Police denies viral list claiming 18 children are missing in Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- The National Police on Friday denied the authenticity of a viral social media publication alleging that 18 children disappeared in the Dominican Republic between 2024 and 2026, saying authorities found no evidence that any of the cases correspond to missing-person reports in the country.

Police spokesperson Colonel Diego Pesqueira said cyber-patrol teams and investigators verified each of the names listed, involving children between 0 and 11 years old, by checking official records and media reports. None matched a case registered as a missing minor in the Dominican Republic.

According to Pesqueira, the preliminary investigation indicates that the publication originated in New Jersey, United States. Dominican authorities are continuing efforts to determine who created and circulated the false information.

The Police identified two actual cases involving missing minors during 2024–2026: Roldani Nicolás Calderón and Brianna Genao Rosario, both reported in 2025 and still under investigation and monitoring.

Authorities also identified other genuine cases from previous years, including Fraynel Daniel Ciprián Montero and Ruth Esther Paredes Ramírez in 2023, and Luis Ángel González Méndez and Kendry Esmil in 2022.

Pesqueira urged the public and media to verify information before sharing it, warning that false reports can generate unnecessary concern. He added that investigations into real missing-person cases remain active, while authorities continue working to identify those responsible for the viral publication.

The spokesperson noted that cases involving teenagers and adults are recorded separately and follow different statistics.