Antonio Yemén, known in his community as "Toñito", was found dead on his farm in Cerrajón Arriba, Manuel Tames municipality, Guantánamo province, under circumstances that local residents describe as a suspected robbery aimed at stealing his animals.
The first information was shared by the Facebook pages Nio Reportando un Crimen and El Más Puro Rodeo Cubano, which cited testimonies from neighbors and people close to the community.
The Most Authentic Cuban Rodeo identified Toñito as a farmer and rancher, mentioned that part of his livestock may have also been stolen, and warned about the vulnerability of those who work and live in the Cuban countryside to theft and violent incidents.
According to the information received from Nio Reportando un Crimen, several individuals reportedly broke into the property during the early hours of Tuesday with the intention of stealing animals.
The testimony claims that the alleged attackers took away five cows, a mule, and several other animals. Afterwards, they reportedly tied Antonio up with barbed wire and beat him repeatedly.
The same source stated that the victim reportedly died from strangulation, according to information allegedly held by the experts in charge of investigating the case.
Antonio lived alone and his farm was located in an area that was hard to reach. According to the account shared on social media, the body was discovered the next day and was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
Both sources agree that several individuals would remain in custody as suspects and that the investigation into this heinous crime is ongoing.
Family, friends, and residents of Cerrajón Arriba described Toñito as a very loved man, hardworking, and dedicated to farming.
The case adds to other episodes of violence against farmers and ranchers recorded in various rural areas of Cuba.
The Purest Cuban Rodeo summarized the concerns of the rural community with a question: "How long will our farmers and cattle ranchers have to live in fear of losing their property and even their own lives?".
In May, for example, the farmer Osvaldo Carbonel was murdered in Segundo Frente, Santiago de Cuba, after attempting to recover some oxen that had been stolen from him.
In June 2025, Agustín Pellicer Charón, a nearly 70-year-old farmer, was tortured and killed in Quintoque, Songo-La Maya. About 15 heads of cattle were reportedly stolen from his property.
In September of that same year, a father and his son were found murdered on a farm in Candelaria, Artemisa province.
The municipality of Manuel Tames had also been the scene of a violent robbery against a farmer in September 2024. For that case, a court in Guantánamo imposed sentences of up to 25 years in prison in June 2025.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit recorded at least 193 thefts related to the theft and slaughter of livestock between January and June 2025, a figure that reflects the insecurity affecting the Cuban countryside.
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