Delaware

Saint Joseph's University Student Dies After Going Missing in Bermuda During Rugby Trip

Mark Dombroski was last seen outside a bar in Bermuda around 1 a.m. Sunday.

UPDATE: Mark Dombroski's body was found Monday. A cause of death was still pending Tuesday.

A Saint Joseph’s University rugby player has gone missing during a team trip to the island of Bermuda.

Mark Dombroski, 19, was last seen by friends at The Dog House bar shortly after midnight Sunday, the Bermuda Police Service said. The 6-foot-tall student was wearing khaki pants, a green T-shirt and black shoes when he disappeared, police said.

Police learned of Dombroski's disappearance around 9:15 a.m. Sunday and police enacted a missing persons search.

Missing St Joes Rugby Bermuda Mark Dombroski
Bermuda Police Service
The Bermuda Police Service released this flyer of missing St. Joe's student Mark Dombroski who was last seen around 1 a.m. on March 18, 2018. See Larger

Surveillance video from an island-wide CCTV system captured Dombroski walking alone down Middle Road in Devonshire Parish while using a cellphone around 1:15 a.m. The last place he was spotted is about 1.2 kilometers from the bar. He appeared to be favoring his shoulder, which he may have injured during the rugby tournament, Dombroski's mother Lisa, who viewed the video, said.

"He wasn't in a celebratory kind of mood," Lisa Dombroski said. "He wanted to get back."

Dombroski's parents, Lisa and John, joined Bermuda investigators at a midday news conference Monday and thanked everyone's efforts on finding Dombroski. Police have already used on-land and marine search teams in Hamilton Harbour in their search for him.

"We dearly love our son, we cherish our son. ... we want him back," Lisa Dombroski said.

Police don't believe Dombroski made it back to the place his team was staying.

Detective Sgt. Jason Smith said there's no evidence Dombroski was drunk, or that alcohol played a role in his disappearance.

Dombroski was last seen walking in the opposite direction of the Royal Bermuda Regiment camp, which provided lodging for the Ariel Re Bermuda rugby tournament on the British island territory. The team from Saint Joseph's was among more than 20 taking part and had wrapped up competition on Saturday.

Dombroski, a freshman, was set to return to America along with the Philadelphia university's team on Sunday. The team made that trip home without him.

The Bermuda Rugby Sevens organization offered a $1,000 reward for information about Dombroski’s whereabouts.

"We are in touch with Mark’s family and Bermuda authorities, and we continue to pray for his safe return," St. Joe's Public Safety and Security director Arthur Grover said in an email sent to students late Sunday night.

St. Joe's planned a university community prayer service at the the Chapel of St. Joseph-Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The chapel will open for students' prayers at 10 p.m. 

The Jesuit university also offered counseling and ministers for anyone needing to talk.

Dombroski is from Delaware County. Before attending St. Joe's, Dombroski played rugby at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware.

"The members of the Archmere Academy community extend hopeful thoughts and prayers to the Dombroski Family during this difficult time," Archmere said in a statement to NBC10 Philadelphia. "We are grateful for the many gestures and offers of support from our Archmere families, the classmates and friends of Mark, and the independent and Catholic school communities in our area."

The Delaware school planned a prayer at the end of school Monday. A prayer service was also planned for 7:30 p.m. at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 30 East Franklin Street in Media, Pennsylvania. 

If you have any information on his whereabouts you can contact Bermuda Police Services.

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