Justice in El Seibo: Woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for child torture
The Collegiate Court of the judicial district of El Seibo handed down a 15-year prison sentence against Anyelina Vásquez Sosa, after she was found guilty of committing acts of torture and barbarity against a newborn. The case, which shocked the community, took place in June 2025.
Case details
The legal process was initiated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office after a hospital center notified the authorities about the admission of an infant only weeks old, who presented extremely serious injuries. The child’s father, upon being alerted by a relative while he was at his workday on July 7, 2025, immediately proceeded to take the baby to a medical center, from where she was subsequently referred to a hospital specializing in pediatrics.
Medical examinations revealed an alarming clinical picture, which included:
- Severe traumatic brain injury.
- Multiple traumas in various parts of the body.
- Left scapula fracture.
- Intraparenchymal hemorrhage.
The injuries were certified by the staff of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), confirming that they were caused by Vásquez Sosa, who took advantage of the trust and closeness to assault the victim, who was in a state of total helplessness.
Sentence and compliance
During the trial, the court composed of judges Ramona Santana Bermúdez, Laura Isabel Roa, and María del Carmen García González evaluated the evidence presented, which included testimonies, social work reports, and photographic evidence. Although the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested a 30-year sentence, the court determined a 15-year sentence after varying the initial legal classification.
The defendant was sentenced for violating the provisions of the Dominican Penal Code, under the amendments of Law 24-97, as well as article 396, literal a, of Law 136-03, which sanctions acts of torture and barbarity. Anyelina Vásquez Sosa must serve the sentence imposed in the Higüey public jail.
