Person of interest found dead in 19-year-old's disappearance
The person of interest was a maintenance worker at Arden Villas Apartments where Miya Marcano lives and works.
Author: 10 Tampa Bay
ORLANDO, Fla. — Family members gathered with the Orange County Sheriff's Office Monday as the agency provided an update on the disappearance of a 19-year-old woman.
Miya Marcano was last seen Friday, Sept. 24 at the Arden Villas Apartments on Arden Villas Boulevard. After Marcano was reported missing, detectives determined Armando Manuel Caballero, 27, to be a person of interest in her disappearance.
Authorities had been actively searching for Caballero throughout the weekend before finding him dead at an apartment complex Monday in Seminole County.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Caballero was a maintenance worker at the Arden Villas Apartment complex where Marcano lives and works. He was last seen the day the 19-year-old went missing.
Caballero's car was found at the complex where he was found dead. It has since been transferred to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office where it will be processed.
It's been over 48 hours and Sheriff John Mina said Marcano is still missing.
"Her disappearance is suspicious and our detectives, and the family members, obviously, suspect foul play," Mina said.
During the news conference, Mina said Caballero began working at the complex in June. The 27-year-old man demonstrated a romantic interest in Marcano who repeatedly rejected him.
Detectives were able to speak with Caballero Friday after Marcano was reported missing. He told them he last saw her around 3 p.m. while he was working.
After investigating further, authorities learned that Caballero used a maintenance-issued master key fob to enter Marcano's apartment Friday at about 4:30 p.m. At that time, Marcano had about 30 minutes left of her working shift at the apartment complex, Mina said.
The sheriff's office said they found suspicious items inside Marcano's apartment Friday evening that cannot be disclosed at this time.
She was last seen at around 5 p.m. at the Arden Villas Apartments. Her family said it's unlike her to not be in contact with them, for her phone to be turned off or completely drained.
The 19-year-old had a flight scheduled that evening, but she never made it on the plane, the sheriff's office says.
Marcano's Aunt Pia spoke during the news conference hopeful that her niece is able to hear their families' cries.
"Miya, this message is for you," her aunt said. "I know you're alive. I know you're out there. We love you. You know our family is strong. You know our family is big. You know we will never sleep one night until we get you home."
Marcano is described as 5-feet and 130 lbs. If you have any information regarding Marcano's whereabouts, call 407-836-4357, or 911.
MISSING: Miya Marcano, 19, was last seen around 5 p.m. on 9/24 at the Arden Villas apartments (3303 Arden Villas Boulevard, Orlando).
We are actively investigating this case and urge anyone with info to call the OCSO non-emergency line at 407-836-4357. If you see Miya, call 911. pic.twitter.com/Bh5ocQTjw4
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) September 25, 2021
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