In a desperate plea on social media this Saturday, a Cuban mother sought assistance from both authorities and the public to locate her 20-year-old daughter, who reportedly escaped with a former convict in Havana. Aliusky Navas Sardina shared on Facebook that her daughter, Milena Álvarez Navas—also known by the nickname “Tita”—was last spotted wearing a denim skirt, a black polka-dot blouse, and sandals.
A family member disclosed that Milena is in a precarious situation, suffering from a leg injury and noticeable facial marks. Additionally, it was reported that an aunt saw Milena with a man whose behavior raised suspicions. The mother clarified in another Facebook post that the man her daughter allegedly ran away with is a former convict involved in theft-related crimes.
Through her social media messages, the mother urged people to spread the word about the search and pressed authorities to continue their efforts. She included contact numbers, hoping for any information on her daughter’s whereabouts: 52002145, 51215411, 50255792, and 79998967825. In a prior post, the anxious mother identified Yuniel Rafael Reyes Meriño as the individual believed to be with her daughter, pleading, “This person is wanted for taking Milena Álvarez Navas. If you see this, please return my daughter, that’s all I ask.”
Community Support in Distress
Last Wednesday, the distraught mother voiced her anguish online: “I need everyone on Facebook and friends to help. I am filing a report: my daughter is missing, and I need help finding her. Her name is Milena, she lives in Centro Habana and is 20 years old.” Since then, she has tirelessly sought any information on her daughter’s location.
Reports of missing persons frequently circulate on social media, both within and outside Cuba. Due to the government’s lack of action, families and friends place their hopes in these urgent announcements to gather information that might lead to finding their loved ones.
Another family in Havana remains distraught over the disappearance of an elderly man who has been missing for 72 hours. His daughter turned to social media for assistance, writing, “Please, inform me of any news, I need to find my father. It has been 72 hours, and we know nothing,” as she appealed for help in locating her father, who vanished somewhere in the city and suffers from dementia.