The tragic murder of Bárbara Elena Tejería Magdaleno, a 56-year-old mother, has left her three children orphaned. Her body was discovered in a deserted area of Las Cañas, a locality within the Boyeros municipality of Havana. Reports from independent sources, including 14ymedio, suggest she was brutally attacked with a machete by her ex-partner, a man in his 60s identified as Radamé.
In the months leading up to her death, Bárbara Elena had expressed to family members her desire to end the relationship, citing feelings of harassment. Despite her concerns, she made the decision to visit her partner's home alone to collect some belongings, after which she vanished. Her family reported her disappearance, but the authorities refused to intervene until the mandatory 72-hour period had passed. During this agonizing wait, her children—two young women aged 25 and 19, and a 15-year-old boy—hoped for news that never came.
On August 11, a local resident discovered a body in a nearby vacant lot. The corpse was in an advanced state of decomposition and showed signs of violence. Just a few hours later, the suspected attacker was found dead in a thicket, an apparent suicide by hanging.
A Disturbing Pattern of Violence
Bárbara Elena's case adds to the disturbing and growing list of feminicides on the island. Merely days earlier, another young woman was fatally stabbed in Centro Habana, allegedly by her partner, who later surrendered to the police. Concurrently, a Havana court sentenced a man to 25 years in prison for violently attacking his ex-partner in an attempted feminicide. However, the Cuban judicial system failed to recognize the act as such, instead charging him with "robbery with violence, injuries, and threats."
Independent platforms like YoSíTeCreo in Cuba (YSTCC) and the Observatorio de Género de Alas Tensas (OGAT) report at least 24 feminicides so far in 2025. This occurs in a context where the regime neither publishes official statistics nor acknowledges the term "feminicide" in its Penal Code.
The murder of Bárbara Elena, which has devastated her family, underscores the dire need for effective protective measures and highlights the urgency of addressing the persistent violence that continues to claim lives and deeply wound communities.
Key Questions About Feminicides in Cuba
How are feminicides treated in Cuba's legal system?
Feminicides are not officially recognized as a separate crime in Cuba's legal system. They are often categorized under other charges such as "robbery with violence, injuries, and threats," which can obscure the gender-based nature of the crime.
What organizations track feminicides in Cuba?
Independent organizations like YoSíTeCreo in Cuba (YSTCC) and the Observatorio de Género de Alas Tensas (OGAT) monitor and report on feminicides in Cuba, as the government does not release official statistics.
What challenges do families face when reporting disappearances in Cuba?
Families often face delays and inaction from authorities, as seen in the case of Bárbara Elena, where officials waited the mandatory 72 hours before taking action on her disappearance.