Family reports the disappearance of a loved one's remains in a Cuban cemetery

A Cuban family reported on Wednesday the disappearance of their mother's remains in a cemetery after discovering that no one could provide them with an explanation about their whereabouts when they arrived to exhume them.

Yoandra Ávila, a resident of Holguín, shared her anguish on Facebook, describing the painful experience she went through with her family.

"We went to the cemetery to retrieve my mother's remains, and look at the conditions we found there," she expressed in her post, accompanied by images of the neglect the site was in, with old coffins scattered about.

However, the true impact came when the cemetery administration could not explain where her mother's remains were: “They told us to remain calm, that they would show up, they took our phone number and said they would call us, but they never provided a convincing explanation."

Ávila recounted that, amidst the chaos, he found a hat identical to the one his mother wore when she was buried.

Although they initially assured him that it was just a coincidence, when he tried to retrieve it later to present it in a police report, the hat was already gone and all the mess in the place had been cleaned up.

"This is a great sorrow for me and my family. Measures must be taken; these things cannot continue happening. We are human beings and we deserve respect," he claimed.

Although the scene may seem bizarre and even unbelievable, in the same section of the comments other people claimed to have experienced similar situations.

Susell Buitrago Santiesteban reported: “I once reported a grave digger who was selling bones to someone on a motorcycle while I was visiting my loved ones in the cemetery. We wrote to a congresswoman, we provided all the details, and she promised to investigate. They published a response in the newspaper Ahora from Holguín, ridiculing what I had witnessed and portraying me as a crazy person.”

"My brother was placed inside a bag without notifying us. I understand you; I know what you must be feeling... I share in your pain... May God forgive them," expressed Tania Infante González, highlighting the chaos and lack of respect that prevails in these institutions.

Cynthia Avello described another terrifying situation: "They emptied the entire mausoleum years ago, and we have never been able to find out where they discarded the bodies."

Mari Sarmiento emphasized that this happens frequently: "I experienced the same scenario two years ago, this has been going on for a while."

In the comments section, the complainant reaffirmed her anguish and suspicions about what happened: "And that's not all, my mother is nowhere to be found and in that mess I found the hat she was wearing. There's nothing that convinces me, why don't they know? I believe my mother was used for something, like witchcraft, I don't know, but I will go to the very end, I won't stop," she wrote, making it clear that she will not rest until she gets answers.

In response to another person, he reaffirmed his suspicions about the fate of his mother's remains: "Did you see, dear, what is happening in this disgusting country? They don't even respect the dead. They were all men, the only woman was lost... That was done for witchcraft or they did something with her, but I won't stop," he concluded.

Cemeteries in Cuba are experiencing an alarming crisis, reflected in numerous reports of their state of neglect and constant desecrations. Recent images reveal the extreme deterioration of these spaces, with destroyed graves, exposed skeletal remains, and a complete lack of maintenance.

In Las Tunas, the situation reached a critical point when several skulls were found in the middle of the street, near the local cemetery, which caused outrage among residents. This finding adds to other incidents that highlight the lack of protection for human remains on the island.

In Matanzas, desperation has caused some relatives of the deceased to consider exhuming their loved ones' remains. The theft of bones has become a recurring issue, fueling the illegal trafficking of human remains for various purposes, including alleged religious rituals.

On another note, in Sancti Spíritus, reports of desecrations have emerged where thieves break into burial sites and steal remains, worsening the security crisis in these areas. Similarly, in Bayamo, the negligence of the authorities has allowed human remains to be left exposed, causing horror among visitors.

These events reflect the state of calamity in which the deceased rest in Cuba, highlighting the lack of state investment in the maintenance of cemeteries and the absence of protective measures to prevent the desecration of graves.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Crisis in Cuban Cemeteries