Cuba Archive - Case 8888

Case ID: 8888

Title: N/A

First name: José Eugenio

Last name: Cuervo Oquendo

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 24

Gender: N/A

Date of Birth: Day:1 / Month:1 / Year:1880

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:5 / Month:7 / Year:1968

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: San Miguel #566 e/ Gervasio y Belascoaín

Last known city: Havana

Last known province-TOD: La Habana

Last known province current: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: At sea, off the coast of Boca Ciega beach

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: La Habana

Location of death province - current: Ciudad de La Habana

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

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: Cuban border guards

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

José was murdered at sea by Cuban border guards as he attempted to escape Cuba with four other young Cubans, including his 15-year-old half-brother Leonardo, in a raft from beach in Havana. As they were pulling away from the coast, a Cuban Boarder Guard patrol boat began shooting at them indiscriminately, impacting the raft and injuring José, who fell into the water. Leonardo dove in to rescue him, but reached the beach with José's lifeless body. Agents of the G2 (State Security) were waiting for him at the beach, who savagely beat him despite his young age. The other three swam ashore at different places and were also beaten and imprisoned. José’s wake was arranged by State Security at the Funeral Home of Calzada in Vedado, Havana, and only a sealed casket was allowed. Leonardo was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He was accused of being a member of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency of the United States), as a letter had allegedly been found with his brother’s body that he was carrying to the USA. Leonardo served 2 years in the Jaruco 2 prison. Prison guards constantly harassed him and threw out his food, accusing him of being a CIA dog. In fact, he knew nothing about the aforementioned letter. When he was released from prison, the harassment continued until he was finally able to leave Cuba for the U.S.
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José fue asesinado en el mar por guardias fronteras cubanos cuando intentaba escapar de Cuba con otros cuatro jóvenes, incluyendo a su medio hermano de 15 años, Leonardo, en una balsa desde una playa en La Habana. Mientras se alejaban de la costa, una lancha patrullera de la Guardia Costera de Cuba comenzó a dispararles indiscriminadamente, impactando la balsa e hiriendo a José, quien cayó al agua. Leonardo se lanzó a rescatarlo, pero llegó a la playa con el cuerpo sin vida de José. Agentes del G2 (Seguridad del Estado) lo esperaban en la playa, quienes lo golpearon salvajemente a pesar de su corta edad. Los otros tres nadaron a tierra en diferentes lugares y también fueron golpeados y encarcelados. El velorio de José fue organizado por la Seguridad del Estado en la Funeraria de Calzada en el Vedado, La Habana, y solo se permitió un ataúd sellado. Leonardo fue condenado a 6 años de prisión. Fue acusado de ser miembro de la CIA (Agencia Central de Inteligencia de los Estados Unidos), ya que supuestamente se encontró una carta con el cuerpo de su hermano que llevaba a los Estados Unidos. Leonardo cumplió 2 años en la prisión Jaruco 2. Los guardias de la prisión lo acosaban constantemente y tiraban su comida, acusándolo de ser un perro de la CIA. De hecho, no sabía nada de la carta mencionada. Cuando salió de la cárcel, el hostigamiento continuó hasta que finalmente pudo salir de Cuba hacia Estados Unidos.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Extrajudicial killing: in exit attempt

Occupations: - N/A - Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Attempting exit

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - José Eugenio Cuervo Oquendo