Body of missing 14-year-old girl recovered in Santiago
Authorities on Tuesday recovered the body of 14-year-old Yosnely Álvarez, who had been missing since early Sunday after she and another teenager were taken to an area near the Yaque del Norte River in Navarrete, Santiago.
Police spokesman Colonel Diego Pesqueira confirmed the recovery but did not disclose the exact location where the body was found. Authorities have not yet released the cause of death or details surrounding the circumstances of the teenager’s death.
Yosnely and a 16-year-old girl were reportedly together in the early hours of Sunday when they traveled by motorcycle to the Mejía Abajo area near the river. The 16-year-old later escaped and was located by authorities. She received medical attention and specialized support from the Gender Violence, Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses team in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The search for Yosnely involved members of the Central Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DICRIM), Civil Defense, the Santiago Fire Department and COE brigades.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the teenager’s death. A 29-year-old man, Edwin Reinaldo Rodríguez Cruz, has been taken into custody after being handed over by his family at the Navarrete police station.
According to Rodríguez Cruz’s account, he encountered the teenagers near the La Delicia bakery in Barrero before taking them to a gas station and later toward the Yaque del Norte River. Security camera footage reportedly captured him traveling on a motorcycle with the two girls.
Rodríguez Cruz acknowledged using a knife during an argument with the teenagers. He claimed that one girl managed to leave while the other was injured and entered the river. He denied pushing her into the water, saying she “jumped into the river.” His account remains subject to investigation and must be weighed against the testimony of the surviving teenager, security footage and other evidence.
A relative of Yosnely, however, provided a different account of how the teenagers came into contact with Rodríguez Cruz. Her aunt, Marielis Álvarez, said the girls were walking when the man approached them, identified himself as a motorcycle taxi driver and offered to take them for RD$200 so they could buy food before taking them home.
According to the aunt, Rodríguez Cruz initially took the teenagers to a gas station in Barrero. After refueling, he allegedly changed the route and drove toward Cementerio Street and an area near the Yaque del Norte River.
Investigators are working to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding Yosnely’s death and any potential criminal responsibility.
