Summary Report, May 5, 2004. Truth Recovery Archive on Cuba.

DEATHS REPORTED TO DATE:  94
FIRING SQUAD EXECUTIONS: 22
EXTRAJUDICIAL ASSASSINATIONS: 32
ASSASSINATED IN EXIT ATTEMPTS: 24
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN PRISON: 1
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS -  EXIT ATTEMPTS: 3
INSURGENTS KILLED IN COMBAT: 12
UNIDENTIFIED DEATHS IN ASYLUM - SEEKING EXIT ATTEMPTS BY SEA (“BALSEROS)”: 10,926 – 12,916
Formula Estimate

Because research work is in progress, totals change as the investigation progresses.  Due to the totalitarian nature of the Castro regime, many more cases are likely unreported / undocumented.

SELECTED CASES

Date, location, and cause of death are

summarized below for selected cases.  Additional details, data, and sources are available for the majority of these cases.

MINORS EXECUTED OR  ASSASSINATED

MARIO ALFONSO. AGE 16.  

27-09-62, HAVANA. ASSASSINATED.  HE CAME ACROSS A MILITIAMAN BEATING A MAN AND ATTEMPTED TO INTERVENE.  WHEN ANOTHER  MILITIAMAN ASKED HIM FOR HIS NAME AND ADDRESS, HE REPLIED HE LIVED IN MIAMI WITH HIS FATHER, THE MILITIAMAN TOOK OUT HIS PISTOL AND RESPONDED: “YOU DIRTY REVOLUTIONARY WORM, THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE!,”  SHOOTING 8  BULLETS INTO HIM. 

CARLOS R. ARAUJO NUÑEZ. AGE 17.  

28-01-94,  STREET IN FRONT OF THE “INGLATERRA” HOTEL IN HAVANA. ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY A POLICEMAN FOR NOT STOPPING  HIS MOTORCYCLE WHEN  ORDERED TO HALT. 

JULIO BÁEZ. AGE 15.

27-03-93, CORNER OF MARIA AUXILIADORA AND PORVENIR STREETS, HAVANA. ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY A COLONEL OF CUBA’S DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR (MININT).

PEDRO BERMÚDEZ. AGE 16.

29-06-74, SANTA CLARA, LAS VILLAS. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD.

MIGUEL CALDERÓN ESPÍN. AGE 17.

26-04-91, “KILO 7" PRISON IN THE CITY OF CAMAGUEY. ASSASSINATED BY PRISON GUARDS.   

TWO CARDONA BROTHERS. AGES 5 & 6.

09-12-61, ESMERALDA, CAMAGUEY PROVINCE. ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY REVOLUTIONARY POLICE WHO STORMED THEIR HOME, KILLING THE  ENTIRE FAMILY.

RAMÓN DÍAZ LLANES. AGE 14.

08-07-62, SCHOOL YARD, BALDOR HIGH SCHOOL, VEDADO, HAVANA. ASSASSINATED BY THE CHIEF OF VEDADO’S COMMUNIST YOUTH, WHO SHOT HIM IN FRONT OF HIS CLASSMATES WHEN HE CAME TO THE AID OF A STUDENT BEING BEATEN BY THE MAN.

DITSAN DIÉGUEZ TORRES. AGE 17.  

03-08-92, SAN  GERMÁN SUGAR MILL, HOLGUÍN.  ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY A POLICEMAN FOR STEALING SUGAR FROM THE SUGAR MILL WAREHOUSE.  

JUNIOR FLORES DÍAZ. AGE 17.

SUMMER 1995, PUNISHMENT CELL IN VALLE GRANDE PRISON, EL MORADO, HAVANA PROVINCE. DIED IN PRISON, DENIED MEDICAL ATTENTION.  VOMITING INCESSANTLY, HIS CALLS FOR HELP WERE IGNORED. HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN A POOL OF VOMIT AND BLOOD.

MÁXIMO GALÁN ZALDÍVAR. AGE 17. 

20-01-79,  G-2 STATE SECURITY OFFICE IN GUANTÁNAMO. LEADER OF A YOUTH GROUP OF ROCK-AND-ROLL FANS. ASSASSINATED WHILE UNDER ARREST FOR IDEOLOGICAL DEVIATION.   

MÓNICA GARCÍA. AGE 15.  

08-09-93,  REPARTO POEY, HAVANA.   ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY A POLICEMAN WHO INDISCRIMINATELY FIRED AT A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS TAUNTING HIM. 

