The young Cuban, Luis Llanes, who had been missing since the early hours of June 17, was found dead in Batabanó, Mayabeque, apparently as a result of suicide. Llanes' family had sought help from the community to find him, as he suffered from a nervous disorder and was in crisis due to the lack of his treatment.
A relative identified on Facebook as Yudelquis Dueñas Pérez confirmed the discovery of Llanes and mentioned that the young man had expressed a desire to "obtain a parole." She suggested that he might have attempted to leave the country, mistakenly believing that the journey was safe and short. Unfortunately, his condition disoriented him and led to this tragic outcome, as indicated in the post.
The family expressed their gratitude to the people of San José de las Lajas and other localities in Mayabeque for their concern and support during the search. Llanes had left home in the early hours of June 17, after which his relatives reported him missing to the police. Some friends reported seeing him drinking coffee and around the pharmacy in the early hours but were unable to locate him.
"He is a young man with a nervous disorder and is currently in crisis due to the lack of treatment that controls it. He is completely unbalanced and out of his mind. That's why I am appealing to the entire community to help us find him because we are very worried that he might harm someone or someone might harm him without knowing his current medical condition," Dueñas Pérez wrote on July 2.
Increasing Use of Social Media for Missing Person Cases
Social media is increasingly becoming a tool for seeking support in missing person cases in Cuba, a phenomenon gaining visibility. For instance, the case of the 64-year-old Cuban Juana María Curbelo Santana, who had been missing since last Saturday when she was last seen in the Mantilla neighborhood in Havana. The woman, who "suffers from schizophrenia and was not taking her prescribed medication," was found by authorities last Monday in a hospital after being hit by a motorcycle that fled the scene.
Similarly, on June 20, the family of a teenager identified as Evelyn reported her disappearance when she left her home in La Lisa heading to school. Later, it was revealed that the young girl was already with her family. On the same day, news broke about the unknown whereabouts of Mailyn Fernández Caballero, a mother of two young children, who had been missing for over 24 hours from her home in the town of El Cristo, on the outskirts of Santiago de Cuba.
In Pinar del Río, a 72-year-old man named Pedro Pablo Oliva Iglesias has been missing for over a month. He suffers from senile dementia and lives on D Street #25 in the Celso Maragoto neighborhood of the main municipality.
Amid a context of insecurity due to increasing crime, a migration crisis, and the lack of medications for patients with mental health conditions, digital platforms are becoming more necessary. The official channels on the island seem disconnected from this reality, as disappearances are a topic that can no longer be hidden.
Key Questions About Missing Persons in Cuba
Considering the increasing visibility of missing person cases in Cuba, here are some key questions and answers to understand the situation better.
What factors are contributing to the rise in missing person cases in Cuba?
The rise in missing person cases in Cuba can be attributed to increasing crime rates, a significant migration crisis, and a lack of medications for mental health patients.
How is social media helping in finding missing persons in Cuba?
Social media provides a platform for families to seek community support and spread information quickly, which has proven effective in locating missing individuals.
What are the official channels in Cuba doing about missing person cases?
The official channels in Cuba appear to be disconnected from the reality of increasing disappearances, often failing to provide timely and adequate support to families.