The alleged perpetrators of a crime that shocked the residents of Camagüey in February of last year have been charged, with the prosecution seeking sentences of 30 years in prison and life imprisonment for the murder of a man to steal his electric tricycle.
As a result of the joint efforts of forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), two individuals aged 23 and 31 were identified and arrested. The National Television News (NTV) report did not reveal the identity of the victim or the exact date of the incident.
Based on the crime description provided by the official media, it is presumed to be the murder of Yudel López Álvarez, a 41-year-old Cuban who was killed in February 2023 and then dismembered to steal his electric tricycle in the province of Camagüey.
“Two individuals decided to obtain economic benefits illicitly by stealing a motor vehicle to sell it and make substantial profits. To execute their plan, both accused contacted the victim at the Hatibonico agricultural market,” the report explained.
López Álvarez, who drove a blue Minerva electric tricycle for the Provincial Insurance Company, agreed to transport the suspects to their home in exchange for payment. According to an initial version provided by a close family member to the independent media Diario de Cuba, López Álvarez was intercepted by two men as he left his workplace in the tricycle, and they stabbed him until he lost strength.
Subsequently, according to the family member, the victim was dismembered, and his remains were thrown into a river inside a sack filled with heavy objects. This version was confirmed on Monday by the official media, which specified that López Álvarez's body was dumped at a location known as “Puente Estrecho,” located at kilometer 4 of the Vertientes road, in the town of Isabel Hortensia, Camagüey municipality.
According to the official media report, during the investigation process, two people were identified selling a tricycle matching the description of the stolen vehicle. The family member told the independent media that the family had posted a photo of the missing person with his tricycle on social media, which led a person from the Vertientes municipality to comment that they had been offered that vehicle for sale. This led the family to notify the Vertientes Police, who organized an operation and captured the main suspects, who confessed their modus operandi.
This version provided 16 months ago does not match the one presented by Lieutenant Colonel Yosbel Miranda Infante, head of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Unit, who explained to NTV that the suspects were identified following a “disappearance” report filed by López Álvarez’s family. The report described the vehicle driven by the victim, which “matched” the one two individuals were trying to sell in the Vertientes municipality.
The official version did not mention the family's initiative to post on social media, which led to a tip that the vehicle was being offered for sale, prompting the family to inform the Vertientes Police.
The case was recently tried in the First Criminal Chamber of the Popular Provincial Court of Camagüey (Case 125/2023) and constitutes a murder offense. The prosecution requested life imprisonment and 30 years of imprisonment for the detainees, who are currently in provisional custody.
The NTV report featured reconstructed images of the “investigation process,” which was deemed successful due to the speed (36 hours) with which the suspects were apprehended.
In line with recent reports from the official Cuban press, which attempt to enhance the image of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), the report showcased the entire police operation that led to the identification and arrest of the suspects. It did not mention, however, that according to the family's initial version, these actions were made possible by the family’s social media post.
Key Details About the Camagüey Murder Case
Here are some essential questions and answers regarding the murder case in Camagüey, which might provide further insights into the incident and its aftermath.
Who were the alleged perpetrators?
The alleged perpetrators are two individuals aged 23 and 31, who were arrested by forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
What were the sentences requested by the prosecution?
The prosecution requested sentences of life imprisonment and 30 years of imprisonment for the alleged murderers.
How was the victim identified?
The victim, identified as Yudel López Álvarez, was a 41-year-old man who was killed and dismembered for his electric tricycle.
What led to the arrest of the suspects?
The arrest was made possible through a combination of family reports and police investigation, which included identifying the suspects trying to sell the stolen tricycle.