After being reported missing since Saturday, June 28, 21-year-old Ezequiel Martínez Ricardo has been safely located and is now back with his family in Holguín. His safe return was confirmed by the regime’s spokesperson profile, "Realidades desde Holguín".
The news broke through social media posts by Elizabeth García Martínez and Arlettys Oro, Ezequiel's sister, who initially raised the alarm, prompting a widespread community search in the eastern province.
"Thanks be to God, Ezequiel Martínez Ricardo has been found alive. I am grateful to the thousands who joined this cause and helped make his safe return possible. God bless you all," Oro expressed on her Facebook page.
Ezequiel had left his home in the 26 de Julio neighborhood of Holguín to carry out his usual sales activities but never came back.
Community Efforts Drive Search
For five days, his family and neighbors conducted an exhaustive search on foot and by bicycle through forests and wooded areas, including the Isla Torre region, the woods, and the Hilda Torres community.
Arlettys Oro had shared a video on Facebook, which garnered over 17,000 views and nearly 300 comments, turning social media into the primary search tool amid the absence of accessible state mechanisms.
She also requested that institutions with surveillance cameras review footage from Saturday morning, focusing on the La Estuna, Mayarí roads, and the outskirts of Holguín. Both police and hospitals were actively involved in the case.
A Joyful Reunion Amidst Unresolved Cases
This happy resolution stands in stark contrast to other unresolved disappearances in the same region. In November 2025, 19-year-old recruit Dannier Quesada Morales vanished on his way to his military unit in Aguas Claras.
Soon after, in January 2026, a 35-year-old man with schizophrenia had been missing for nearly a month in Holguín without an effective response from authorities.
Meanwhile, in December 2025, two 16-year-old girls missing in Moa were found safe following a similar community-driven search.
The recurring theme in these cases is families turning to Facebook due to the lack of an official early alert system comparable to the Amber Alert, which does not exist in Cuba.
"Undoubtedly excellent news," summarized the "Realidades desde Holguín" profile, announcing Ezequiel's return home.
Understanding Disappearances in Cuba
How was Ezequiel Martínez Ricardo found?
Ezequiel was found after a five-day community search driven by social media efforts and the involvement of family, friends, and neighbors.
What challenges do families face in missing persons cases in Cuba?
Families often turn to social media due to the absence of an effective state system or an official early alert mechanism like the Amber Alert.