In the wake of a suspicious death in the Sancti Spíritus municipality, Cuban authorities are delving into what appears to be a murder investigation. The lifeless body of a 59-year-old man was discovered in his residence located at 218 Diego Velázquez Street, in the Jesús María district.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Rodríguez Carmenate, head of the criminal investigation unit in the province, conveyed to Radio Sancti Spíritus that the incident came to light when the deceased's son reported his father's demise as being due to natural causes at a local clinic. However, visible bloodstains prompted the certifying doctor to immediately involve the Legal Medicine department.
The body was subsequently taken to Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial General Hospital, where a forensic autopsy was conducted. The examination uncovered neck injuries and a fractured trachea, conclusively pointing to mechanical asphyxia by strangulation as the cause of death.
Investigators gathered statements from neighbors, painting a picture of a troubled household. The deceased resided with his son and a nephew, both of whom allegedly subjected him to verbal abuse and denied him medical care despite his ailments, which included a foot ulcer and liver cirrhosis due to chronic alcohol consumption.
Suspicions were confirmed when the two family members were taken into custody and questioned. During the interrogation, the nephew admitted to causing his uncle's death. "The victim's nephew confessed to strangling his uncle by using his hands and then applying pressure with his knee to inflict the fatal injuries," detailed Rodríguez Carmenate.
The detained individuals participated in a crime scene reconstruction in the presence of prosecutors, attorneys, and witnesses. Currently, they remain held at the Provincial Criminal Investigation Unit under provisional imprisonment on murder charges.
Lieutenant Colonel Rodríguez Carmenate emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing to determine any potential involvement of additional parties and to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the crime.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the Sancti Spíritus community, where residents are struggling to come to terms with the brutal nature of the man's death.
Key Details About the Sancti Spíritus Crime
What was the cause of death in the Sancti Spíritus case?
The cause of death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia by strangulation, as revealed by the forensic autopsy.
Who confessed to the crime?
The nephew of the victim confessed to having strangled his uncle, leading to his death.