Cuba Archive - Case 11944

Case ID: 11944

Title: preso común

First name: José Carlos

Last name: Morales Fuentes

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 60

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Year:1966

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:24 / Month:2 / Year:2026

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: Lawton #1264 e/ Dolores y Concepción, Lawton, Municipio 10 de Octubre, La Habana

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: N/A

Last known province current: N/A

Last known country: N/A

Location death-address: “Leopoldito Martínez” General Hospital of San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Mayabeque

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: Yes

Docket Number: 14373113

Sentence details: 15 yrs

Arrest or detention at time of death: N/A

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Death in a hospital while in State custody. Negligence, abandonment, and denial of medical services.

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

The Cuban Prisons Documentation Center (CDPC) has identified a new death within the Cuban prison system. José Carlos Morales Fuentes, 60, passed away on February 24, 2026, at the “Leopoldito Martínez” Hospital in San José de las Lajas, after having been neglected by prison authorities. According to the testimony of his brother, Jorge Enrique Morales Fuentes, officers from the Quivicán prison allegedly left him alone in a hospital hallway—unattended, without security detail, without notifying his family, and without ensuring he received medical care. Several individuals stated that he had been at the facility for days before his relatives were finally notified.
When his family members finally found him, he exhibited visible signs of physical deterioration: severe malnutrition, pale skin, skeletal prominence, and multiple injuries. He had bruises on his knees, a severe blow to the back of his head—accompanied by noticeable swelling—and stitches above his left eye; yet, no explanation was offered regarding the origin of these wounds.
According to statements made by the family member to @CubanetNoticias, a doctor indicated that the inmate was suffering from “fatal hemorrhaging throughout the head,” although the issued death certificate listed a cerebrovascular disease as the cause of death.
José Carlos Morales remained in the penal facility without receiving adequate medical attention despite his deteriorating health, and was transferred to a hospital only after his condition had already become critical. He was serving a 15-year prison sentence at the Quivicán penitentiary in the province of Mayabeque.
...
El Centro de Documentación de Prisiones Cubanas (CDPC) identifica una nueva muerte en las prisiones cubanas. José Carlos Morales Fuentes, de 60 años, falleció el pasado 24 de febrero de 2026 en el hospital de San José de las Lajas “Lepoldito Martínez”, tras haber sido desatendido por las autoridades penitenciarias. De acuerdo con el testimonio de su hermano, Jorge Enrique Morales Fuentes, los oficiales de la prisión de Quivicán lo habrían dejado solo en el pasillo del hospital, sin custodia, sin informar a la familia y sin garantizar que recibiera atención médica. Varias personas aseguraron que llevaba días en el lugar antes de que sus familiares fueran notificados.
Estos, finalmente, lo encontraron con visibles signos de deterioro físico: desnutrición severa, piel pálida, prominencia ósea y múltiples lesiones. Presentaba moretones en las rodillas, un golpe de gravedad en la parte posterior de la cabeza -con una inflamación notable- y puntos de sutura sobre el ojo izquierdo, sin que se ofreciera explicación sobre el origen de esas heridas.
Según declaraciones del familiar a  @CubanetNoticias
 , una doctora indicó que el recluso padecía un “sangramiento fatal en toda la cabeza”, aunque el certificado emitido indicó como causa de muerte una enfermedad cerebrovascular.
José Carlos Morales permaneció en el penal sin recibir la atención médica adecuada pese al deterioro de su salud, y fue trasladado a un centro hospitalario únicamente cuando su condición ya era crítica. Cumplía una condena de 15 años de privación de libertad en el centro penitenciario de Quivicán, en la provincia de Mayabeque.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Medical condition/Denial of medical care

Occupations: N/A

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Prisoner / Detainee: Non-political cause - Prisoner / Detainee: Non-political cause

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - José Carlos Morales Fuentes