A family that went to check their vault in the cemetery of Cárdenas, in Matanzas, encountered a surprise that they have yet to clarify: one of the compartments of their burial property showed signs of seemingly recent cement, leading to suspicion that someone might have buried someone there without authorization.
The Cuban activist Christian Arbolaez reported on what happened this Tuesday in a Facebook post, where he explained that the family chose to visit the cemetery last Saturday after hearing recent complaints about the neglect of its facilities.
According to her account, the vault belongs to a woman whose property documents were processed about a year ago. In earlier photographs, the structure appeared painted, with the upper drawer unused.
However, during the visit, they found that the first compartment had a layer of cement that appeared to have been recently applied, which raised the family's suspicions.
The information does not confirm that a burial actually took place at that location, but it does reflect the concerns of the family members regarding a modification that they claim not to have authorized.
Last Monday, they went to the cemetery administration to request an explanation. There, they found the director, who referred them to a staff member responsible for reviewing the records.
According to Arbolaez, the employee began to seek information in a notebook, examining the notes from the current month and the previous one, without finding any data that could explain what happened.
The response they received also did not clarify the situation. According to the testimony, they were informed that they would consult the gravediggers to try to find out if any burial had taken place in that vault and who had authorized it.
Moreover, they were informed that if they could not clarify the case, the relatives themselves would have to sign a document stating that they never authorized that supposed burial, as a prerequisite for a possible transfer of the remains to a state vault.
Arbolaez criticized that the family had to take on new administrative procedures to resolve a situation he claims he did not cause.
"It’s incredible that something as delicate as the management of burials depends on manually searching for names and information, without being able to provide an answer," the activist expressed.
It also demanded clarification on who would have authorized the use of the space, whether a burial actually took place, and why the administration was unable to identify it through its records.
"What happened deserves a serious investigation. Who authorized that purported burial? Where is the record? How can a private vault be used without consulting its owner? And, above all, who is responsible for what happened?" she questioned.
The case arises just a few days after Arbolaez himself reported the deterioration and neglect of the Cárdenas cemetery, with photographs showing open vaults, uncontrolled vegetation, damaged structures, and other irregularities in the burial ground.
The images and testimonies shared at that time also captured complaints from neighbors about the lack of maintenance and the theft of fences and funeral offerings, situations that have created distress among families visiting the graves of their loved ones.
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