SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic – A Haitian woman was beaten to death and her body was thrown into some bushes in Esperanza, a city in the northwestern Dominican Republic, police said.

The unidentified woman, who was not carrying any documents, is believed to have been in the country illegally.

Investigators suspect that the killing was committed by other Haitians, police said, adding that no arrests had been made.

Other Haitians said the woman lent money to her countrymen living in the northwestern Dominican Republic.

The woman was not wearing undergarments, but there were no signs of sexual assault, police said.

A Haitian man, meanwhile, is hospitalized in serious condition with stab wounds in Mao, a city in the northwestern Dominican Republic, after one of his countrymen accused him of stealing a piece of bread, police said.

Feliz Piet was allegedly stabbed several times in the head and abdomen by Michichi Pie, police said.

Several other Haitians told police that Piet arrived in the Dominican Republic two months ago and was jobless.

The 20-year-old Piet allegedly entered Pie’s dwelling and ate a piece of bread he found inside.

Dominican officials estimate that around 1 million Haitians live in the country, most of them illegal immigrants who work in agriculture and construction.

The Dominican Republic and Haiti share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, with Haiti in the western portion. Though both countries are poor, Haiti is destitute, and Haitians cross the border to do work that many Dominicans will not do, such as harvesting sugar cane.

Haitians have been the target of mob violence numerous times in recent years, and the Dominican government has been widely criticized for its treatment of the migrants. EFE