An employee at the parking facility of the Doctor Ernesto Guevara de la Serna General Teaching Hospital in Las Tunas was found dead under unexplained circumstances following a robbery that occurred early Monday morning.
According to an informational note from Periódico 26 published on Wednesday, the incident took place between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. in the parking area of the province's main hospital. This parking facility was leased to a third party and was not directly managed by the hospital.
Unofficial sources cited by El Vigía de Cuba identified the deceased as Rafael Jiner Guerra, 64, who had been employed at the institution for approximately 34 years. The second attendant, identified only as Jorge, survived the incident and is currently recovering.
One of the unresolved aspects of the case is the lack of physical violence reported by official sources, despite one employee's death, and the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Speculations gathered by El Vigía de Cuba suggest that two individuals arrived at the scene on a red electric tricycle and allegedly spiked the workers' coffee with sedatives to facilitate the theft. This theory has yet to be confirmed by authorities and awaits toxicological and forensic results.
Regarding the theft itself, Periódico 26 refuted "numerous versions circulating on social media" and clarified that the stolen items were limited to a motorized bicycle, a regular bicycle, and one worker's cellphone.
This incident is part of a rising trend of insecurity surrounding healthcare facilities in Cuba.
Recently, concerns have been raised in Camagüey about the increase in thefts from motorcycle and electric bicycle parking areas, where such vehicles can fetch over $1,700 for bicycles and $2,000 for motorcycles on the black market.
In August, systematic thefts were reported inside hospitals in Santiago de Cuba, including more than 11 phones, sheets, and fans stolen in less than two weeks.
In November 2025, a vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of the pediatric hospital in Matanzas, highlighting a lack of security.
Moreover, in December 2024, a security guard at the North Children's Hospital in Santiago was assaulted and injured under comparable circumstances.
Periódico 26 concluded its report by stating, "those responsible will face justice with all due process guarantees," yet failed to clarify what caused Rafael Jiner Guerra's death or when the forensic investigation results will be available.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Las Tunas Hospital Incident
What happened at the Las Tunas Hospital parking area?
A robbery occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, resulting in the death of a parking attendant under suspicious circumstances, with a motorized bicycle, a regular bicycle, and a cellphone being stolen.
Who was Rafael Jiner Guerra?
Rafael Jiner Guerra was a 64-year-old employee with approximately 34 years of service at the hospital, who died during the robbery under unclear circumstances.
Were there any signs of violence?
Official sources reported no signs of physical violence, although one employee died, and the cause of death has not been revealed.
What is being done to address the incident?
Authorities are conducting investigations, and Periódico 26 has assured that those responsible will face justice with all due process guarantees. However, the exact cause of death and investigation results are still pending.