EVELIO G. GIL DIEZ CABEZAS. AGE 17.  

04-12-59, LA CABAÑA FORTRESS, HAVANA. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD.

ARMANDO GONZÁLEZ PERAZA. AGE 14.

02-12-61, LAS VILLAS PROVINCE. ASSASSINATED  BY POLICE, WHO CLAIM HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.  

JOSÉ RAMÓN GUIT CRUZ. AGE 16.  

03-71, CITY OF CAMAGUEY. ASSASSINATED. FOR PAINTING HIS NICKNAME AS GRAFFITI, HE WAS ARRESTED ON FALSE CHARGES OF PAINTING ANTI-CASTRO SLOGANS.  HIS ARREST RADICALIZED HIM AND HE SOON BEGAN TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME.  ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES, HE WAS FINALLY SHOT DEAD BY POLICE.  HIS FUNERAL TURNED INTO A MASSIVE PUBLIC PROTEST; THE GOVERNMENT SENT TANKS TO THE STREETS.  

SIMÓN HEREDIA ÁVAREZ. AGE 13. 

SUMMER 1993.  STREETS OF CESPEDES, CIEGO DE AVILA. ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY POLICE WHEN HE COMPLAINED OF  UNNECESSARY POLICE FORCE IN HANDLING A CROWD OF CITIZENS IN FRONT OF A GOVERNMENT FOOD STORE. HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS DEMONSTRATED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AT HIS FUNERAL. 

RIGOBERTO HERNÁNDEZ ESTÉVEZ. AGE 17.   09-03-61. LA CABAÑA FORTRESS, HAVANA. MENTALLY RETARDED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT & JANITOR AT THE “INSTITUTO DE EDUCACION ACTIVA” IN HAVANA. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD.  FALSELY ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY.

RAMIRO T. JAVIER. AGE 5. 

08-60, CUNEIRA, GUANTÁNAMO. ASSASSINATED BY POLICE.

REYNALDO LÓPEZ. AGE 17. 

10-86, HAVANA PROVINCE.  ASSASSINATED. SOLDIER IN THE CUBAN ARMED FORCES SHOT FOR ATTEMPTING TO TAKE LEAVE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.

ISMAEL LORENTE BRUNET. AGE 17.    

LÁZARO R. ORDALES. AGE: 17. 

ARMANDO PIÑEIRO GARCÍA. AGE: 17.

23-02-63,  STREET IN FRONT OF THE “PERLA DE CUBA” HOTEL, SANCTI-SPIRITUS, LAS VILLAS.  ASSASSINATED.  THEY WERE PART OF A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS IN FRONT OF A HOTEL SHOT BY A REVOLUTIONARY MILITIAMAN WIITHOUT PROVOKATION.

RENÉ MARTÍNEZ. AGE 14.  

13-06-62, CITY OF MATANZAS.  ASSASSINATED WHILE UNDER ARREST, SHOT BY A CASTRO MILITIAMAN. 

LEONARDO MATAS PICH. AGE 16. 

30-01-62, JUVENILE PRISON IN GUANAJAY, PINAR DEL RIO. ASSASSINATED IN PRISON.  

CRISTÓFORO MEDINA FANTONI. AGE 17. 

06-79, MANAGUATO CONCENTRATION CAMP FOR MILITARY DESERTERS.  CAMAGUEY PROVINCE.  ASSASSINATED. SHOT WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE.

LÁZARO MORERA MARTÍNEZ. AGE 16.

1993, FINCA DESENGAÑO, AGUICA, MATANZAS PROVINCE.  ASSASSINATED.  KILLED BY THE POLICE CHIEF OF AGUICA, WHO INDISCRIM-INATELY SHOT AT A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS.

LUIS PÉREZ ANTÚNEZ. AGE 17.

31-03-61, LA CABAÑA FORTRESS IN HAVANA. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD.  

JUAN MANUEL PINTO MENÉNDEZ. AGE 16.

23-09-60, STREETS OF GUANABACOA, HAVANA. ASSASSINATED  BY POLICE.

ANDRÉS QUINTANA VELÁZQUEZ. AGE 14. 

28-05-93, MATANZAS PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.  ASSASSINATED.  WENT TO AID HIS STEP-FATHER, BEING KICKED BY TWO POLICEMEN; DIED 3 DAYS AFTER ONE OF THEM SHOT HIM.

RAMÓN RIVERO. AGE 16.  

13-10-65, G-2 STATE SECURITY OFFICE IN HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED UNDER ARREST BY STATE SECURITY.

