Yasnai Moliner Yera, a 40-year-old Cuban immigrant, was tragically shot to death on April 17, 2019, in a home near West Palm Beach, Florida. Yasnai, along with her 25-year-old twin brothers, Yasmar Alfaro and Yusnier Alfaro-Yera, were killed in a horrific act of violence. The incident occurred in the residence they shared, where Yasnai had been living since her arrival in the U.S. from Cuba around six years prior. Her brothers had joined her only five months before the tragedy.
The perpetrator of this heinous crime was Yasnai's ex-boyfriend, Yuniel Martinez-De La Cotera, who was 41 years old at the time. Martinez-De La Cotera called 911 after the shootings, claiming he had acted in self-defense. When deputies arrived, they found him holding the couple's 2-year-old son, who was unharmed. Martinez-De La Cotera was immediately taken into custody and charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Yasnai had previously filed a petition for protection against Martinez-De La Cotera on April 9, 2019, expressing her fear for her life due to his erratic behavior. The couple had been in a relationship for four years and lived together, although they were never legally married. Yasnai's petition detailed emotional and mental abuse she had endured since Martinez-De La Cotera accused her of infidelity on March 17, 2019. Despite her efforts to seek help, the protection order hearing was scheduled for April 24, a week after her death.
The investigation revealed that Martinez-De La Cotera chased Yasnai outside the home before shooting her in the driveway. Her brothers were found inside the house, one in the doorway and the other in the bathroom tub, both having been shot in the head. Martinez-De La Cotera later pleaded guilty to the murders and is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.
Yasnai Moliner Yera's death, along with her brothers', left a profound impact on their community. Friends and co-workers described Yasnai as a dedicated mother and hard-working individual who balanced raising her child and working at Stanton Optical in Palm Springs. Her brothers, who had recently arrived from Havana, were also remembered as diligent and determined to succeed in their new country. The tragic loss of these three lives has left a void that their loved ones continue to grapple with.
