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The desperate search for a Cuban family ended in tragedy last Wednesday when the lifeless body of Francisco Javier León de Armas, a 78-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer's, was found.
The body was found inside an out-of-service patrol car parked in a municipal scrapyard in Homestead, very close to his residence.
On the night of Sunday, March 30, León de Armas walked out of his house. A security video captured the exact moment he moved away from the door of his home. Minutes later, he vanished without a trace.
The Homestead Police issued an alert through their Facebook page, classifying the case as a “Missing Adult at Risk.” In the message, they indicated that Mr. Francisco Javier may be disoriented. They accompanied the alert with video footage captured by security cameras, showing him wearing a gray tank top, black pants, and dark shoes.
“I have a broken heart because I was moving heaven and earth looking for my dad,” declared his son, Francisco Javier León Jr, in tears to the network Univisión 23.
For days, they traveled through extensive areas between Florida City, Homestead, and other nearby locations. They printed posters, organized family patrols with more than twenty vehicles, and spread the alert on social media, hoping to find him alive.
The terrible news arrived on Wednesday, April 2. The body of the elderly man was discovered in the back of an out-of-service police unit, parked in a fenced lot under the control of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the city of Homestead, where seized vehicles and materials discarded by the local government accumulate.
“I just hope my father did not suffer. He could have died from a stroke, from hunger, from thirst, or from the heat in that vehicle. In the back of a patrol car, you can't get out,” León Jr. lamented deeply.
The family claims that the entrance gate to the lot was constantly open, which would have allowed the elderly man to enter the area without being detected. Just a few hours after the discovery, authorities installed a new chain and lock on the access to the site in an attempt to prevent future incidents.
“This could have happened to anyone. Even a child who accidentally wandered in there. That fence was open 24/7”, reported the deceased's son. Balloons and flowers were placed at the fence as a tribute to the deceased.
Francisco León emigrated from Cuba in the 1980s in search of a better life. His family remembers him as a good, hardworking man, and they lament that his life ended under such undignified circumstances.
“I wanted my father to leave peacefully, in his bed, like a serene old man. Not like this”, his son said with a trembling voice.
The city of Homestead, for its part, expressed its condolences in an official statement:
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Francisco Javier De Armas […] We are fully committed to a comprehensive and transparent review of all the circumstances surrounding this tragic event."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tragedy of the Cuban Elderly in Homestead
What happened to Francisco Javier León de Armas in Homestead?
Francisco Javier León de Armas, a 78-year-old Cuban man with Alzheimer's, was found dead inside a decommissioned patrol car at a junkyard in Homestead. The family had been desperately searching for him after he went missing from his home, disoriented, according to local authorities.
How was it possible for the old man to enter the junkyard?
The family of Francisco Javier León de Armas stated that the entrance gate to the lot where his body was found was constantly open, which allowed him to enter without being detected. The open access to the storage area made it easier for the elderly man, possibly disoriented, to enter the restricted area.
What actions did the authorities take after the discovery of the body?
After the discovery of the body, authorities placed a new chain and lock on the access to the scrap yard to prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, the city of Homestead expressed its condolences and pledged to conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Is there a more significant issue related to the situation of the elderly in Cuba?
Yes, in Cuba, many elderly people live in conditions of abandonment and extreme poverty due to the economic crisis. The lack of resources and social support has increased the incidence of begging and the vulnerability of the elderly on the island, highlighting a serious social issue that requires urgent attention.
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