Where are they? Disappearances that have shocked the country in this 2025

Santo Domingo. – The year 2025 has been marked by a series of disappearances that have generated shock throughout the country. From minors to foreign tourists and local journalists. Some have had fatal outcomes, others remain unresolved. One of the most heartbreaking cases was that of the child Isaías Develsio, barely two years old, who disappeared on July 26 in the community of San Francisco-Vicentillo, in El Seibo. Isaías had gone out to the yard of his relatives’ residence and was never seen alive again.

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After seven days of intense searching by the Civil Defense, National Police, firefighters, the Public Ministry, and dozens of volunteers, his body was found in a nearby pasture. Authorities also found traces of blood in the area where the minor was playing. Another disappearance that has crossed borders was that of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old American tourist, who disappeared on March 6 in Punta Cana. She was last seen walking alone on the beach of the Riu Republic hotel. Despite the efforts of local authorities, she was not found. Sudiksha’s parents requested the Dominican authorities to declare her legally deceased, in order to begin mourning and address matters related to her absence. Another unfortunate event was that of Alfred Joel Fernández, 33 years old, who disappeared in January in Moca. His body was found in an advanced state of decomposition in March, identified by his clothing and personal belongings. Although the discovery relieved the uncertainty of his family, the case remains without clear answers and without judicial responsibility. The disappearance of little Roldanis Rincón, three years old, has shocked Jarabacoa. He was last seen on March 30, playing in the Los Tablones area. Despite community search brigades, no trace of the child has been found.

Other Fatal Outcomes

The lifeless body of Luis Rafael Rosario Martich, 20 years old, who had been reported missing by his family, was found on the night of July 1st in a vacant lot in the El Higüero sector, in the municipal district of Los Guaricanos, Santo Domingo Norte. The young man presented a gunshot wound to the head, according to the forensic report. In the scene, the authorities collected a blue cap as evidence, which will be analyzed within the framework of the investigation. Following joint efforts between the National Police and the Public Ministry, Diego Rivera Jiménez, 25 years old, was arrested, identified as one of the alleged perpetrators of the crime. Rivera Jiménez, who was a friend of the deceased, was placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Another tragic event was that of Ana Mercedes Polanco González, a young woman who had been reported missing since July 1st. Her body was found in the vicinity of Parque Mirador Norte. So far, the authorities have not issued official statements regarding the course of the investigation to determine the circumstances of his death. According to associations such as the Dominican Association of Relatives of the Disappeared (ASODOSFADE), more than 300 disappearances have been reported in the Dominican Republic so far in 2025. Activists are demanding the urgent approval of the Amber Alert Law and greater state investment in specialized units, tracking technology, and support for affected families.