Cuban Santeria Priest Accused of Murder in Puerto Rico

HAVANA TIMES — Cuban Santeria  priest Jose Manuel Rodriguez was charged on Wednesday by police in Puerto Rico of killing Brendali Sierra Ramos, a leading businessperson, reported AP.

The Cuban allegedly shot the 38-year-old woman in the head when she was leaving his house after a ritual in September. The next day police found Sierra’s body at the bottom of a cliff.

According to the news article, prosecutors have not yet revealed a possible motive, though police said they suspected that the defendant acted as the padrino (godfather) in a ritual in which Sierra participated.

Rodriguez was extradited from Connecticut in June on charges of fraud and because the Puerto Rican police were looking for him for questioning about the death of the businesswoman last year.