Miguel Ángel Cardona worked with the Community Action Board of the village of La Guaira for the rights of the peasant communities and was passionate about the rural countryside.

On October 8 2017, Miguel Ángel ,65, died from multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest in his Villa Rubiela in Risaralda, Colombia. His wife Ofelia Esponiza ,72, and Gustavo de Jesús Lopez, 56, a worker on the farm were also killed in the attack.

It is believed that they died because of a robbery as sources say that the house was found in a disordered state. Miguel Ángel and Ofelia, who was the treasurer of the JAC, owned a small shop together that might have been the target of the robbery. No arrests were ever made and it still remains unknown who killed Miguel Ángel, Ofelia and Gustavo as no known threats were ever made against any of them.

Miguel Ángel leaves behind three children from his previous marriage.