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Heriberto Llanez García, an elderly Cuban who had been missing since November in the municipality of Morón, Ciego de Ávila, was found deceased on the night of this Tuesday, as confirmed by a family source on social media.
"EPD, Uncle Iñe. We will remember you forever for being such a caring person towards the family. You were so beloved by everyone, Uncle. We will miss you greatly. Fly high. The only thing that eases our pain is knowing that you are not alone, because I know that Dad was waiting for you with open arms to give you that hug that you couldn't share eight years ago," wrote Lisney Ramos, the elder's niece, on Facebook.
Regarding the cause of death, activist Irma Broek specified in the comments section of a post on the news portal La Tijera that the elderly man's remains were found hanging from a tree, which would imply that he committed suicide by hanging.
"He was found hanging in the Loma de Cunagua. How sad! They say he had been there for a long time.", specified another internet user.
"It's very unfortunate news. The level of stress that Cubans are subjected to is overwhelming. Many people can’t bear it and make the worst decision to put an end to what they don't want or believe they can no longer endure," Broek wrote in another post on his social media.
"In these times, it is very important for family members to be vigilant about potential emotional changes in any family member. Depression is a very silent illness and can end in the worst way," they added.
In the forums where the sad discovery has been shared, hundreds of internet users mourn the unfortunate end of the elderly man, whose disappearance was widely known because his family actively sought help to find him for several weeks.
The Disappearance
On November 11, 2024, Heriberto left his house wearing light-colored clothing, a cap, and gray sneakers, but he never returned.
He was last seen at the Bolivia bus stop, near the Rotonda de Oro Negro, in Morón, but after several weeks of constant searching and efforts by his family, there was no trace of his whereabouts until yesterday.
As of the closing of this note, Yamika Llanez Villanueva, the daughter of the elderly man who tirelessly sought help on social media to locate his father, has not provided any updates.
In previous messages, Yamilka assured that she had searched various areas, including Cunagua, La 21, and Ranchón La Pata, but without success.
"It must be very different now," expressed the grieving daughter, who clung to the hope of finding her father alive. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.
In recent years - coinciding with the rise in violence in Cuba - reports of missing persons have become increasingly common in Cuba, raising concerns among families who, lacking an official channel to bring attention to these cases, desperately turn to social media and independent outlets for help in locating their loved ones.
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