A Marine Corps carry team moves the transfer case containing the remains of Marine Cpl. Santiago Llanes at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Cliff Owen/AP)
WASHINGTON – The death of a Marine Corps corporal in Cuba from non-combat injuries is under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, officials said Thursday.
Cpl. Santiago Llanes, who was assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company in Guantanamo Bay, was found unresponsive in his barracks room Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene, Lt. Col. Rob Dolan said in a statement. Llanes, who was an assistant administrative chief, joined the Marine Corps in 2022.
“I can confirm that NCIS is conducting an investigation to determine the facts surrounding the death of Marine Cpl. Santiago Llanes, as we do in response to any non-combat, medically unattended deaths of Department of the Navy service members,” NCIS spokeswoman Meredith March said in a statement.
Llanes was transferred Wednesday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and greeted by a team to honor the fallen in a ceremony known as a dignified transfer.
