Relative of Doraiky Águila Refutes Death Rumors: Search Efforts Persist

The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Doraiky Águila Vázquez, missing since March 15 in Lawton, Havana, was stirred again this Friday after rumors circulated on social media claiming she had been found dead. The misleading information was posted by the Facebook group "Noticia del Momento," managed by Yilian Arroyo. However, it was quickly and strongly denied by Damnielle Días Fernández, a relative of Doraiky.

In another Facebook post, Damnielle clarified that the news was false and urged the public not to be misled: "I want to clarify that the publication about Dory is a lie. I make this public for those who have been following the case from the beginning and help us share it so she can be found," she emphasized. "I ask everyone who is helping us to keep sharing," she added.

Continued Search Amidst Official Silence

The denial comes after nearly seven months of a disappearance marked by a lack of official responses and the family's growing desperation, as they have had to conduct the search for Doraiky on their own. She suffers from a condition of transient memory loss, making her especially vulnerable.

Doraiky was last seen in the early hours of March 15 when she left her home on Pocitos Street in the Lawton district. She was wearing a yellow outfit and black sandals with a red stripe. Since then, there has been no clear information about her whereabouts.

Maura Vázquez, the missing woman's mother, has criticized the authorities for their inaction and lack of progress. "I am critical, I tell the truth so that we can work on what is real. I no longer ask, beg, or implore, I hold the Cuban government responsible for the search process," she stated in a message in June. "My life is slipping away as I wait for my daughter," she wrote recently on social media, accompanied by desperate pleas and calls for public solidarity.

Community and Activists Demand Action

The family has offered a reward of 350,000 Cuban pesos for any concrete information and has shared contact numbers to receive leads. Yet, no results have been forthcoming. The case has triggered the activation of the Yeniset Alert, a mechanism driven by the group Yo Sí Te Creo in Cuba and the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory, used in women's disappearance cases.

Feminist organizations and neighbors have also pushed for refocusing the search with a community strategy. About 20 days ago, official journalist Miguel Reyes warned that Doraiky might be held against her will, under deception, given her mental condition and vulnerability. Despite these warnings, the institutional response has been slow and inadequate.

Family Calls for Genuine Institutional Response

The false report on Friday highlights the harm caused by fake news during such a sensitive search. The family insists that what is urgently needed is serious action from the institutions. The late announcement by the Educational Channel was a reaction to growing public pressure. However, merely sharing a post is insufficient; a prompt and thorough investigation by the police and prosecution is essential to clarify what happened.

Doraiky Águila is a mother, wife, and daughter, with two children waiting for her at home. Her relatives have repeatedly urged anyone who sees her to provide information immediately, to prevent this case from fading into silence. They continue their search independently, pleading for an effective institutional response to ensure that Doraiky's disappearance does not become another unresolved case in the country.