ELIO RODRÍGUEZ. AGE 13.  

22-08-61, LA VÍBORA, HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED BY POLICE, WHO CLAIM HE COMMITTED SUICIDE. 

JUAN RODRÍGUEZ. AGE 17.  

10-75, HAVANA PROVINCE.  SOLDIER IN THE CUBAN ARMED FORCES. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD FOR ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE HIS POST TO VISIT HIS MOTHER.

RAÚL TORRES PÉREZ. AGE 17.   

03-06-62, CALIXTO GARCIA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED.  DEVELOPED CANCER WHILE SERVING PRISON FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND WAS NOT GIVEN MEDICAL CARE.  AFTER FINALLY BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL, HE ASKED HIS MILITIA GUARD TO ALLOW HIM TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.  DENIED PERMISSION, BUT UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS URGE, HE ATTEMPTED TO STAND UP AND WALK. THE MILITIAMAN PISTOL-WHIPPED HIM IN THE FACE, THREW HIM TO THE FLOOR, AND SHOT HIM.

CALIXTO A. VALDÉS MENDOZA. AGE 17.   11-09-63. LA CABAÑA FORTRESS IN HAVANA. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD. CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE POWERS OF THE STATE. HIS FATHER, JUAN VALDÉS TERÁN, WAS SENTENCED IN THE SAME TRIAL TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.  

JORGE VARAS BILEVES. AGE 16.  

04-04-62, STATE SECURITY HEADQUARTERS, HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED WHILE UNDER ARREST. CUBAN AUTHORITIES CLAIM HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.  

MANUEL VIDAL ARGUDÍN. AGE 16. 

07-09-60, STREETS OF HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED. SHOT IN THE HEAD BY A STATE SECURITY AGENT FOR RESISTING ARREST. HE WAS UNARMED.

MINORS EXECUTED OR ASSASSINATED FOR  ATTEMPTING TO FLEE CUBA

OWEN DELGADO TEMPRANA. AGE 15. 

23-03-81, VILLA MARISTA, HAVANA. ASSASSINATED. CUBAN SECURITY AGENTS STORMED THE EMBASSY OF ECUADOR, WHERE HE HAD TAKEN REFUGE WITH HIS FAMILY. TAKEN TO STATE SECURITY HEADQUARTERS, HE WAS BEATEN TO DEATH.  

IOAMIS GONZÁLEZ MANZINI. AGE16.

01-07-93, COJIMAR BEACH, HAVANA PROVINCE.  ASSASSINATED. SHOT BY CUBAN FRONTIER GUARDS WHILE SWIMMING TOWARDS A BOAT THAT HAD GONE TO CUBA TO PICK HIM UP.

THREE  LAZO CHILDREN

1971, CARIBBEAN SEA. ASSASSINATED.  THEY DISAPPEARED INTO THE OCEAN AFTER THEIR BOAT WAS RAMMED BY A CUBAN NAVY VESSEL. THEIR MOTHER WAS DEVOURED BY SHARKS. 

ANGELO LÓPEZ RABÍ. AGE 15. 

1971, LA CABAÑA FORTRESS, HAVANA. EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD WITH HIS FRIEND NELSON RODRÍGUEZ (18 YEARS OLD) AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO HIJACK A CUBANA AIRLINES FLIGHT TO FLEE CUBA.

ALEXIS E. MÁRQUEZ RÍOS. AGE 6. 

20-10-99, CUBAN WATERS, 12 KM. NORTH OF HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED. DROWNED WITH HIS MOTHER WHEN THEIR BOAT WAS RAMMED AND SUNK BY A CUBAN COAST GUARD VESSEL. 

ORLANDO TRAVIESO JR. AGE 17.   

03-91, CUBAN TERRITORIAL WATERS, NORTH OF HAVANA.  ASSASSINATED. KILLED BY CUBAN NAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE. 

EUSEBIO SILVA. AGE 17. 

08-12-63. ASSASSINATED BY CUBAN AUTHORITIES WHILE TRYING TO REACH THE U.S. NAVAL BASE AT GUANTÁNAMO BAY.

CANIMAR RIVER MASSACRE, 06-07-80

DROWNED, TOGETHER WITH 52 OTHERS, WHEN THE CUBAN NAVY SANK THE HIJACKED EXCURSION BOAT “XX ANIVERSARIO”:

LILIAN GONZÁLEZ LÓPEZ. AGE 3.

MARISOL MARTINEZ ARAGONÉS. AGE 17.

