The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic announced on Wednesday that Nectzary Morales Vázquez has been charged with the murder of Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) in Caibarién. Morales Vázquez is currently held under provisional detention.
According to the recent official statement, the investigation is ongoing, with authorities actively gathering evidence to complete their inquiry. The prosecution emphasized that "in accordance with the rights and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution and laws, the Attorney General's Office will pursue public criminal action in court, requesting penalties that match the severity of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it, with further information to be provided."
The statement did not disclose additional details about the suspect's age, residence, or potential connection to the victim. Previously, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) confirmed the suspect's arrest in the town of Remedios but withheld his identity until now.
The earlier official report revealed that during the arrest, authorities recovered the deceased officer's service pistol, complete with its magazine, and the knife used in the murder. Captain Mesa Rodríguez's lifeless body, aged 62, was discovered on the early morning of Friday, September 19, on a stretch of road between Remedios and Caibarién, in the La Reforma area, where he served as sector chief.
The body had suffered six stab wounds and a gunshot to the head. The captain's official motorcycle was found at the scene. He was honored with a military funeral on September 20 in his hometown of Taguasco, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus. Family, neighbors, colleagues, and top officials from the Ministry of the Interior, including General of the Army Corps Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, attended the ceremony. The first secretaries of the Party in Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus, Suseli Morfa González and Delvy Pérez Martín, were also present.
The regime described the murder as a direct attack, stating that specialized teams are continuing their investigation to fully resolve the case. Prior to the official report, local residents and independent media shared consistent accounts of the event. CubaNet reported access to videos showing the officer lying on the road while other officials redirected traffic. A bus driver recounted seeing the captain hours earlier speaking with someone by the roadside.
Mesa Rodríguez joined MININT in January 2004 and served over a decade as a public order officer, mobile unit driver, and sector chief, eventually rising to the rank of captain.
Key Details Surrounding the Caibarién Murder Case
Who has been charged with the murder of Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez?
Nectzary Morales Vázquez has been charged with the murder of Captain Leonel Mesa Rodríguez.
Where was Captain Mesa Rodríguez's body discovered?
Captain Mesa Rodríguez's body was found on a road between Remedios and Caibarién, in the La Reforma area.
What items were recovered during the suspect's arrest?
Authorities recovered the officer's service pistol with its magazine and the knife used in the murder.