Cuban Man Held Without Bail for Alleged Murder of Wife in Las Vegas

Roelmer Sánchez Garrido, a 38-year-old Cuban national, is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. He is accused of murdering his wife following an argument sparked by her desire to return to Cuba with their two-year-old daughter.

The victim, identified as Vanesa Rodríguez Valdés, also 38 and originally from Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, was discovered dead in the bedroom of their home on the 4300 block of Esmeralda Avenue. Her body was found covered with a blanket in the early hours of Tuesday, April 28.

Sánchez Garrido himself dialed 911 around 3:04 a.m., reporting that "something bad" had happened and that his wife was not breathing, according to a statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).

Paramedics from the Las Vegas Fire Department arrived at the scene at 3:14 a.m. and found Sánchez Garrido in the front yard holding his daughter. Vanesa was pronounced dead at the site.

Investigation Uncovers Evidence of Domestic Struggle

Medical personnel noted that the death appeared "unnatural," prompting them to immediately call for police assistance. The LVMPD Homicide Section took over the investigation.

As reported by local media, the arrest report reveals that Sánchez Garrido confessed to detectives that he strangled his wife with one hand until she stopped breathing. He claimed he didn’t realize she would die, attempted CPR, and covered her with a sofa blanket.

The argument reportedly stemmed from Vanesa's wish to return to Cuba with their daughter, which Sánchez Garrido opposed due to political reasons that would prevent him from returning to the island, as well as his desire to continue earning money in the United States.

Precautionary Measures Taken Before Tragic Incident

Days before the tragedy, Vanesa took precautions by giving a neighbor her and her daughter's passports for safekeeping. On April 21, she secretly recorded a conversation with her husband about her intention to separate, sending the audio to neighbors via WhatsApp as potential evidence.

A neighbor testified that Sánchez Garrido approached him before calling 911, handed him two small containers of jewelry, and confessed to having done something "very bad."

Surveillance footage from a neighbor showed the couple arriving home at 6:18 p.m. the previous day and having a heated argument at 7:45 p.m., with no one else entering or leaving until emergency services arrived.

Judicial Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation

On Wednesday, April 29, Sánchez Garrido appeared in Justice Court, requiring a Spanish interpreter to understand the proceedings. The judge informed him, "The court has found probable cause for your arrest. You are currently detained without bail and will remain so until your next court appearance."

He faces an open charge of homicide, which allows the Nevada prosecutor to determine the specific degree as the investigation progresses.

The couple's young daughter is now under the care of the appropriate authorities. Sánchez Garrido's next court date is set for Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time.

Pattern of Gender-Based Violence Among Cuban Expatriates

This case is part of a documented pattern of gender-based violence against Cuban women abroad. Just 48 hours after Vanesa's violent death, another Cuban man murdered his partner in a brutal knife attack in North Fort Myers, Florida.

Three months prior, another domestic violence incident claimed the life of a Cuban woman in Las Vegas: Yaimara Leyva Cadet was fatally stabbed by her partner.

According to independent gender observatories OGAT and YSTCC, 12 Cuban women fell victim to femicide abroad during 2025, with six of these cases occurring in the United States.