New Revelations in Santiago de Cuba Murder Case Unveil Gruesome Details

The murder of Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones, a 74-year-old retiree, on August 21 in Santiago de Cuba has taken a chilling turn. Horrifying details have emerged, confirming the worst fears of residents in the Abel Santamaría neighborhood. This news has deeply shaken the Santiago community, sparking widespread outrage among citizens.

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada gained exclusive access to information revealing that the alleged killer, 60-year-old José Luis Fernández Torres, confessed to the crime with alarming detachment. According to his account, the murder took place at his home where he and Mercantety Quiñones were drinking alcohol together. Amid a heated argument over personal debts, Fernández Torres struck the victim on the head with a pipe, killing him.

What followed was even more horrifying: Fernández Torres admitted to dismembering the body and concealing it in his home, storing parts of the corpse in two refrigerators. Mayeta detailed the gruesome scene on Facebook, reporting that police found a jar with fat, two jars containing fried meat, and a bag of ribs in the suspect's residence.

Other body parts were disposed of by Fernández Torres in a stream near the entrance of Micro 1, where they were discovered by local residents. The investigation began on August 26 when Communal Services workers found the victim’s head in a garbage container near a TRD at the final bus stop in Abel Santamaría. The decomposed head was later identified as belonging to Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones, who had been reported missing since August 22.

The disappearance had already raised alarm among neighbors, who confirmed that Mercantety frequently visited his neighbor’s house, the now-accused killer. The Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that Fernández Torres is the prime suspect and will face charges for the murder.

During his confession, the suspect also admitted to discarding body parts in various locations around the city to eliminate any evidence linking him to the crime. This horrific murder has left Santiago residents horrified by the sheer violence and inhumanity of the act. As more details surface, speculation about potential cannibalistic practices—fueled by the discovery of fried human meat in the accused's refrigerators—has intensified. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the origin of the meat Fernández Torres stored in his fridge.

Although it remains unconfirmed whether these practices were part of the crime, Mayeta's allegations have heightened public alarm, with many calling for the harshest possible punishment. In addition to the appalling nature of the murder, the community has expressed revulsion at how the perpetrator used his home to hide and process human remains, reflecting a profoundly disturbed mindset.

The discovery of the head in a trash bin has also caused a significant stir, with residents in the area known as "El Salao" voicing shock and concern over the apparent insecurity enveloping the city. The case of Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones has reverberated throughout Cuba, with demands for justice becoming a widespread outcry.

Residents of Abel Santamaría insist that the murderer receives a severe sentence to prevent the recurrence of such heinous acts on the island. Activist Yosmany Mayeta offered condolences to the victim’s family and expressed outrage over the brutality of the murder. "We demand exemplary justice for this sinister killer, whose sentencing won’t bring the victim back to life but will provide some solace to his loved ones and the people of Santiago who live in fear and indignation," concluded the journalist.

This harrowing case presents Santiago de Cuba with one of the most atrocious crimes in recent years, leaving not only a fatal victim but also a community steeped in fear and disgust.