Mildred Correa, a grieving mother who took the drastic step of exhuming her daughter’s remains and bringing them to the prosecution office to demand justice, had been arrested after the act. She was released from custody. Correa had carried her daughter’s body into the Higüey courthouse on Tuesday, 14 January 2025 in a desperate plea for closure regarding the teen’s death. The mother did not accept the handling of the case by the judiciary.
Correa’s attorney explained that her release was made possible under Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows prosecutors to exercise discretion in cases with potential sentences of less than a year. This legal provision applies to the unauthorized exhumation of a corpse, as outlined in Articles 358-360.
“We have secured her release,” the attorney stated. “Now, we will launch a new investigation from scratch to seek justice if the circumstances she alleges about her daughter’s death prove to be true.”
Earlier that day, Correa had expressed her deep frustration and sense of abandonment by the authorities. Sobbing and shouting, she entered the courthouse carrying a black bag containing her daughter’s remains. She had also displayed a sheet with the deceased teen’s body on it. According to Correa, she took these drastic actions to draw attention to the lack of progress in the investigation.
Sixteen-year-old Yeira Idraivia Encarnación Correa drowned after entering the waters of the Salto de Anamuya river recreational area in March 2024. Nearly a year later, authorities have yet to provide a clear explanation for the incident or identify any potential suspects.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that the investigation into the teen’s death is ongoing, but no criminal charges have been filed against those who were with her at the time of the drowning.
16 January 2025