The bodies of Skarlent Rodríguez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan model and beauty pageant winner, and her boyfriend José Castro were recovered from the rubble of their apartment building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, on 29 June, local media reported. The couple had been missing since the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June caused the structure to collapse. Rescue teams, volunteers and family members had searched the debris for days before locating them, according to Venezuelan news outlets.

The families confirmed the deaths in a statement posted on a GoFundMe fundraising page, which had initially been created to finance the search operation. “Unfortunately, on 29 June 2026, both were found lifeless… one next to the other, together until the end,” the message read. The campaign has now been redirected to cover funeral costs. Brazilian media noted that the family of José Castro suffered additional losses: his father, grandmother, uncle and aunt were also killed in the disaster. Relatives of Rodríguez said they had been unable to resume work since her disappearance, compounding their financial strain.

Rodríguez, who was crowned Miss Grand Orlando 2025, had built a career in Florida before recently returning to Venezuela with her partner. Arabic-language news organisations described her as an American beauty queen, reflecting her ties to the United States, while Venezuelan and Brazilian outlets emphasised her Venezuelan origin and her efforts to promote Venezuelan culture. The Miss Grand Florida organisation paid tribute to her “bright smile” and “unshakeable positivity” in a statement carried by several regional media.

The earthquakes, which struck in quick succession, caused widespread destruction in La Guaira and other coastal areas. German press accounts cited official figures of at least 2,295 confirmed dead and more than 11,000 injured, with tens of thousands still missing. Transitional President Delcy Rodríguez declared seven days of national mourning. Recovery operations are ongoing, and authorities caution that the death toll remains provisional.