Suspicion Surrounds Canadian Man’s Death At A Cuba Hotel

death

What happens in Cuba stays in Cuba

A Mississauga family is seeking answers after 22-year-old Horace “Odaine” Lumley was found dead this week at a Cuban hotel.

Lumley’s half-sister, Monique Lewis, said her family first heard of the death from friends Wednesday.

Lumley, who was born in Jamaica and moved to Mississauga as a preteen, left for Cuba on his “first real vacation” last Friday, Lewis said.

He travelled with a group of coworkers to the Barcelo Solymar Arenas Blancas Resort on Varadero Beach.

“He wanted to relax, because he was always working so hard,” Lewis said, her voice breaking. “I still can’t believe this happened.”

His family is still trying to piece together what happened the night he died. The last time he was seen alive, his coworkers had left him behind at the hotel with a young woman he had met at the resort, Lewis said.

When they returned, Lumley had fallen 16 metres to his death from the third-floor balcony, she said.

“At first I thought it was an accident . . . we’re beginning to get more and more suspicious.”

The Canadian embassy has been working with the Cuban police, Lewis said. But she still has unanswered questions, such as the whereabouts of the young woman and why Lumley’s cellphone SIM card had apparently been cleared when it was returned.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed in an email to the Starthat consular officials are assisting the family of a Canadian who died in Cuba, but declined to give further details, citing privacy reasons.

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