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The Cuban mother who was brutally stabbed to death by her partner in Santiago de Cuba has been identified as Zoraida Milagros Romero Castillo and was between 32 and 35 years old, as reported in recent hours by journalist Yosmany Mayeta based on the testimony of neighbors and former coworkers.
"She studied with me. She worked at the semi-boarding school in Micro 2 (in front of F) and this year she was working in the children's circle. All her colleagues have felt this loss, because she was a good girl and took great care of her daughter and her sick mother," expressed a teacher who requested that her identity remain confidential.
"Her daughter saw everything. It broke her heart to hear her call for her mom while watching her bathed in blood. Her mother was also in bad shape; I don't know how to explain to you what we've been through, and the screams won't leave my mind," described another neighbor to the cited source.
Witnesses of the attack urged the journalist to highlight the support of anonymous young people who transported the badly injured victim in a vehicle to the local clinic.
The source specified that images from inside the car where she was assisted show how much blood the poor woman lost, as she sustained injuries to various parts of her body.
The identity of the assailant has not yet been revealed, although it is known that he is a former convict and has already been captured.
It had previously been noted that the victim resided in the F10 Building of the José Martí District, and that she had been attacked first in her home in the presence of her young daughter and her sick mother, and then had been finished off in the hospital.
Close acquaintances assert that she had recently begun a relationship with the assailant, who had recently been released from prison.
The demand for exemplary trials and the end of impunity for feminicides was echoed in hundreds of messages.
Many believe that the Cuban judicial system has been too lenient in similar cases, allowing the recidivism of criminals reintegrated into society without effective supervision.
As of the close of this note, feminist platforms have not commented on this new femicide, which would be the 12th of the year.
On April 12, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of two was killed by her partner in broad daylight in the community of Las Delicias, in the municipality of Puerto Padre, province of Las Tunas.
That crime also caused shock among neighbors, coworkers, and women's rights advocates. In this case, the victim was identified as Nancy Leyva García, a beloved teacher in her educational community.
Until April 14, the gender observatories OGAT and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) had recorded at least 11 confirmed femicides.
Frequently Asked Questions about Femicide in Santiago de Cuba and Gender Violence in Cuba
Who was Zoraida Milagros Romero Castillo and what happened in her case?
Zoraida Milagros Romero Castillo was a Cuban mother brutally murdered with a knife by her partner in Santiago de Cuba. The crime occurred in front of her young daughter and her ailing mother. Zoraida worked in the education sector and was very well-regarded by her community. The attacker, a former convict, was captured by authorities after committing the murder.
What has been the community's reaction to Zoraida's femicide?
The community has expressed deep indignation and sorrow following the feminicide of Zoraida. Neighbors and colleagues have conveyed their grief and demanded justice for the victim. On social media, many people have called for the death penalty or life imprisonment for the murderer and have criticized the lack of effective measures by the Cuban judicial system to prevent the recidivism of criminals.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address gender-based violence?
Despite the numerous cases of femicide, femicide is not classified as a specific crime in the Cuban Penal Code. The government has created a national system for the registration, care, monitoring, and oversight of gender-based violence, but its effectiveness has been called into question. Criticism focuses on the lack of concrete actions and the inadequacy of protective measures for women at risk.
What is the current situation of femicides in Cuba?
By April 2025, at least 12 femicides have been recorded in Cuba, according to gender observatories such as OGAT and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba. These figures highlight a crisis of gender violence on the island, with urgent demands for justice and protection for women. The lack of official recognition of femicide as a crime and the inadequacy of preventive measures are widely criticized issues.
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