Terrible crime in Las Tunas: 35-year-old teacher murdered by her partner in broad daylight

A 35-year-old teacher and mother of two was brutally murdered by her partner in broad daylight on April 12, in the community of Las Delicias, which is part of the municipality of Puerto Padre, in the province of Las Tunas. The crime has caused shock among neighbors, colleagues, and advocates for women's rights.

The victim was identified as Nancy Leyva García, affectionately known as Nancita, a beloved teacher in her educational community. The information, which began to circulate on social media over the weekend through pages like La Tijera, was officially confirmed by the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT).

According to the feminist organization, Nancy was stabbed by her partner, Omarito Fidalgo Peña, in the middle of the street, and the aggressor was subsequently handed over to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). He is currently being held at the police station in the municipality.

"We regret a new feminicide in Cuba, with the loss of teacher Nancy (Nancita) Leyva García (...) We send a hug to her work collective and all the people she trained who today mourn her unjust departure," the Observatory published on X.

The crime occurred specifically on 13th Street in the town of Tunero. Eyewitnesses described the scene as shocking and have expressed their dismay on social media. Nancy leaves two children orphaned, whose ages have not yet been specified by community sources.

This femicide adds to a worrying increase in machismo violence in Cuba. As of April 14, the gender observatories OGAT and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) have recorded at least 11 confirmed femicides.

Just days earlier, on April 10, case number 10 was reported, when a 40-year-old Cuban woman was murdered on March 27 by her partner in their home in the town of Guayos, in the municipality of Cabaiguán, Sancti Spíritus province.

Both organizations also warned that they are investigating five new alerts of possible femicides in Artemisa, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana, which could further intensify the crisis of gender-based violence on the island.

Feminist organizations and independent activists continue to denounce the absence of comprehensive legislation against gender violence, the lack of shelters for women in at-risk situations, and the minimal official visibility of these crimes.

The Cuban government does not recognize the term "femicide" nor has it classified it as a crime in the Penal Code in effect since 2022. However, it has had to acknowledge the rise of male violence against women, as well as the crimes resulting from this cause in recent years.

Even the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has stated "categorically that this is a media construct completely detached from the Cuban reality." The justification for not addressing this, according to the president, is that there is no “state inaction” regarding these crimes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Femicide in Cuba