questions than answers. WPEC reports they are set to meet this week with staff from the office of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is getting involved in the case. In a June 16 letter to Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James Brewster said his office is working with Dominican authorities to pursue "every possible investigative avenue." Dominican law enforcement is leading the investigation, he said, but the probe "has not yet produced any positive information" about Fornatora's whereabouts.

Fornatora's family tells WPEC they're hoping to keep their son's disappearance in the spotlight.

"We're afraid it's going to go away, we're so terrified of that," Nancy Fornatora, his mother, told the station.

Monday, on the six-month anniversary of Darryl Fornatora's disappearance, his family launched the #AnswersForDarryl campaign to raise funds for a private investigation and keep the missing case in the public eye.

"Despite the national and international media coverage his case has triggered, no one has come forward with information about his last whereabouts or about the people he encountered during his two days in Cabarete, D.R. prior to his disappearance," family said in a statement.