La Altagracia, Punta Cana — Residents of Coral Village II, a residential complex in the El Cortecito area of Punta Cana, are calling for urgent institutional intervention following a series of violent and disruptive incidents allegedly involving Juanita Mendoza, a Mexican-American woman reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia.
According to neighbors, Mendoza has repeatedly engaged in aggressive behavior, including physical assaults on residents and tourists, and confrontations with officers from the Tourist Police (Politur) and Immigration. Her erratic actions have created what residents describe as a “climate of fear,” with many claiming to feel unsafe in their own homes.
One of the most alarming reports involves Mendoza’s 70-year-old mother, a U.S. citizen, who neighbors say was forced to leave the country after being physically attacked by her daughter.
Despite multiple complaints filed with Politur, the Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Embassy, residents say no permanent measures have been taken. Mendoza is reportedly detained briefly following major disturbances but is soon released, after which the disruptive behavior continues.
Witnesses describe frequent late-night screaming, acts of public nudity, and episodes of self-harm, which have significantly heightened anxiety among residents. The woman’s ownership of the apartment, neighbors say, has complicated legal or psychiatric intervention efforts.
With no resolution in sight, the Coral Village II community is urging Dominican authorities to intervene through specialized mental health services, stressing the need to protect both the individual and the broader community from further harm.
Local residents say their calls for help are not driven by discrimination, but rather by concern for public safety and the well-being of a person in mental distress.
