American Woman Killed in Dominican Republic

A Michigan woman teaching in the Dominican Republic for the last 15 years was murdered during an apparent robbery of her home, police say. Patricia Anton, 63, was strangled in her residence in the resort town of Cabarete, Puerto Plata, reports the Daily News. A cellphone, laptop, 40-inch TV, sheets, and a pair of sports shoes were reportedly taken. Anton was found bound and gagged, and police say she may have known her killer or killers because there was no sign of forced entry. Though born in Italy, Anton raised her own family in Michigan before moving to the Dominican Republic. She had lived there previously while with the Peace Corps, per People.

Local media report Anton worked as a teacher at private school 3 Mariposas Montessori. The school's website describes Anton as a former legislative aide at the Michigan State Capital with 20 years of experience in teaching, per CBS News. "Everyone at 3 Mariposas Montessori was blessed to have worked with her for 6 years," school administrators write in a Facebook post. "She gave her heart and soul to our school" and "loved each and every one of our children just as if they were her own." No arrests have been made. (The murder follows a slew of tourist deaths.)