Foreign Ministry stands with family of murdered Dominican minors in Georgia

Santo Domingo.- Late Tuesday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) conveyed profound sorrow regarding the heartbreaking murder of three Dominican children by their stepfather in an incident that took place in Georgia, United States.

In a statement released to the public, Mirex extended its condolences to the family of the deceased minors and pledged to cover all expenses related to the repatriation of their remains to the Dominican Republic.

Prior to this announcement, the mother of the children, identified as Karina Rodríguez, had appealed for assistance to bring them back to the country and to cover the funeral costs, citing her inability to afford these expenses independently.

To address the financial burden, she had set up a fundraising campaign on the online platform GoFundMe, aiming to raise approximately $95,000 to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies of her children: Arianny Arias Rodríguez (13), Chadal Rodríguez (9), and Carlos Michelle Rodríguez (11).

The tragic incident unfolded when the three children were fatally shot by their stepfather, José Plasencia, who subsequently took his own life inside a vehicle in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

According to reports from law enforcement, an officer on patrol noticed a vehicle with its lights on in a county park and attempted to approach it. Upon closer inspection, the officer discovered the lifeless bodies of the four individuals inside the vehicle and called for backup.

Following the discovery, authorities identified the perpetrator as José Plasencia and notified his relatives, subsequently informing the mother of the deceased minors about the devastating event.