Two shocking photographs reveal the aftermath of a gruesome crime scene where a family was murdered and their home set on fire in a rural area of Santiago de Cuba last week. Shared on Facebook by journalist Yosmany Mayeta, the images display the charred remnants of what once was a modest home. Scattered sheets of zinc and a solitary water tank are all that remain, consumed by the relentless flames.
The victims of this tragic incident were a couple and their adult son. The young man has been identified as Felipe Peña Santos, aged 30, while the older victims were Felipe Peña Sablón and Gisela Santos. This horrendous act took place in the small village of Chamarreta, located in the municipality of San Luis. The motive behind this brutal crime appears to be robbery.
The family was allegedly murdered in cold blood for their money and livestock. The perpetrators then set the house on fire to destroy evidence and misleadingly suggest that the family perished in the blaze, as previously reported by Mayeta. In his latest update, citing neighbors, Mayeta mentioned that "possible suspects" have been apprehended, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Despite the severity of this atrocity, neither the official media outlets nor local authorities in Santiago de Cuba have addressed the triple homicide, which is one of the most disturbing crimes reported in Cuba this year. The publication's comment section is filled with hundreds of Cubans demanding justice for the victims, with some calling for the death penalty for those responsible.
Residents in the area have reported frequent thefts, with the family living in a secluded spot far from the small population of fewer than a hundred inhabitants. As this report goes to press, no further details have been confirmed about the case, which adds to the escalating wave of violence sweeping the country amidst a severe economic crisis.