OSMANY ROSALES VALDÉZ. AGE 9. 

MARISEL SAN JUAN ARAGONÉS. AGE 11. 

TUGBOAT MASSACRE, 13-07-94

DROWNED, TOGETHER WITH 33 OTHERS,  WHEN CUBAN COAST GUARD SANK THE HIJACKED TUGBOAT “13 DE MARZO”:

ÁNGEL ABREU, AGE 3

GISELLE BORJES, AGE 4

JUAN MARIO GUTIÉRREZ, AGE 11

CARIDAD LEYVA, AGE 4

HELEN MARTÍNEZ, AGE 6 MOS.

MAYULIS MÉNDEZ, AGE 16

JOSÉ NICOL, AGE 3

YOUSEL PÉREZ, AGE 11

YASSEL PERODÍN, AGE 11

CINDY RODRÍGUEZ, AGE 2

YOLINDIS RODRÍGUEZ, AGE 2

ELIEZER SUÁREZ, AGE 11

MINORS KILLED ATTEMPTING TO FLEE CUBA

MAIKEL FONSECA. AGE: 16.

ALBERTO E. VÁZQUEZ. AGE: 17. 

24-12-2000,   CUBAN ARMY CADETS.  DIED AS STOWAWAYS IN THE WHEEL COMPARTMENT OF A BOEING ON A HAVANA-LONDON FLIGHT.

MANUEL WHITAKER. AGE: 16. 

1993.  KILLED BY A CUBAN SURFACE LANDMINE WHILE TRYING TO REACH THE U.S. NAVAL BASE AT GUANTÁNAMO.

MINORS EXECUTED FOR PARTICIPATING IN ANTI-CASTRO INSURGENCE

REBEL FIGHTERS, MOSTLY FARMERS, EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD:

FELICITO ACOSTA (16), 28-12-64. 

RUBÉN ACOSTA (15), 04-11-64.

JUAN DEVORA BLANCO (17), 04-01-62.

LORENZO CLAVIJO ESPINO (16), 28-12-62.

JUSTO GARCÍA JR. (16), 22-07-64.

LUIS GONZÁLEZ (14), 28-12-62.

CARLOS MACHADO (15), 08-07-63.

RAMÓN MACHADO (15), 09-08-63.

EFRAÍN MANSO BRIZUELAS (16), 1965. LORENTINO PELÁEZ JR (17), 09-11-63. EMETERIO RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA (17), 09-11-62.

ANTONIO RUÍZ ACOSTA (14), 31-09-61.

TITO SARDIÑAS (17), 31-08-63

 (EXECUTED FOR COLLABORATING WITH ANTI-CASTRO REBELS) 

JESÚS CARRILLO (16), 05-11-63

(CAPTURED AND SHOT BY CASTROITE MILITIAS)  

EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD FOR INFILTRATING INTO CUBA:

ADOLFO REYES DE LA CRUZ (17), 12-10-60.

MARIO RODRÍGUEZ (17), 16-12-65.

MINORS KILLED IN COMBAT (ANTI-CASTRO INSURGENTS)

MOST WERE SMALL FARMERS (CAMPESINOS):

GUILLERMO ÁLVAREZ SÁNCHEZ. AGE 17. 29-05-66. INFILTRATION.

ALEJANDRO BELIZ. AGE 17. 1961. ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

ELIAS BORGES. AGE 17. 15-08-63. ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

ORLANDO COLLAZO. AGE 17. 1962.  ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

RACIEL GUERRA GUMARRÓN. AGE 15.  1964, REBEL.

OSMUNDO LEÓN GUERRA. AGE 14. 01-03-63, ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

LUIS MONTALVO. AGE 17. 1963, ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

MIGUEL PICHS. AGE 17.1961. ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

OSCAR F. RODÓN CAMINERO. AGE 16.  17-04-61, BAY OF PIGS INVASION.

STALIN ROVIRA GUERRA. AGE 17.  12-03-61, ESCAMBRAY REBEL. 

SEVERINO URETA. AGE 16.  1964, ESCAMBRAY REBEL.  

LUIS VALDESPINO. AGE 17.  1961, ESCAMBRAY REBEL.

This information is taken from Dr. Armando Lago’s upcoming book Cuba: The Human Cost of Social Revolution.  This work is part of a project documenting the loss of life for political and military reasons during the Cuban Revolution. To date, over 8,200 cases have been documented of executions, assass-inations and disappearances by the Castro regime. Total deaths from exit attempts by sea (“balseros”) are estimated at around 78,000.