The search for three-year-old Brianna Genao, who disappeared on 31 December 2025, in the Barrero community of Imbert, Puerto Plata, has intensified after agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) joined the investigation. They have deployed specialized canine units brought in from the United States to assist Dominican authorities (Ministry of Interior and Police and the National Police).
With the technical support of the FBI, the search perimeter around the family’s residence and surrounding areas has been expanded by approximately two kilometers to cover more ground.
Search teams had recently discovered a sheet with possible bloodstains near the area where Brianna was last seen. This item is currently under forensic analysis to determine if it is connected to her disappearance.
On Wednesday, 14 January, nevertheless, search operations were temporarily suspended after an FBI agent sustained an injury (reportedly a fall) during the fieldwork in the difficult terrain of the Barrero community. The agent was attended to by emergency services (911), and the operation was paused to ensure the safety of the team, though authorities have affirmed that the investigation remains active and a priority.
Renewed call for an Amber Alert System
Brianna’s disappearance has reignited a fierce national debate regarding the lack of a standardized rapid-response system for missing children in the Dominican Republic, similar to the Amber Alert system used in the United States.
Citizens and social organizations are demanding the immediate approval of the “Amber Alert” bill (Alerta Amber). This legislation would mandate a coordinated, high-speed notification system to alert the public via phones and media broadcasters minutes after a child is reported missing.
The bill had been previously proposed by former deputy Orlando Jorge Villegas but has yet to be fully implemented. Brianna’s case is being cited as a tragic example of why such a tool is critical, as the first few hours are vital in missing persons cases.
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15 January 2026