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A Cuban woman with health issues has been missing in Brazil since the end of 2024, and her family is urgently requesting information to help locate her in the city of São Paulo, where she was last seen.
Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres, 42 years old and exhibiting "symptoms of mental imbalance," has been missing since last December, after her family in Cuba lost contact with her. Witnesses last saw her at Praça Getúlio Vargas in Guarulhos, after which her trail went cold, according to social media posts.
In recent hours, a letter from her father, José Manuel Ortega Fernández, published in the Facebook group "Cubans in Curitiba," recounts the hardships the woman has faced since emigrating to Brazil over seven years ago and the relentless search by her family since they lost contact with her months ago.
At this moment, it has been almost two months since I last heard from my daughter, I don’t know if she is alive or dead, and for us in Cuba, her mom, brother, and I, her dad, the situation is desperate as we cannot do anything!!!," wrote the father, who resides in Caibarién, Villa Clara province.
Ortega revealed in the letter that his daughter "has been sheltered by neighbors in that neighborhood of Guarulhos, but due to her unbalanced mental state, no one has done anything to provide her with medical attention."
The man recounted that Jeysys María left Cuba over seven years ago, along with her then-husband, Rainier Macaya, and they both settled in the city of São Paulo, in the Guarulhos area. "There, they began to build their life, he as a bricklayer and builder, and she started working in beauty salons doing hair and nails (...) she also took care of children and the elderly, and managed to enroll in nursing school, eventually mastering the language perfectly."
According to her testimony, the young woman may have been a victim of "envy, bullying, and blackmail" in the schools and hospitals where she worked due to her status as a foreigner, as "she stood out for her intelligence and beauty." At the same time, "the problems with her husband started, and she lost her career and her marriage," she lamented.
Ortega noted that his daughter, after finding herself in those circumstances and without a job, moved to the city of Curitiba, where “her situation worsened” and “she ended up on the street as a beggar, controlled by the police and social assistance organizations, and showing signs of mental instability.”
In his harrowing account, he recounted that, later on, “he returned to São Paulo hitchhiking (I was almost a month without news of her) all dirty and hungry, begging for food in restaurants, she lost her documents, phone, and all her belongings.”
He stated that, during Jeysys María's stay in Curitiba and upon her return to São Paulo, he sought help in Facebook groups and from the lawyer group “Diáspora Consultoría,” without any results; nor did he receive assistance from the ex-husband.
The desperate father confessed that the family fears for the safety and life of their daughter, and expressed his hope that she can be found as soon as possible.
Users have shared posts on social media to assist in the search for the Cuban woman. An announcement posted on Facebook by coach Thomas Cabrera warned: “She is homeless, without documents or a phone, and showing signs of mental instability,” and stated that “she requires medical treatment.”
Cabrera added that the woman was “asking for food in restaurants, disoriented and alone” and urged anyone who sees her to contact the Civil Police or CREAS, which stands for the Specialized Reference Center for Social Assistance, providing free services to individuals and families in situations of social vulnerability.
In September of last year, the father of the missing Cuban made a plea to the Brazilian authorities to take action in her case and, if necessary, repatriate his daughter to the island.
“I am seeking help for my daughter Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres, who is in a difficult situation there in Curitiba, without work or a roof over her head; she has been on the streets and her health is not good,” the man said in a Facebook post, quoted by the news portal Cubanos por el mundo.
Ortega requested that "if possible, public and medical authorities assist, as if he has not adapted to living there, his family in Cuba is asking for him to be deported."
In another shared post on September 30, the day her daughter turned 42, she congratulated her with an emotional message and expressed: “Your family in Cuba hopes to hear from you!!!”.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Disappearance of Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres in Brazil
Who is Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres and why is she missing in Brazil?
Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres is a 42-year-old Cuban woman who emigrated to Brazil over seven years ago. She has been missing since December 2024 in São Paulo, where she was last seen at Praça Getúlio Vargas, in Guarulhos. Her disappearance has become more complicated due to her unstable mental state and the lack of personal documents, as reported by her family.
What actions has Jeydys María's family taken to find her?
The family of Jeydys María, desperate due to the uncertainty of her whereabouts, has turned to social media and groups like "Cubans in Curitiba" to seek help in her search. They have shared her story and details of her disappearance in the hope that someone may provide clues about her location.
What problems did Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres face in Brazil before her disappearance?
Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres faced several challenges after emigrating to Brazil. Although she initially worked in beauty salons and studied nursing, her personal and professional life experienced a decline. Her situation worsened, leading her to live in precarious conditions and without access to adequate medical care due to her mental state.
How can people in Brazil help in the search for Jeydys María?
People in Brazil can contribute to the search for Jeydys María Ortega Cáceres by contacting local authorities, such as the Civil Police, or the Specialized Reference Center for Social Assistance (CREAS) if they have any information about her whereabouts. It is also crucial to share alerts and photos on social media to increase the visibility of the case and encourage the community to participate in the search.
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