Luis Ángel Ríos Cala (born March 28, 1978) must pay a bail of 100,000 pesos (equivalent to 312 USD) to secure his release after being arrested by the Aguacate police in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba. His arrest on Monday came after he commented at a funeral that if there were justice in Aguacate, there wouldn’t be so many murders.
Ríos Cala made his remarks during the burial of Arianni Céspedes, who was murdered on Saturday, September 14, by her ex-partner in front of two young children, aged 5 and 6, who were neighbors. The children, who were collecting almonds nearby, witnessed the attack where the assailant fatally stabbed Céspedes, puncturing her lung.
The neighborhood was deeply shaken, as Céspedes was well-loved in the community. In this atmosphere of collective grief, Ríos Cala lamented that Aguacate had seen three murders in less than a year: the killing of Dorka Velázquez, a 15-year-old girl who was brutally murdered by a rapist in November 2023; his cousin, Jorge Luis Heredia Cala, who was killed after discovering a marijuana field near Aguacate; and the recent murder of Céspedes by her ex-husband.
These murders occurred between November 2023 and September 2024. In the case of Jorge Luis Heredia Cala, the suspect remains free. The prosecutor's office released him after five months of pre-trial detention, accepting his claim that he accidentally killed Heredia Cala while throwing a stone at an owl in a dark alley. Despite this, local residents, including the sector chief Julián, are aware that Heredia Cala was murdered after mentioning the marijuana field.
Ríos Cala, deeply affected by the transformation of his once peaceful town into a place of fear and silence, expressed his outrage. Residents now fear speaking out or going out at night due to the increasing insecurity. Authorities in Aguacate acted swiftly in response to Ríos Cala’s protest, a stark contrast to their inaction in investigating the marijuana field's ownership and the true motive behind Heredia Cala’s murder.
Two sources from the town have suggested to CiberCuba that bribery and corruption played a role in this case, although they provided no concrete evidence. They hinted that Julio A. Cuevas Pacheco, the father-in-law of the suspect known as Tatico, may have paid to silence witnesses who saw Tatico and another individual, "Hombre," kill Heredia Cala. Today, no one seems to remember or know anything about the incident.
The case remains unresolved, but the suspect is free while Ríos Cala must pay 100,000 pesos to regain his freedom.
Understanding the Controversial Arrest and Murders in Aguacate
Here are some common questions and answers about the recent arrest and the alarming murders in Aguacate, Santiago de Cuba.
Who is Luis Ángel Ríos Cala?
Luis Ángel Ríos Cala is a resident of Aguacate, Santiago de Cuba, who was arrested for publicly criticizing the local authorities' handling of multiple murders in the town.
Why was Ríos Cala arrested?
He was arrested after making comments at a funeral about the lack of justice in Aguacate, specifically regarding three recent murders.
What are the details of the murders Ríos Cala mentioned?
The murders include the killing of Dorka Velázquez, a 15-year-old girl, Jorge Luis Heredia Cala, Ríos Cala’s cousin, and Arianni Céspedes, who was murdered by her ex-partner.
What are the allegations of corruption related to these cases?
There are suspicions that bribery and corruption have influenced the handling of these murder cases, particularly involving the release of suspects.