Nationwide — A horrifying tragedy has shaken the town of La Plata in southern Colombia, where a 5-year-old boy named Yosuar Smith Cabrera Caicedo was brutally beaten to death by his uncle after the child received poor school grades. Authorities say the boy was whipped at least 10 times with a belt by his 38-year-old uncle, James Alberto Caicedo, who later found the child unconscious on the floor and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Doctors were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mirror reports that according to hospital officials, Yosuar had severe bruises across his torso, abdomen, and limbs—injuries consistent with violent abuse. The uncle allegedly admitted to punishing the boy with a belt before telling him to go to the bathroom and clean himself up. When he later discovered that Yosuar had collapsed, he carried him to San Antonio de Padua Hospital, but by then it was too late.
The child had been living under the care of Caicedo because his mother, Michel Caicedo, is currently incarcerated in Bogotá. His father reportedly relocated to another city. Police arrested the uncle at the hospital shortly after the incident and charged him with aggravated homicide. Authorities later confirmed he has a criminal record, including prior offenses related to drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.
Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Sierra, deputy commander of the Huila Police Department, issued a statement saying, “This is a deeply disturbing case of child abuse that resulted in the death of an innocent child. We have taken swift action, and the suspect is now in custody.”
The suspect was brought before a judge in a preliminary hearing and formally charged. He has since been placed in pretrial detention. The National Police said they hope the case sends a strong message about the consequences of violence against children and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting minors from abuse.
Yosuar’s mother, Michel Caicedo, was reportedly devastated by the news and petitioned for permission to attend her son’s funeral but was denied due to her incarceration. However, fellow inmates at the Bogotá prison helped raise funds to have Yosuar’s body transported to the capital, where he was laid to rest in a small ceremony on Tuesday.
The community of La Plata remains in mourning, outraged by the senseless and brutal death of a young boy whose life was just beginning.