Dominican Republic: 36-Year-Old Woman Shot Dead in San Juan de la Maguana, Ex-Partner Arrested

A 57-year-old man was taken into custody shortly after the death of a 36-year-old woman, shot dead on the night of Saturday, November 7. According to Diario Libre, the source for everything that follows, she was killed in a flat at the Caonabo Tower residence, at the entrance to San Juan de la Maguana. The newspaper reports that her injuries were allegedly caused by her ex-partner.

The victim is Jocelyn Ceballo Matrillé, from San Francisco de Macorís. The man arrested is Francisco Rosendo Moya Tavares. He remains in police custody and is due to be brought before the prosecutor's office.

The circumstances of the arrest

According to a National Police report, investigators caught him red-handed as he was driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe.

The official report on the examination of the body attributes the death to hemorrhagic shock caused by gunshot wounds. At the scene, forensic technicians recovered an Alfa-brand 9-millimetre pistol with its magazine and six cartridges. They also seized shell casings and a deformed bullet. The body was taken to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) in Azua.

Two children at the scene

According to the authorities cited by the newspaper, two girls were in the flat at the time. They were placed in the care of the relevant child protection institutions, and the investigation continues to establish how the death occurred.

What is being said about the couple

Preliminary information indicates that the woman had traveled with her two minor daughters after an invitation to dinner in Santo Domingo. She nevertheless went to the residence in San Juan de la Maguana.

Unofficial accounts say the couple had separated because of the man's alleged violence toward her. They had one daughter together. The authorities have not confirmed these details and have given no information about any earlier complaints.