Ricardo Eudi Soler, stepson of the 74-year-old Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones, identified as the man who appeared decapitated in Santiago de Cuba, stated that the crime was an atrocity and that his stepfather was a quiet man who never left his house.
The man told Martí Noticias that his stepfather went missing on August 21, after visiting a neighbor with whom he had worked in the education sector before retiring.
“It's a professor, that person is already in custody,” he assured.
According to Soler, the suspect invited him to his house under the pretext of watching television. “He told me he felt bad because the man had already invited him several times, so he was going to spend some time there with him, and since that night he left… he never came back,” he explained.
"We have that uncertainty about why... he didn't go out, he didn't visit; he was a person who was integrated into his family but did not participate in social activities, he was very little inclined to go out," he clarified.
He said that the family reported the disappearance and received conflicting accounts from the detained man, who told them to search in another neighborhood.
"He diverted us because he sent her to look for him in a place they call Los Ecuatorianos […] and I was searching like crazy and mobilized my friends from the neighborhood," explained the stepson.
On Tuesday, August 25, authorities found a human head in an advanced state of decomposition in a garbage container in Abel Santamaría.
Hours later, the decapitated body appeared inside the suspect's home, as confirmed by family members.
"First, the head was found in a trash container and then the remains of the body at that man's house," Soler clarified.
The following day, he was called to the cemetery of El Cobre, where he was able to identify his stepfather's body by a piece of clothing.
The official profile Héroes del Moncada, linked to the Ministry of the Interior, reported that the detained individual, a 60-year-old resident, confessed to violently killing the victim on August 21 after consuming alcoholic beverages, motivated by "a personal vendetta."
The crime occurs in a context of unprecedented rise in criminality in Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions about Crime in Santiago de Cuba
Who was Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones, the victim of the crime in Santiago de Cuba?
Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones was a 74-year-old man who had worked in the education sector before retiring. He was described by his stepson as a quiet man, not inclined to leave the house and who did not participate in social activities. His disappearance and subsequent murder have shocked the community of Santiago de Cuba.
How was the crime in Santiago de Cuba discovered?
The crime was discovered when workers from the Comunales Company found a human head in an advanced state of decomposition inside a garbage container in the Salao neighborhood, Micro III, in Santiago de Cuba. Hours later, the decapitated body was found in the suspect's home. This gruesome discovery marked the beginning of an investigation that led to the capture of the alleged perpetrator of the murder.
What is the context of crime in Santiago de Cuba?
The crime of Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones occurs in a context of unprecedented increase in crime in Cuba, especially in Santiago de Cuba, where several incidents of violent deaths and bodies found in public spaces have been reported. The community lives in an atmosphere of insecurity, and this case reflects one of the many alarming situations that have developed recently in the region.
What motivated the murder of Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones?
According to the detainee's confessions, the murder was motivated by “a personal vendetta”. This murder occurred after a night of consuming alcoholic beverages between the suspect and the victim. The brutality of the crime and the attempt to conceal it by dismembering the body have caused great shock in the community.
How has the Cuban government responded to the rising crime rate?
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the response from the Cuban government has been limited and ineffective. The lack of clear reporting and informational censorship has heightened the sense of unease and fear among the residents of Santiago de Cuba. The community continues to demand greater transparency and more decisive actions to ensure public safety.
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