Fmr. Cuban Revolutionary Huber Matos Benitez Dead at 95
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Huber Matos Benitez, who was a key leader in the late 1950's Cuban Revolution to overthrow Fulgencio Batista, but later became an outspoken opponent of Fidel Castro, died Thursday at the age of 95.
Matos' grandson said his grandfather passed away around 4 a.m. Thursday at a Miami hospital after suffering a heart attack.
Matos had originally joined with Castro in 1958 in hopes the revolution would help bring democracy to the country. He rose as high as third in command of Castro's forces.
However, Matos quickly soured on the Castro government for fear the new Cuban leader was steering the country toward Communism. He was arrested several months after the revolution and convicted of treason.
The Castro government kept Matos in prison for 20 years until 1979 when he was released. He came to Miami and helped lead Cuba Independiente and Democracia, one of the many anti-Castro groups in South Florida.
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