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Young Mother Brutally Murdered in Matanzas: Suspect Apprehended

Thursday, July 10, 2025 by Charlotte Gomez

Young Mother Brutally Murdered in Matanzas: Suspect Apprehended
- Image © Social media collage

A horrific crime has shaken the community of Limonar in Matanzas, where a 24-year-old mother, identified as Melissa Rivero, was sexually assaulted and murdered. The perpetrator, a man known to Melissa though not her ex-partner, also stole her belongings after committing the heinous act.

The pro-government social media account “Con todos la victoria” recently provided details about the incident, confirming that the alleged murderer has been arrested by authorities. The accused, Noslan Chapell Drake, was identified as the suspect.

Melissa's lifeless body was discovered in the underbrush along a road known as La Torre in the Fructuoso Rodríguez area, prompting a swift investigation that quickly resolved the case, according to the official account. The brutal crime involved not only murder and sexual assault but also theft, as the attacker reportedly sold the victim’s jewelry.

Authorities are reportedly committed to ensuring that Noslan Chapell faces the full severity of the law. Although the official report did not name the victim, friends and family have confirmed that Melissa Rivero, a mother to a young child of about three years old, was the victim.

Unofficial accounts circulating on Facebook suggest that Melissa was on her way to work on her bicycle when she was assaulted and drowned by her attacker. Her body was allegedly found near a stream close to her home in the area known as Finca “La Esperanza.” Noslan Chapell, known locally as “Manicato” or “Maní,” is from Limones in the Colón municipality.

A Facebook post by someone familiar with the case claimed the murderer was a friend of Melissa’s ex-partner and even participated in the search for her. “He was so cynical that he looked for her alongside everyone else,” wrote Belkis González. Fingerprints found at the crime scene, which had been cleared recently, suggested premeditation, according to the source.

As of this report, feminist groups have not yet publicized the case. In 2024, Cuba reported 76 femicides, where women were killed by partners, ex-partners, or others, according to a recent government report on severe gender violence. The Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality (OCIG), a government-affiliated entity, released these figures, referring to women aged 15 and older who were victims of “intentional homicide (murder)” due to gender, without using the term femicide.

This number surpasses the count maintained by independent feminist platforms such as the Observatorio de Género de Alas Tensas and Yo Sí Te Creo in Cuba, which documented 56 femicides the previous year, according to the annual report by OGAT.

Understanding Gender-Based Violence in Cuba

What is the current state of femicide in Cuba?

In 2024, Cuba reported 76 femicides, significantly higher than figures from independent feminist groups, which documented 56 cases the previous year.

How did authorities respond to Melissa Rivero's case?

Authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect, Noslan Chapell, and have committed to ensuring he faces the full force of the law.

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