They ask for help with funeral expenses for Cuban woman murdered in Tampa

Relatives of Lianet Sosa Santos, a 31-year-old Cuban woman who was murdered by her partner in Tampa last Saturday, have asked for financial assistance to cover the expenses for the victim's funeral. She was originally from the town of Sietecito, in Sagua La Grande, Villa Clara, and was the mother of a five-year-old girl.

Yusleidy Sosa, who identified herself as the victim's sister, opened a petition on the fundraising platform GoFundMe with a goal set at 15,000 dollars, of which they have managed to raise 9,025 up to the time of writing this note.

"I ask for your collaboration in whatever way you can for my sister's funeral. In advance, thank you to all who can help," wrote Sosa.

The Hillsborough County police arrested Silvio Ramón Franco Peralta, 35 years old and also a native of Sagua, on July 13 for murdering his partner and another man, both in Tampa, within an hour of each other.

According to reports from local media, after 2:00 p.m., agents responded to the 4800 block of Alvarado Drive in Tampa, in the Town 'N' Country community, after being notified of a deceased woman in a residence. There, they found Sosa with injuries to the upper part of her body. She was declared dead at the scene.

After committing the crime, Franco fled the scene in the victim's van. He drove to the outskirts of the city of Tampa, where upon arriving at a residence, he got into a fight with another man, whom he also killed. The male victim's identity has not been disclosed.

The agents tried to detain Franco Peralta until they managed to impact his vehicle in order to stop him. The Cuban tried to escape on foot, but was arrested by the officers.

The detainee told the police that he had gone to the man's house and confessed to the murder of Sosa. Additionally, he asked for help to get rid of the weapon used and other belongings.

According to the authorities, a fight broke out between the two of them and Franco stabbed him to death. The Cuban claimed that his victim had pulled out a firearm, but the evidence does not support his statement, officials said.

Silvio Ramón Franco Peralta currently faces seven charges for both crimes and related events of persecution: two charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery in a dwelling with assault or injury, theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing to elude, driving with a canceled, suspended, or revoked license, and resisting an officer without violence.