Marble Planter Stolen from Family Tomb: Grave Robberies Reported in Pinar del Río Cemetery

A retired journalist from Radio Guamá, the provincial station of Pinar del Río, has publicly condemned the theft of a marble planter from the family tomb in the Alameda Cemetery, often referred to as the "old cemetery" of the provincial capital.

José S. Morejón Morejón, known as Pepe Morejón, shared that his nieces discovered the theft on Mother's Day during a visit to the grave of his father, Ramón Morejón Cabrera, who passed away in 2012.

"They found that my father's planter, Ramón Morejón Cabrera, was stolen. They searched the surrounding vaults, but it was nowhere to be found," Morejón wrote in his post.

Apart from the gray marble planter, the thieves also took a metal crucifix from the grave of his sister, María Fortunata Morejón Cabrera.

"The planter of my sister, her mother, placed on January 21, 2025, had a cheap metal crucifix with only sentimental value taken from it," he detailed.

Inside Job Suspected in Cemetery Thefts

The family vault is located in section E of the cemetery, away from the entrance, which suggests to Morejón that those responsible are familiar with the area.

"The presence of the crucifix on my late sister's planter in that spot could only be known by those who roam inside, who are almost always the same," he pointed out.

His niece, Amarilys Jiménez Morejón, reported the theft at the cemetery's administration office, where María Luisa Páez Valdés, a 47-year veteran in the Communal Services sector, received her.

She was informed that there is currently no permanent administrator; the previous one, known as "Belén the twin," recently retired, and various officials are rotating to cover the office duties.

Administration Changes Lead to Security Lapses

Morejón noted that during Belén's 14-year tenure from 2012 to 2026, not a single incident occurred.

"There was never a loss or mistreatment, not even a scratch on the paint. The twin had absolute control over her workers, who followed her lead and everyone took care of the facility," he recalled.

For Morejón, the lack of a stable administrator has opened the door to robberies: "Apparently, the nightmare is beginning now, a trend seen in other cemeteries."

Without directly accusing current workers, Morejón pointed towards individuals who frequently visit the site offering painting, repair, and construction materials services.

The marble planter was likely stolen "for its commercialization and removal treatment," he indicated.

National Pattern of Cemetery Looting

The situation at the Pinar del Río cemetery is part of a broader national trend of grave robberies documented across multiple Cuban provinces.

In February, the municipal cemetery of Mayabe in Holguín was reported to be in a state of total desecration, with broken niches and exposed skeletal remains.

In December 2024, Camagüey's cemetery recorded ten plundered boxes and missing skulls, while earlier this year, musician Paulito FG's family reported vandalism at his tomb in Havana's Cementerio de Colón.

The ICLEP had previously documented thefts at the Pinar del Río cemetery since at least 2021, as noted in the 234th edition of its Panorama Pinareño publication.

Morejón formally addressed his complaint to the municipal and provincial Communal Services of Pinar del Río, urging other families to check on the condition of their loved ones' graves.

"How is it possible for unscrupulous individuals to seize and profit from an item where the silent witness is the remains of a corpse?" he questioned.