Cuba Archive - Case 1660

Case ID: 1660

Title: N/A

First name: Alexis

Last name: Vázquez García

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 44

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:21 / Month:11 / Year:2016

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: Matanzas

Last known province current: Matanzas

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Prison El Alberguito, San Juan, Combinado del Sur prison system

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Matanzas

Location of death province - current: Matanzas

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: N/A

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: Prison El Alberguito, San Juan, Combinado del Sur prison system, Matanzas

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: Body tampering/missing parts/family denied remains

Case description:

Alexis was serving a one-year sentence for pre-criminal social dangerousness and was to be realeased in three days. He was in a work farm linked to the prison. Prison authorities reported he died of a massive heart attack, but the family claims he was assassinated from a beating. The family insisted on inspecting the body (the victim´s brother called the prison to demand inspection of the body before burial and was initially threatened with imprisonment). Upon inspection, the body showed the full front sutures of an autopsy and the arms, back, and legs had large and severe bruises, as filmed with a phone camera. 
The body of the deceased was taken to Santiago de Cuba for burial the day after the death, yet the family resided in Camagüey. Prison authorities alleged they were unaware the family was from Camagüey.
Several days after the family's claims were publicized by news venues outside of Cuba, they reported constant harassment and threats from State Security agents, who demanded their silence. He left a 10 year old daughter.
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El reo fue presumiblemente asesinado en una golpiza en prisión cuando cumpliá una condena de un año por “peligrosidad social predelictiva.” Las autoridades penitenciarias notificaron a su familia que murió de un infarto masivo, pero al insistir ver el cadáver, los familiares comprobaron que presentaba hematomas en los brazos, la espalda y las piernas. La Seguridad de Estado los amenazó después que denunciaron el caso fuera de Cuba, incluyendo con la filmación del cadáver hecha con un teléfono. Fue presumiblemente asesinado en una golpiza en prisión mientras cumplía una condena de un año por “peligrosidad social predelictiva” luego de ser amenazado por tener un hermano activista de derechos humanos. Las autoridades penitenciarias notificaron a su familia que murió de un infarto masivo, aunque tenía buena salud. Al insistir en ver el cadáver, la familia comprobó que presentaba hematomas en los brazos, la espalda y las piernas. La Seguridad de Estado los amenazó después que denunciaron el caso fuera de Cuba, incluyendo con la filmación del cadáver hecha con un teléfono. Dejó una hija de 10 años.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

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

Cause of Death: - Extrajudicial killing, possible/suspected

Occupations: - N/A

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Prisoner / Detainee: Political cause

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Alexis Vázquez García