Roberto Peña, the son of a man murdered in Cuba in 2008, has come forward from the United States to assert that Yordanis Cobos-Martínez—the Cuban accused of recently beheading his boss at a motel in Dallas, Texas—was also responsible for his father's death.
In a conversation with journalist Javier Díaz from Univision, Peña recounted the tragic incident involving his father, Rolando Peña Almaguer, who was fatally stabbed by Cobos in Mayarí, Holguín. Despite several witnesses identifying Cobos as the perpetrator, another family member took the blame and served a mere three-year sentence, leaving Cobos free and unpunished.
"Everyone in Mayarí knows that on May 27, 2008, Cobos, along with his uncle Felo and others, attacked my father, but it was Cobos who delivered the fatal stab," Peña revealed. "The whole town knew it was him, yet he was never convicted. It shattered my life," he lamented, recalling how he was just 19 when he lost his father.
The victim's son contended that Cobos enjoyed a certain level of protection as a police informant, which allowed him to evade justice for other violent acts. "We found people close to the incident who revealed that he was an informant for the sector chief, known as 'Pasta Cubana' at the time," Peña added, explaining that this crime was the catalyst for his decision to leave Cuba.
The allegations add to the accounts portraying Cobos as a violent individual with a history of aggression. The case gained widespread attention after the gruesome murder in Dallas, even drawing reactions from former President Donald Trump. Peña has called on U.S. authorities to deliver justice: "I don't want him dead; I want him to have a fair trial and serve his time in prison, to experience what we have: living as if dead."
This testimony once again highlights Cobos's criminal trajectory and the fact that, despite previous accusations, he was able to leave Cuba and enter the United States before committing the murder that now keeps him behind bars.
Yordanis Cobos Martínez, now 37, was arrested last week in Dallas after brutally decapitating Chandra Nagamallaiah, the manager of the Downtown Suites Motel, with a machete in front of the victim's wife and child. The crime, captured on surveillance cameras, shocked the local community and sparked national outrage in the United States.
Following the Texas murder, numerous criminal records of Cobos have surfaced from both Cuba and the U.S. Reports from Cuban American journalists indicate that Cobos was also linked to another murder on the island and had a history of robbery.
This horrific crime in Dallas has reignited discussions on U.S. immigration policy and the lack of cooperation from the Cuban regime regarding deportations.
Key Questions About Yordanis Cobos-Martínez's Criminal Background
What allegations have been made against Yordanis Cobos-Martínez?
Yordanis Cobos-Martínez has been accused of fatally stabbing Rolando Peña Almaguer in Cuba in 2008 and was recently arrested for beheading his boss at a Dallas motel.
Why was Cobos not convicted for the murder in Cuba?
Despite witnesses pointing to Cobos, another family member took responsibility for the crime, serving only three years, which allowed Cobos to remain free.
How has the Dallas murder affected public opinion in the U.S.?
The brutal nature of the crime has sparked national outrage and reignited debates on U.S. immigration policy and Cuban deportation cooperation.