Child fatalities in Dominican Republic and Argentina spark outcry

Two separate cases of child fatalities involving parental or guardian violence have drawn significant attention.

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a two-year-old boy named Dylan Sánchez died following severe physical aggression. Forensic reports from the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) determined the cause of death was compatible with “child abuse syndrome,” citing severe cranioencephalic trauma, cerebral contusion, and multiple hemorrhages. The child’s stepmother, Mireli Gisette Rodríguez Capellán, provided conflicting accounts of the incident, initially claiming the child fell from a motorcycle or stairs. Investigations suggest a pattern of chronic abuse lasting at least a year.

In a separate case, the death of 12-year-old Nahuel Godoy, who had autism, has raised questions regarding judicial oversight. His mother, Mónica Rodas, reported that despite her previous complaints of domestic violence, legal authorities maintained shared custody rights for the father without sufficient monitoring. Rodas noted that the child, who was non-verbal, expressed distress through crisis episodes following visits with his father, who ultimately killed him.