Relatives of Yidania Santos Peña, a 42-year-old woman who was attacked with a machete by her ex-partner last Friday, are living in terror as the assailant remains at large. The attempted femicide occurred in the rural town of Campo Florido, in the Habana del Este municipality, providing the aggressor with the opportunity to hide in the nearby woods and repeatedly approach the family property.
In an interview with Martí Noticias, Elsa Lidia Secade, Santos Peña's niece, expressed frustration over the lack of protection provided by authorities to the hospitalized victim. She revealed that it is the family members who are taking shifts to safeguard her in case the attacker returns. "So far, it’s been us, the family, who have been at the hospital every day, seven or eight of us, protecting her," Secade lamented.
Secade further described the ongoing threat: "The man keeps entering the house every day. Just last night, he was there. My grandmother and my cousin confronted him, and he brandished the machete he was carrying." She stressed that the attacker remains in the vicinity, frequently seen near the family farm.
A Brutal Attack and Insufficient Police Response
Santos Peña, who had been in a relationship with the assailant for over 20 years, suffered severe injuries, losing her left hand and four fingers from her other hand, along with seven head wounds. One of their daughters witnessed the attack.
Hospital staff have nicknamed Santos Peña "the miracle" due to her astonishing survival. However, Secade reported that the family faced mistreatment when they initially approached the police in Guanabo. They were ignored and not allowed to speak. Although the police arrived briefly, they left within ten minutes, failing to provide any protection. They returned the following afternoon but still did not take adequate measures to apprehend the attacker or safeguard the family.
Since the incident, the family, consisting of 11 members, has been on high alert, staying awake through the night out of fear that the assailant might break in again. Adding to their distress, the ex-husband lives in a neighboring house since their separation.
Living in Constant Fear
"Everyone is terrified because he is armed," Secade concluded, fearing the worst outcome. "It’s terrible that people might feel forced to take justice into their own hands, but the police are doing nothing." The family’s ongoing ordeal underscores the urgent need for effective law enforcement intervention to ensure their safety and bring the perpetrator to justice.