Father of Dead Teen Josnely Álvarez Blames LAX Judicial System for Not Keeping Suspect Jailed

Josnely Álvarez's father has blamed judicial authorities after the 13-year-old's body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon in Navarrete, Santiago province, arguing that the suspect should have remained in prison.

The discovery followed a search near the Yaque del Norte River after Josnely disappeared on Sunday. Her father claimed that Edwin Reinaldo Rodríguez Cruz, who is now in custody in connection with the case, had previously been imprisoned and that a longer sentence could have prevented her death.

Josnely Álvarez's Father Demands Maximum Sentence

Speaking in the area where his daughter's body lay, the father called for the maximum punishment for the man suspected of involvement in her death. His criticism centred on the claim that authorities should have ensured Rodríguez Cruz remained behind bars.

'They should give him the maximum sentence so he never gets out of there,' he stated.

He also linked the alleged earlier imprisonment directly to his daughter's death, arguing that she would still be alive had the suspect received a sufficiently lengthy sentence.

'If they had left him in jail and given him a really big sentence, he wouldn't have grabbed that girl and massacred her like he did,' he stated.

The reports do not establish the details of that alleged previous imprisonment, including the offences involved, any sentence imposed or the circumstances of his release. No definitive conclusion about the circumstances of Josnely's death or criminal responsibility has been reported.

Clothing Recovered During Search for Josnely Álvarez

Rescue teams had concentrated their efforts in and around the riverbed, where Josnely's trail was lost following the weekend incident. Police officers, relief agencies and Civil Defense personnel participated, with drones and other equipment supporting the operation.

Before locating the body, search teams recovered clothing that relatives identified as belonging to Josnely. The items included a blouse and underwear, while a flip-flop had been discovered earlier.

Civil Defense volunteers worked alongside units of the 911 National Emergency System during the search. The body was eventually located near the river on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the search to a close while leaving the circumstances of the teenager's death under investigation.

Investigators Examine Josnely Álvarez's Final Movements

Rodríguez Cruz was handed over by his relatives to authorities after security camera footage placed him with Josnely and a 16-year-old girl. The recordings reportedly captured Josnely boarding a motorcycle with a friend and the suspect. Preliminary inquiries placed both girls with him before they moved towards the bridge over the river.

In his publicly reported account, Rodríguez Cruz described approaching the girls near a bakery and stopping at a petrol station before the encounter near the river. He is reported to have acknowledged being with both teenagers and using a knife during the incident.

The reported account describes an alleged attack with a sharp object. The 16-year-old managed to escape, while Josnely was reportedly unable to flee.

The older teenager was subsequently located alive and received medical assistance and specialist support. Her identity has been withheld because she is a minor.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and investigative agencies must now determine the cause of death, reconstruct the sequence of events and establish any criminal responsibility.