Feminist organizations have increased the count of verified femicides in Cuba to 51 this year, following the tragic death of young Edgar Aliesky Martínez Torres. The boy was murdered by his father in the town of Minas, located in the Camagüey province. This incident has been classified as a "vicarious femicide," where the perpetrator kills a third party—often children or other family members—to inflict suffering on the intended victim, in this case, the child's mother.
"An incident of this magnitude underscores the severe level of feminicidal violence exacerbated by the inaction of the authorities and the complicit silence of international organizations," declared YoSíTe Creo en Cuba and the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT). "We owe a debt to Edgar Aliesky and all the children who have endured the most horrific of deaths," the platforms asserted.
Rising Concerns Over Vicarious Violence
The organizations listed seven children, aged from five months to ten years, who have fallen victim to vicarious violence in Cuba since 2019. Notably, in only two cases was the biological father the perpetrator; the others involved stepfathers or former stepfathers.
- Carlos Duviel Sánchez Estévez, 10 years old (4-8-2019) Villa Clara, Caibarién. Perpetrator: father.
- Yodeisi Fabelo Carballo's daughter, 7 years old, (17-8-2022) Camagüey, Vertientes. Perpetrator: former stepfather.
- Eriday Soto Martínez's baby, 5 months old, (24-3-2022) Las Tunas, Jobabo. Perpetrator: father.
- Yaliannis Falls Espinosa, 2 years old, (4-15-2020) Las Tunas, Amancio. Perpetrator: former stepfather.
- Rachely Guerra Espinosa, 5 years old, (4-15-2020) Las Tunas, Amancio. Perpetrator: former stepfather.
- Yulia Lía Romero Camejo, 1 year old, (27-7-2020) Guantánamo, Baracoa. Perpetrator: stepfather.
- Dilan Osmel Valdés Pompa, 1 year old, (27-12-2020) Santiago de Cuba, Contramaestre. Perpetrator: former stepfather.
A Community in Shock
The heinous murder of Edgar Aliesky Martínez Torres has left the Cuban community reeling. His mother, Keilin Torres Varela, confirmed the tragedy on social media, pleading for urgent help in locating the suspect, Alieski Martínez Ferrer, who remains at large.
While the full details remain unclear and official reports are lacking, social media accounts suggest that the boy was in the care of his maternal grandmother when his father picked him up. Despite premeditated intentions to harm the child, the family never anticipated such violence.
The father reportedly strangled the child and, during his escape, allegedly assaulted a pregnant woman who was on her way to a medical appointment. He is said to have abused her and stolen her cell phone, leaving her in critical condition at the Camagüey Maternity Hospital. Law enforcement is currently protecting the boy's mother, as the suspect has threatened to harm her as well.
A Facebook group titled "Crimes in Cuba" suggests that the motive behind this appalling act was the mother's refusal to continue a relationship with the perpetrator. Tragically, this is not the only recent case of filicide in Cuba. Reports indicate that a 17-year-old, identified as Jader Machado Fis, was killed by his own father in Las Tunas earlier this week.