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Jean Carlos Castillo Falls, 15 years old, a student at the Capitán San Luis urban secondary school in Amancio, province of Las Tunas, was found deceased this Saturday after being reported missing since Friday afternoon.
The discovery was made in the vicinity of the sugar mill in the municipality, after an intense search conducted by family, friends, and neighbors.
The Facebook community group "Revolico Amancio" was the first to publicly share the news.
"With deep sorrow, we inform the Amancio community of the passing of Jean Carlos Castillo Falls, 15 years old, a student at ESBU Capitán San Luis in Amancio, who had been missing since yesterday afternoon," the publication stated, adding, "Amancio once again is draped in sadness."
The news generated a wave of condolences on social media and sparked various comments because, allegedly, he took his own life. "I can't believe a child would choose to end his life, how painful," wrote a neighbor.
Another user expressed: "What a pain, my God, a child I have seen since he was little in the buildings. My condolences to Irina Falls, the child's mother."
The local group "Abrazos Sorpresas" also joined the collective mourning and announced that, if possible, they would send a floral tribute to the place where the remains were laid to rest, "as a gesture of respect, love, and support" for the family.
The case is part of a concerning trend of youth suicides in Cuba that the Island's authorities seldom acknowledge publicly.
According to the Health Statistical Yearbook, in 2023 there were 1,671 suicides recorded in the country, compared to 1,435 in 2022.
In the subgroup of 15 to 18 years, the cases increased from 18 in 2022 to 28 in 2023, becoming the third leading cause of death in that age range.
Experts link the phenomenon to the economic crisis, the mass exodus of families, depression, and substance abuse.
Cuba has recently recorded other similar cases that have garnered public attention. In September 2024, a 14-year-old teenager died in Sancti Spíritus after jumping from a pedestrian bridge.
In December of that same year, Lisnet Guzmán de la Cruz, 15 years old, lost his life in Santiago de Cuba after becoming a victim of cyberbullying and defamation on social media.
A 2025 investigative report on Holguín reported 977 cases of suicide between 2019 and 2023 in that province, with a sustained increase in adolescent suicidal behavior linked to family exodus.
Amancio is a municipality of approximately 36,500 inhabitants in the southwest of Las Tunas, whose economy has historically been linked to the sugar industry.
Cuban authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the death of Jean Carlos, whose story is circulating only through community social media.
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