On Monday, José Ariel Olivera took to the Facebook group "REVOLICO YAGUAJAY 2026" to reveal a distressing incident at the Yaguajay cemetery in Sancti Spíritus province. According to Olivera, cemetery workers unlawfully entered his deceased son's vault and stole items of deep sentimental value.
Olivera claimed that those responsible, whom he identified as employees of the cemetery, crafted a fake key to gain access to the vault and take the belongings left by the family alongside their son's remains.
"Two individuals, if they can even be called that, are nothing but rats—known as 'guasanga'—who work at the Yaguajay cemetery. They committed a forceful theft by forging a key to my vault," Olivera expressed in his online post.
After reporting the incident to the police, some of the stolen items were retrieved, but not everything was recovered.
"Some things were recovered; the rest, which holds sentimental value, they didn’t even mention what happened to it," Olivera lamented, mourning the loss of irreplaceable items.
The Outrage Over Official Inaction
What frustrates Olivera the most is the response—or lack thereof—from the authorities. The suspects were released and allowed to continue working at the very cemetery where the theft took place.
"They were freed as if they did nothing wrong and are still employed at the cemetery—thieves," he criticized.
Olivera holds the Cuban government accountable for this impunity, stating, "This government does nothing and leaves them in their jobs."
Seeking Justice and Warning Others
Determined to seek justice, Olivera vows to pursue the case to its conclusion and urges other families to inspect the vaults of their loved ones buried at the cemetery, warning there may be additional victims.
"Please share this, justice for all who have been victims of theft at that location and justice for my son," Olivera concluded in his post.
A Broader Issue of Cemetery Incidents
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated case. In August 2024, residents of the Kilo 12 neighborhood in Sancti Spíritus discovered a human skull on the street after thefts of remains from the municipal cemetery, allegedly for religious rituals.
In June of this year, a family reported vandalism and desecration of niches at the Colón Cemetery in Havana, with skeletal remains exposed and broken lids.
Additionally, in May, there were warnings about the theft of marble planters and crucifixes from the cemetery in Pinar del Río.
FAQs on Cemetery Theft in Cuba
What actions did José Ariel Olivera take after discovering the theft?
José Ariel Olivera reported the theft to the police, who managed to recover some of the stolen items, though not all.
What was the response of the authorities regarding the theft incident?
The suspects were released and returned to work at the same cemetery, which has caused outrage due to perceived inaction by the authorities.
Have there been other similar incidents in Cuban cemeteries?
Yes, there have been other reported incidents, including thefts of human remains in Sancti Spíritus and desecration in Havana’s Colón Cemetery, as well as thefts in Pinar del Río.