The Cuban police have detained Pablo Javier Piloto Ruiz (March 10, 1997), a 27-year-old father of at least one boy and one girl, as the prime suspect in the fatal stabbing of Jancel Ríos Pérez. The incident occurred on the night of Friday, August 9, at the Café Teatro in Sancti Spíritus. The victim's acquaintances suspect that Diana Belkis del Vaye Verdura, who is also under investigation, might have been the motive behind the crime. However, when questioned by CiberCuba, she neither confirmed nor denied her involvement. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm the right person to talk about this. Please contact the police," she responded.
"It was over a girl. Javier Piloto stabbed him. Jancel didn't make it to the hospital; he died on the spot," sources close to the deceased indicated. Diana Belkis del Vaye's Facebook profile shows no signs of mourning or sorrow for Jancel Ríos Pérez, who has received numerous expressions of affection from young people in Sancti Spíritus.
Multiple Versions of the Incident
Sources close to the victim clarify that there are "many versions" of what happened. One version suggests that Jancel Ríos and Javier Piloto had an altercation at Café Teatro, and Piloto asked Ríos to step outside to fight. Another version claims that Ríos was sitting at a table when he received a call from a private number, urging him to leave the venue. A third version indicates that Diana Belkis del Vaye called him. After Jancel Ríos's death, his family accessed his phone and found a message from Diana saying, "Pipo, come" or "hurry up and come outside." This message was reported to the police, who have also received complaints against Diana for allegedly inciting the fight between Jancel and Javier.
Witnesses report that Diana ran away with the assailant instead of providing first aid to Jancel. "Instead of helping Jancel, she fled with the man who stabbed him," they told CiberCuba.
Furthermore, witnesses noted that Jancel Ríos and Diana Belkis del Vaye were seen acting affectionately towards each other on the day of the murder, making it puzzling why she would leave with the attacker instead of helping Jancel.
Jancel Ríos Pérez had plans for the following Monday, as remembered by a friend who posted their last conversation on Facebook from the previous Tuesday.
Rising Violence in Cuba
The murder of Jancel Ríos Pérez adds to the escalating violence in Cuba. Last week, two other young Cubans, Flavio Alonso Piedra, 20, found dead at his military service unit in Baracoa, and Usiel Quesada Florat, stabbed in the back in Camagüey, also lost their lives.
The think tank Cuba Siglo XXI has identified 2023 as the year the regime acknowledged criminality as a national issue, with July and June being the most violent months. "Of the 649 reported crimes, 265 were robberies, 199 people were murdered in 197 incidents, and 124 people suffered assaults," according to a report accessed by CiberCuba.
According to the Observatory of Citizen Audit in Cuba (OCAC), between January and June 2024, a total of 432 crimes were recorded, averaging 2.37 crimes daily, marking a 152% increase compared to the same period in 2023 (1.82 crimes daily in 2023). The analysis shows a "worrying increase" in violent crimes in the first half of this year, with a 111% rise in murders, a 290% increase in assaults, and a 208% surge in robberies.
The OCAC attributes this rise in criminality to the de-capitalization and de-professionalization of the police, changes in social and cultural values, and "a growing perception of impunity and corruption within the Cuban judicial system." They urgently call on Cuban authorities to address this alarming situation transparently.
Questions About the Rise in Violence in Cuba
Given the concerning increase in violent crimes in Cuba, we have compiled some frequently asked questions to help understand the situation better.
What was the motive behind Jancel Ríos Pérez's murder?
Sources suggest that the murder might have been over a girl, Diana Belkis del Vaye Verdura, who is also under investigation.
How has the crime rate changed in Cuba recently?
There has been a significant rise in crime rates, with a 152% increase in criminal activities recorded in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
What factors are contributing to the rise in criminality in Cuba?
The rise in crime is attributed to the de-capitalization and de-professionalization of the police, shifts in social and cultural values, and a growing perception of impunity and corruption within the judicial system.