The coffin in which the body of Yannelis de la Caridad Casales Antón was repatriated to Santiago de Cuba, the young Cuban brutally murdered in March by her ex-partner in Jacksonville, Florida, was burned by workers from Community and Necrological Services.
Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared images on his Facebook profile showing how the visibly deteriorated coffin was doused with fuel and consumed by flames. He claimed that the burning was a maneuver by the leaders of the funeral sector to quell the controversy surrounding the use and whereabouts of the sarcophagus.
The funeral of Yannelis, 30 years old, took place on May 8 in Santiago de Cuba. It was marked by allegations of institutional mistreatment because the coffin, purchased through a campaign on the GoFundMe platform to ensure a dignified farewell, was ultimately not used for her burial.
The funeral home administration stated that the coffin "did not fit" in the available vaults in Santiago. The young woman's body was then transferred to a locally made casket for burial at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery.
A video published by the same journalist recently showed several men loading the empty casket onto a truck, without providing information about its destination. This gesture, along with the lack of transparency regarding the handling of the coffin, sparked an avalanche of criticism on social media from Cubans both inside and outside the country.
"They held a vigil for her in her casket, but the funeral home administration refused to bury her with it. Many excuses. And in the end, someone ended up keeping it," reported an anonymous source cited by Mayeta. Ultimately, the casket was burned in what some interpret as a belated attempt to silence the criticism.
Indignation adds to the widespread discontent over the precarious conditions of the funeral system on the island. Among the most common complaints are the lack of adequate infrastructure, the shortage of hearses, and the absence of dignified conditions for workers in the sector.
Some people also claim that there is economic discrimination in the allocation of spaces in cemeteries, such as Santa Ifigenia itself, where only those who can pay or have special authorization are granted access.
The case of Yannelis has deeply moved both the Cuban community in the United States and the citizens on the island, highlighting not only the tragedy of femicide but also the institutional dehumanization that can accompany even the final farewell.
The young woman was murdered on March 30 in an act of gender-based violence by her partner, Carlos Yordanis Aldana, who was arrested following the crime in the United States.
Yannelis's family was able to repatriate her body after an intense fundraising campaign and efforts to fulfill her final wish: to rest in her homeland.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Yannelis Casales and the funeral crisis in Cuba
Why was Yannelis Casales' coffin burned?
The coffin of Yannelis Casales was burned by workers from Community and Necrological Services as a maneuver to put an end to the controversy surrounding its use and whereabouts. The sarcophagus was not used for her burial because it did not fit in the available vaults in Santiago de Cuba, and the body was transferred to a domestically produced casket.
How was the coffin for Yannelis' repatriation financed?
The casket was acquired through a campaign on the GoFundMe platform, aimed at ensuring a dignified farewell for Yannelis. The fundraising campaign sought to cover the funeral expenses in the U.S. and the repatriation of the body to Cuba, successfully gathering a significant amount thanks to the community's solidarity.
What is the current situation of funeral services in Cuba?
Funeral services in Cuba are facing a severe crisis, characterized by a lack of adequate infrastructure, poor conditions for workers in the sector, and economic discrimination in the allocation of space in cemeteries. In many provinces, there are reports of situations where bodies must be transported in trucks or on foot due to a lack of hearses, and coffins can be made of cardboard due to a shortage of materials.
What impact has the Yannelis case had on the Cuban community?
The case of Yannelis Casales has shocked both the Cuban community in the United States and on the island. It has highlighted not only the tragedy of femicide but also the institutional dehumanization in the handling of her funeral. Public outrage has been expressed in criticisms of the funeral administration and the Cuban government for their lack of transparency and adequate response in basic services.
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