Cuba Archive - Case 660

Case ID: 660

Title: N/A

First name: Justo

Last name: López Álvarez

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: Tatica

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: N/A

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:19 / Month:1 / Year:1959

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: Camagüey

Last known province-TOD: Camagüey

Last known province current: Camagüey

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Guanabaquilla Army Shooting Range

Location of death - city: Outskirts Camagüey

Location of death province - at TOD: Camagüey

Location of death province - current: Camagüey

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Career soldier executed without trial together with 18 other men (including his father-in-law, brother-in-law and several friends and neighbors) on charges of war crimes for which no proof was presented and the family insists had not happened. Former teacher and revolutionary commander Huber Matos reportedly issued the orders for the prompt execution of the 19 men without trial.  Without warning to their families, the men were hastily taken to a shooting range 14 kms. outside of his native city of Camaguey, placed in front of a recently dug trench and shot. His wife was waiting outside the prison when the truck carrying the men pulled out. A guard yelled that they were taking them for their execution. She arrived a half hour later to collect just the bloody dirt from the trench and bullet casings. It would be weeks before the families were allowed to take the decomposed remains of their loved ones for proper burial. He left a widow and a baby son.
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Soldado de carrera ejecutado sin juicio junto con otros 18 hombres (incluiyendo a su suegro, cuñado y varios amigos y vecinos) por cargos de crímenes de guerra por los cuales no se presentaron pruebas y la familia insiste en que no eran ciertos. Según los informes, el ex maestro y comandante revolucionario Huber Matos emitió las órdenes para la pronta ejecución de los 19 hombres sin juicio. Sin avisar a sus familias, los hombres fueron llevados apresuradamente a un campo de tiro a 14 kms. fuera de su ciudad natal de Camagüey, y fusilados frente a unas fosas recientemente excavadas. Su esposa estaba esperando afuera de la prisión cuando el camión que transportaba a los hombres salió. Un guardia gritó que los estaban llevando para su ejecución. Llegó media hora después para recoger solo la tierra ensangrentada de la trinchera y los casquillos de bala. Pasarían semanas antes de que a las familias se les permitiera llevar los restos descompuestos de sus seres queridos para un entierro adecuado. Dejó su esposa y un hijo pequeño.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Execution: by firing squad

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: served Batista government

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: - Case 658: Jacinto Hernández Mas - Case 659: Antonio Bienvenido Hernández Mesa - Case 488: Gerardo Trujillo Amador - Case 870: Olegario Onelio Rodríguez Hernández

Case Record - Justo López Álvarez