A couple found dead in Placetas in an incident suggesting femicide followed by suicide

A violent incident has shaken the town of Placetas, in Villa Clara, where a couple was found dead in what appears to be a feminicide followed by suicide.

According to social media posts, the man, known as El Caña, is said to have taken the life of his partner, Rosa Delia Morales, before taking his own. The bodies were discovered by family members after two days without any news.

Neighbors described El Caña as a calm and cheerful man, which has caused even more surprise and disbelief.

Friends and loved ones of Rosa Delia have expressed their sorrow in messages filled with affection and grief. "My dear friend, my mentor in many lessons... we will always remember you, all of us who shared great times of life with you," wrote a close friend.

The tragedy has shocked the entire community, which remembers Rosa as a beloved and respected woman, and she is now the latest victim of the patriarchal violence that afflicts the island.

A niece thanked everyone for their supportive messages and expressed, “Thank you all for your beautiful comments about my aunt. May God guide me along her paths so that I can be as wonderful as she is.”

In just two weeks, at least three feminicides have shaken Cuba, leaving behind shattered families and outraged communities.

In Holguín, at the beginning of August, Milagros Batista Estévez, 56 years old, was stabbed by her ex-partner José Matos, despite having reported him three times to the authorities, who never took action.

At the time of the murder, there was a six-year-old girl and a nine-month-old baby inside the home. "This crime could have been prevented," the victim's son reported.

Days later, in Centro Habana, a young woman was murdered in a house on Amistad Street, allegedly by her partner, who wandered around the area after the crime before turning himself in to the police. Neighbors described her as "a good girl" and the economic support of the aggressor.

While in Boyeros, Havana, Bárbara Elena Tejería Magdaleno, mother of three children, was brutally attacked by her ex-partner while trying to collect her belongings.

His body was found days later in an open field in Las Cañas, in an advanced state of decomposition. The presumed attacker was discovered dead in a thicket area.

As is customary, the Cuban authorities have not issued a statement regarding any of these recent cases.

Independent feminist organizations such as YoSíTeCreo in Cuba report up to 26 femicides in 2025 so far, in addition to one male murder motivated by gender and two attempted femicides, while investigating four other alerts in Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, and Camagüey.

The dismay in Placetas and the grief of Rosa Delia Morales's family and friends join the outcry of dozens of communities on the island demanding real measures to curb gender-based violence.

“Eternal light for you, angel of love. I will never forget you, my dear Rosa”, wrote another friend on social media. A phrase that today reflects the open wound in Cuba, where each new femicide highlights the vulnerability of women and the lack of an effective response from the State.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gender-Based Violence in Cuba