Remembering the victims of the Cuban exodus

This photo, provided by Monroe County (Florida) Medical Examiner’s Office, is a reconstruction from remains believed to belong to Kathia Rodríguez León, 12 to 14 years old. Kathia perished on February 4, 1992 with her family when the small airplane in which they had fled Cuba crashed into the ocean after apparently running out of gas. Her father, Luis (age 35) was piloting the crop-dusting aircraft, an Antonov AN-2, that had left from Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. All passengers were killed: Kathia's mother, Lilia (age 33), baby sister Dalvis (6 months old), and four others —Julio Daniel García Soto (age 26), Doris González (age 28), Ramón Francisco León, and Omar Martínez Gallardo (age 25). Three bodies were recovered floating in the waters near Marathon Key, Florida: Kathia's parents, who were buried at the Cuban rafters' mausoleum in Miami, and the remains believed to be Kathia’s. Florida authorities are looking for next of kin to confirm her identity. If you have any information on this case, please contact info@CubaArchive.org.