In a shocking incident, three members of a family—a couple and a young girl—were found dismembered last Friday in the area known as "La Picadora," also referred to as "Picadora de Hatillo," in Santa Clara, Villa Clara. Preliminary reports from social media indicate that the remains were discovered inside suitcases abandoned near a local dam.
The victims have been identified as Yunier Jiménez, his daughter Yenlys Jiménez Pérez (11 years old), and Meivis Díaz Báez (24 years old), Yunier's wife. The family hailed from Sagua la Grande, located about a 30-minute drive from where their bodies were found.
The Gruesome Discovery
According to the Facebook page Crímenes en Cuba and other social media accounts, a neighbor alerted authorities after noticing his dog carrying what appeared to be a human arm. Crime reporter Niover Licea noted that the site where the human remains were discovered is near the Abel Santamaría International Airport, an area colloquially known as a "cow zone."
A post in the Facebook group Revolico Sagua La Grande identified two individuals allegedly linked to the crime, a man named "Yasmany" and his mother, who resides in the United States. However, this theory remains unconfirmed. It is speculated that the woman allegedly sent money from abroad for her son to commit the murder. Possible motives discussed on social media include a vendetta tied to an attempted illegal departure from the country.
The suspected killer, reportedly already detained, was said to have been a bread seller and had recently been released from prison after serving only two years for raping his underage stepdaughter. Before his arrest on Monday, Yasmany allegedly threatened "three young women" with a knife in the Laredo area and even bit one on the face, according to reports. Nonetheless, these accounts are unverified as authorities have yet to comment on the horrific crime.
Reactions and a History of Violence
This harrowing case brings to mind the triple murder in May 2023 in Bellotex, Matanzas, when a reservist from the Armed Forces killed Maikel González, Lianet Lucía Medina, and her six-year-old son. The escalating violence in Cuba, intensified by the nation's economic and social crisis, has sparked fear and anger among its citizens.
Many social media users are demanding justice and severe penalties for such acts, including calls for reinstating the death penalty. Attorney Manuel Viera, familiar with the crime scene, expressed his concerns in a Facebook post regarding the rise of violence in Cuba. "We are slowly normalizing blood crimes, atrocious murders! We are getting used to it! It's very sad, and I only hope that the beast or beasts who did this face the full extent of the law. No one has the right to take a life, let alone the lives of an entire family. Only for cases like this would I approve of the death penalty without hesitation," he wrote.
Understanding the Rise of Violence in Cuba
What were the circumstances of the family murder in Villa Clara?
A family of three was brutally murdered and dismembered, with their remains found in suitcases near a dam in Santa Clara, Villa Clara.
Who are the suspects in the Villa Clara murder case?
The suspects include a man named "Yasmany" and his mother, who allegedly sent money from the U.S. to facilitate the crime. However, these allegations are not confirmed.
How has the community responded to the rising violence in Cuba?
The community has reacted with fear and anger, calling for justice and harsher penalties, including the possible reinstatement of the death penalty.