Spanish
Puerto Rico is facing a worrying increase in gender-based violence after recording seven femicides in just five months of 2026, according to Police statistics. In May alone, three new cases were reported, in the midst of a month classified as one of the most violent of the year, with 43 murders counted.
The most recent victim was Gemillies Lozada Navarro, 25 years old, shot to death this May 26 in Carolina, allegedly by her ex-partner, José Carlos Sanjurjo Dávila, 26 years old, who subsequently took his own life. The young woman was the mother of two children, aged four and five.
The first femicide of the year occurred on February 1 in Aguadilla, where Alexandra Carrero Vega, 50 years old, allegedly died at the hands of her partner, Ramón Hernández Olivo, 75 years old, who then committed suicide. Days later, on February 21, Lourdes Pilar Santiago Reyes, 64 years old, was found dead in Bayamón, while the main suspect, Irving Oscar Cardona Santiago, remained at large for several days.
In March, Ana Ocaña Rodríguez was found semi-naked and beaten in Hatillo. Joel Enrique Sánchez Martínez was arrested for the crime, and he faces charges and a bail of three million dollars. The fourth case occurred on April 29 in Guayama, when Kenya Enid Morales Dávila, 37 years old, was allegedly shot by her husband, Ferdinand Dávila Vélez, who also committed suicide. May became the deadliest month for women so far this year. On May 8, Jessica Morales Hernández, 41, was murdered in Mayagüez, allegedly by Danny Lugo Cruz, who had a criminal record and a history of domestic violence. A week later, in Cabo Rojo, Kimberly Cruz Pacheco, 32, died from a gunshot wound, allegedly by Elvin Rodríguez Martínez, who was arrested. The wave of femicides has reactivated the debate on gender-based violence in Puerto Rico and the need to strengthen prevention and protection measures for victims.
