The mother of Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez, a Cuban teenager who has been missing since 2021, is now dealing with death threats on social media. This new chapter of fear and uncertainty is exacerbated by the lack of official action and concern.
"I'm being threatened on social media," revealed Isis Rodríguez Ameneiro in an interview with CubaNet, an independent outlet that has closely followed this case since it first unfolded.
After more than four years with no concrete information regarding her daughter's whereabouts, Rodríguez is now receiving alarming messages through Facebook. These messages not only demand money but also threaten her life and that of her missing daughter.
Intimidation and Extortion
According to the public complaint, the threats began last week from a social media account under the name "Caimán Caimán." This individual demands 30,000 Cuban pesos in exchange for supposed information about her daughter, issuing death threats if the extortion demands are not met.
"He's extorting me, threatening to kill my daughter and me. I'm scared because I don't know if the threat is real or just a scam to exploit my pain and suffering," the distraught mother expressed.
CubaNet has seen some of the messages, which include chilling phrases like: "Watch how your daughter gets slaughtered. Give me a minute to send you a video, so you see I'm not joking."
In another message, the extortionist provided a bank card number - 9227 0699 9085 5471 - instructing her to send the money, warning that failure to comply would result in the deaths of both her and her daughter.
"He told me if I don't send the money... he'll kill my daughter and me because no one will catch him," Rodríguez Ameneiro recounted.
Lack of Institutional Support
As has been the pattern from the start, Cuban authorities have offered no substantial response. The mother of the missing girl visited the Zanja police station in Havana last Thursday with evidence of the threats.
However, the outcome was disappointing. "They told me it could be a fake profile and that it can't be traced. They didn't provide any help, protection, or reassurance, nor did they say, 'Don't worry, nothing will happen to you,'" she lamented.
This neglect is not new. Back in June 2023, the mother expressed deep disappointment with the official investigation. "It's been extremely hard for me, too hard, because it's my daughter, and all her belongings are here... It's tough to wake up every day wondering where she might be," she mourned.
In the initial days following the disappearance, the police's first reaction was to suggest that her daughter had likely fallen victim to trafficking or prostitution, with no prior investigation to back such claims.
An Unresolved Disappearance
Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez was last seen on May 30, 2021, at a park located at the intersection of Campanario and Malecón in the Centro Habana municipality. She was 16 at the time, wearing printed leggings and a gray t-shirt.
Since then, no evidence has surfaced to determine her whereabouts. Her mother offered a reward of 5,000 pesos for any reliable information, but neither citizen reports nor official efforts have yielded results.
The case remains officially open but has essentially been sidelined.
Emergence of the "Mayde Alert"
The case of Maydeleisis inspired the creation of the "Mayde Alert," an initiative by Cuban activists to bring attention to and address cases of missing minors on the island. The project is modeled after the United States' Amber Alert, designed for emergency notifications about missing children.
However, the Mayde Alert lacks state recognition or institutional support, remaining confined to digital activism and some community support networks.
The Struggle for Answers
On May 30, 2026, it will be five years since Maydeleisis disappeared. Meanwhile, her mother continues to seek answers not only about her daughter's location but also regarding the threats endangering her own life.
"There are many unscrupulous people who want to profit from any tragedy," she stated, visibly shaken.
Despite the documentation of threats shared with authorities, there has been no guarantee of protection or initiation of a formal investigation against the profile issuing the extortion.
The story of Isis Rodríguez and her daughter starkly illustrates the institutional apathy toward missing minors in Cuba. Not only has she faced years of uncertainty without answers, but she is now directly subjected to intimidation, with the Cuban state failing to provide even the minimum protection.
In a country lacking an official protocol for searching for missing minors, where public alerts are not activated, nor are portraits shared in state media, families are left isolated, at the mercy of time, uncertainty, and, as in this case, unscrupulous opportunists.
Key Questions About the Case of Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez
Who is Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez?
Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez is a Cuban teenager who has been missing since May 30, 2021. Her disappearance has been marked by a lack of progress in the investigation and official indifference.
What threats has Isis Rodríguez Ameneiro received?
Isis Rodríguez Ameneiro has received death threats via social media from an account demanding money in exchange for information about her missing daughter, threatening to kill both her and her daughter if demands are not met.
What is the "Mayde Alert"?
The "Mayde Alert" is an initiative inspired by the case of Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez, aimed at raising awareness and addressing cases of missing minors in Cuba. It is modeled after the Amber Alert system used in the United States.