Cuban former political prisoner Yeilis Torres Cruz has made an urgent plea for assistance through a live broadcast on Facebook after a devastating fire in her Ohio apartment building left her and her baby homeless and without possessions.
The blaze erupted in the apartment directly above theirs. The flames, along with the water used to douse them, destroyed all their clothing and belongings.
A brief video clip reveals the exterior of the two-story red brick building with smoke emerging from second-floor windows, soot-blackened walls, and debris scattered across the yard.
Thankfully, Torres Cruz and her daughter were unharmed. The child was taken care of by her godparents while Torres Cruz managed the crisis outside the building as firefighters continued their work.
"My daughter and I are fine. The godparents have taken her," she stated during the broadcast, visibly shaken.
Firefighters prohibited her from re-entering the apartment with her baby due to the risk of collapse. "The ceiling is falling apart," she explained tearfully.
Torres Cruz blamed the incident on a neighbor's negligence: "It happened because of irresponsibility, due to the amount of drugs they use."
Among the material losses were personal documents soaked by the extinguishing water, as well as clothes and diapers for her baby. "Everything got wet," she recounted.
The activist emphasized her isolation in the state, with no close family around: "I'm here alone with my baby. It's not something I wish on anyone. I've always managed by myself, but I need help now."
At one point during the broadcast, she acknowledged she had never asked for help publicly before: "I've never been one to ask for help or reach out on social media. But I'm truly desperate now. I've lost everything."
Torres Cruz shared her phone number and urged her followers to spread the broadcast to garner support. Firefighters informed her about temporary housing options and provided a reference number in Spanish.
Yeilis Torres Cruz is affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and is a former prosecutor and judge whose professional credentials were invalidated by the Cuban regime.
She gained notoriety in May 2021 after live-streaming an encounter with government spokesperson Humberto López, who allegedly assaulted her on the street.
She was arrested three days later on charges of "attack" and spent nine months in prison without trial until her release on March 4, 2022.
While detained at the 100 y Aldabó police station, Torres Cruz reported being sexually assaulted by two men in police custody. In April 2022, she was cleared of criminal charges, receiving a 3,000 peso administrative fine instead.
In May 2022, she fled Cuba on a raft with 16 others, only to be intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and detained for seven months at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Following a medical emergency, she was transferred to Florida, where an immigration court granted her political asylum on March 28, 2023. She has since been residing in Ohio, where the fire occurred, leaving her destitute nearly three years after receiving asylum.
Yeilis Torres Cruz's Situation and Assistance Options
What caused the fire in Yeilis Torres Cruz's apartment building?
The fire originated in the apartment directly above Yeilis Torres Cruz's residence, and she attributes it to a neighbor's irresponsibility, particularly related to drug use.
How has Yeilis Torres Cruz been affected by the fire?
The fire destroyed all of her and her baby's belongings, including personal documents, clothing, and diapers, leaving them without a home.
What steps is she taking to find help?
Yeilis Torres Cruz has publicly asked for help through a Facebook live broadcast, providing her phone number and urging her followers to share her message to gather support.