Cuba Archive - Case 9003

Case ID: 9003

Title: N/A

First name: Lázaro

Last name: Baró Montalvo

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: Pita

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:8 / Month:1 / Year:2007

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: Cidra

Last known city: Unión de Reyes

Last known province-TOD: Matanzas

Last known province current: Matanzas

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Combinado del Sur prison

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Matanzas

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: Yes

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: Three months

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: Day:20 / Month:12 / Year:2006

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: Combinado del Sur prison, Unión de Reyes, Matanzas province

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

He suffered from mental problems that did not allow him to finish primary school, complete the required military service, or maintain employment, all of which the police already knew. On December 12, 2006, he was detained, allegedly for failing to pay a fine. They held him in the municipal unit for three days, then transferred him to the prison, all without telling his family. When his family heard about his imprisonment, they went to the prison and brought him clothing and other things for personal hygiene. Days later, they discovered that he had been tried and sentenced, not for the fine, but for suspected disrespect for police authority. On January 5, 2007, his aunt visited him and found him thin with a strong cough, and difficulty breathing and walking. She told the re-educator, who promised he would look into it. On January 8, 2007, his uncle appeared before the provincial delegation of the Ministry of the Interior, where he was informed that Baró had died earlier that morning. 
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Sufría de problemas mentales que no le permitieron terminar la escuela primaria, completar el servicio militar requerido o mantener un empleo, todo lo cual la policía ya sabía. El 12 de diciembre de 2006 fue detenido, presuntamente por no pagar una multa. Lo retuvieron en la unidad municipal durante tres días, luego lo trasladaron a la prisión, todo sin avisar a su familia. Cuando su familia se enteró de su encarcelamiento, fueron a la cárcel y le llevaron ropa y otras cosas para la higiene personal. Días después, descubrieron que había sido juzgado y sentenciado, no por la multa, sino por presunta falta de respeto a la autoridad policial. El 5 de enero de 2007, su tía lo visitó y lo encontró delgado con fuerte tos y dificultad para respirar y caminar. Ella se lo dijo al reeducador, quien le prometió que lo investigaría. El 8 de enero de 2007 su tío compareció ante la delegación provincial del Ministerio del Interior, donde le informaron que Baró había fallecido esa misma mañana.

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: Unknown cause

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Lázaro Baró Montalvo