Authorities in the Dominican Republic have launched a large-scale coordinated search operation for a 14-year-old girl who disappeared following a violent assault in the Barrero community of Navarrete, Santiago province. Francisco Alfredo Arias Tolentino, the top official of Santiago’s Civil Defense Directorate, confirmed that his agency’s search brigades have been deployed to lead the effort.
The disappearance is tied to a disturbing incident that unfolded over the weekend, which also involved a second 16-year-old girl. A 24-year-old suspect, Edwin Reynaldo Rodríguez Cruz, turned himself in to law enforcement on Sunday and is currently the focus of an active investigation. According to official statements, both minors were allegedly sexually assaulted by the suspect, and the 14-year-old sustained multiple knife wounds during the attack.
Investigators say the suspect has told police that after the assault, the injured 14-year-old ran away toward the nearby Yaque del Norte River — the same location where witnesses reportedly saw her last. Search teams have concentrated their efforts along the river’s banks and surrounding waterways, working against the clock to locate the missing teen.
In an update Monday, national police confirmed that the 16-year-old victim has been found safe and was immediately transferred to a local medical center for urgent treatment and evaluation. The search for the 14-year-old is being carried out through a joint partnership between Santiago Civil Defense, search teams from neighboring Valverde province, and the Dominican Public Ministry, the country’s lead prosecutorial body.
Arias Tolentino emphasized that search operations are ongoing around the clock, with all participating agencies maintaining close coordination to cover every possible area. “We continue working in a coordinated and permanent manner, with the hope placed in God that we will be able to find the girl and bring peace of mind to her family,” he said in a public statement. As of Tuesday, no new clues about the 14-year-old’s whereabouts have been released to the public, and investigators have asked anyone with information about the incident or the missing teen to contact local authorities immediately.