The family of Miya Marcano continues to hope for her safe return in a missing person case that has taken a heartbreaking turn.
The 19-year-old Orlando woman was reported missing after vanishing on September 24. Marcano was last seen around 5 p.m. on that Friday leaving her job at Arden Villas apartments near the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Her father was expecting her to board a flight to Fort Lauderdale later that day, but she never made her flight, alerting her family that something was wrong.
A person of interest was identified early on, but sadly that lead has hit an impasse. A 27-year-old maintenance worker, Armando Manuel Caballero, who was believed to be aggressive in his romantic pursuit of Marcano, died by suicide, leaving more questions than answers.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
On September 27, Armando Manuel Caballero, a person of interest in the disappearance of Miya Marcano, was found dead at his apartment complex. Caballero was an Arden Villas maintenance worker, the same complex where Marcano lived and worked.
Caballero had reportedly shown romantic interest in Marcano several times, but she rebuffed his advances.
"I think that it is a situation where someone had developed a romantic interest," Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a press conference.
"Obviously, Miya wasn't interested," he continued.
"We are still trying to investigate all the circumstances behind this and what exactly happened regarding her disappearance."
As a maintenance worker, Caballero had access to a master key that was found to be used to enter Marcano's apartment around 4:30 p.m. on September 24. That was a half-hour before she would have finished her work shift at the apartment complex, where she was last seen. Police were intent to arrest Caballero for breaking into the apartment.
Marcano's family continues to search for her and hope for her safe return. They were unsettled to see the state of her apartment after her disappearance. Marcano was known to be meticulously clean, but her apartment had jewelry on the floor, an unmade bed, and other "disarray" that indicated a struggle. Blood was found nearby.
Marcano's cousin spoke with reporters and expressed confidence they would bring her home.
"We're looking for you. We're coming for you. You keep holding on," he urged.
"Please, keep holding on for us. We're coming."
