Rebecca De Paula death in Dominican Republic

In early August 2026, 31‑year‑old NYPD Officer Rebecca De Paula traveled to Santo Domingo for a breast‑implant removal procedure. She developed a severe bacterial infection after the surgery and died shortly thereafter. Dominican authorities—including the Policía Nacional, the Ministry of Public, the Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses—opened an autopsy and investigation, though no official cause of death had been released at the time.

De Paula’s family in the United States called for a malpractice probe, citing rapid deterioration and alleged inadequate care at the clinic. The incident prompted condolences from NYPD colleagues and the Police Benevolent Association, and it heightened scrutiny of the Dominican Republic’s cosmetic‑surgery tourism industry.

Subsequent reports noted that her remains were held pending autopsy, with plans to repatriate her body to the U.S. The case continues to draw attention to medical‑tourism safety standards in the Caribbean.