Search resumes for missing Orange County 19-year-old after person of interest found dead

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A missing 19-year-old woman’s family is continuing to search for her after deputies said a person of interest in her disappearance was found dead in Seminole County.

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The family started their search for Miya Marcano at 8 a.m. and continued throughout the day.

Marcano was last seen around 5 p.m. Friday at the Arden Villas apartments on Arden Villas Boulevard, near the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Investigators said Marcano lives and works at the complex.

READ: Sheriff: Person of interest in 19-year-old’s disappearance found dead

On Monday, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the person of interest in the case was found dead in a Seminole County apartment.

Mina said Armando Manuel Caballero, 27, appears to have killed himself.

Mina said Caballero, who was a maintenance worker at Arden Villas, accessed Marcano’s apartment using a maintenance key fob a half-hour before she was last seen. Mina said an arrest warrant had been issued for Caballero for burglary related to him entering her apartment without permission.

READ: ‘Help us bring Miya home’: Investigators continue to search for missing 19-year-old in Orange County

On Tuesday, searchers combed the Seminole County complex, Camden Club Apartments, where Caballero was found dead knocking on doors and asking if anyone had any information about Marcano.

Residents in the complex said Caballero used to work there in maintenance as well. Seminole County deputies said Caballero was found dead in a storage garage at Camden Club Apartments. Deputies said Caballero must have entered the garage sometime after Friday evening because that was the last time staff had been inside there.

READ: Miya Marcano case: A timeline of her disappearance

Mina said Caballero had previously expressed a romantic interest in Marcano, which the Valencia College student had rebuffed.

Investigators are looking for anyone who saw Caballero’s car in recent days. It is a silver Ford Fusion with Florida tag PZU J17. Officials said it was found at the scene where Caballero was found dead and will be processed by deputies.

READ: Orange County deputies search wooded area for missing 19-year-old

Deputies, including around 30 detectives, are still actively searching for Marcano.

“We are imploring anyone with any information on Miya’s whereabouts to come forward,” Mina said.

Arden Villas, the complex where Marcano lives and works, released the following statement on Tuesday regarding Marcano’s disappearance:

“After a thorough review of the ongoing reporting on the situation surrounding Ms. Marcano, we would like to provide the following factual updates. Regarding our hiring process, all potential employees are vetted through a national background check services provider. Concerning Mr. Caballero specifically, no records of either burglary or sexual assault were found, and rumors to the contrary appear to be based on online documents referencing someone else with the same name. As part of the onboarding process, all new employees undergo thorough sexual harassment deterrence training, covering aspects from recognizing what qualifies as inappropriate to how to report unwanted behavior. We take all accusations very seriously but received none from any parties involved directly or indirectly with the situation.

To ensure nothing like this happens again at Arden Villas, we are taking numerous, proactive steps to enhance our security protocols. We immediately repositioned a guard to the front gate to document all residents and guests entering and leaving the premises. Additionally, we have upgraded our maintenance procedures to allow for appointment only bookings. We are in the process of reviewing our entire security apparatus and will make changes or upgrades as warranted.”

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 407-836-HELP (4357).

Video: Search resumes for missing Orange County 19-year-old after person of interest found dead A missing 19-year-old woman’s family is continuing to search for her after deputies said a person of interest in her disappearance was found dead in Seminole Co (Q McCray, WFTV.com)

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