In March 2021, a 24 year old resident of the Sable Club Apartments in Longwood, Florida, called local police after a disturbing encounter with a maintenance worker named "Armando." The woman told deputies he had asked her out on a date. Soon after she declined, a 5-pound weight came crashing through her living room window, startling her and causing her to fear for her safety. Deputies arrived shortly after. Although the victim did not observe Armando committing the crime, she told officers she was convinced he was the perpetrator. Unfortunately, she could not provide a last name and deputies could not immediately locate the suspect. Eventually, the woman declined to press charges. Six months later, the Arden Villas apartment complex in Orlando became the center of another terrifying mystery. 19 year old Miya Marcano, a resident and employee of the Villas, located 30 minutes from the Sable Club Apartments, missed a flight to visit her family and could not be contacted. As the investigation into her disappearance unfolded, authorities learned of a curious coincidence. Miya had recently rejected the advances of an obsessed maintenance worker. The suspect's last name was Caballero. His first name? Armando. 19 year old Miya Marcano was a bright and driven young woman. According to her family, she was originally from the Miami area. She graduated from Flanagan High School in 2020 and wasted no time pursuing her dream of higher education. She was enrolled at Valencia College in central Florida. Miya was young and independent and was described by one neighbor as shy, friendly and sweet, but more on the quiet side. She lived and worked at Arden Villas, an apartment complex in Orlando, Florida, where she had built a life for herself. Her job was in the leasing office. Despite her busy schedule, Miya made time for the people she loved, especially her large and exceptionally close knit family. She cherished their traditions like attending the annual Miami Carnival Parade and Concert, and always made sure to stay connected with her roots in the Miami area. Miya was looking forward to catching up with her family in Fort Lauderdale as her father had booked a surprise flight for her on Southwest Airlines departing from Orlando. The day of Miya Marcano's disappearance was supposed to be a joyful one. Her flight was scheduled to leave between 730 to 8 p.m., and she had arranged for an Uber to pick her up after finishing work around 5 p.m.. But as the minutes turned into hours, something felt off, according to Miya's mother. She was on the phone with Miya while she waited for her ride. After their short call Miya's mother became increasingly concerned when Miya stopped responding to texts or calls. Since typically airline staff cannot provide boarding information, the family had to wait until the plane landed to realize she had not made the flight. A friend was sent to Miya's apartment, hoping to get some answers. When she arrived, Miya was nowhere to be found. The situation was unsettling and her family knew they had to act quickly. They contacted the police at 9:42 p.m. and requested a welfare check. At the same time, family members in Fort Lauderdale began preparing for the three hour drive north to Orlando. Deputy Paulino arrived at Arden Villas at 10:07 p.m. and was greeted by members of Miya's family. Initially, he looked through a bedroom window, which was easily opened from the outside. Miya's roommate later arrived to unlock the apartment and they both entered but found that Miya's bedroom door was locked. The roommate climbed through the bedroom window, and Paulino followed soon after. Inside the bedroom, Paulino observed several unsettling details, including an unmade bed, a red substance on a pillow, a teddy bear that Miya always carried on the closet floor, and a piece of furniture propped up against the door. Paulino took photos and sent them to the family members who confirmed that these details were unusual and raised further concerns about Miya's disappearance. During interviews, a coworker of Miya's told Deputy Paulino that a maintenance man named Armando had shown interest in Miya, but she did not reciprocate. After taking a report and urging anyone with additional information to contact the sheriff's office, deputy Paulino concluded that Miya was likely a "voluntary missing person" rather than a "missing endangered person." Despite the concerning details observed in the apartment, he chose not to escalate the case to criminal investigators or a missing persons detective based on his assessment. Before leaving the scene, Deputy Paulino explained his reasoning to me as family members. At 12:29 a.m., a security guard at Arden contacted the sheriff's office to report that he had pulled a fingerprint from Mia's bedroom window sill using duct tape. Deputy Paulino returned to the scene to collect the print. At 3:52 a.m., Miya's father, Marlon Sr., called the sheriff's office. Miya's family had arrived from Fort Lauderdale and asked Deputy Paulino to return once more after he had made critical observations in her bedroom. He told Deputy Paulino he found a yellow box cutter under a blue rug near the bed with no apparent bloodstains. Additionally, family members said they could tell from indentations in the carpet that the bed had been moved from its original position. They also handed over various electronic devices to Paulino, which were collected using gloves provided by security. While gathering evidence, a security officer informed Deputy Paulino of an ongoing confrontation between Miya's family and a man in a silver Ford Fusion. The man was later identified as Armando Caballero, an Arden Villas maintenance worker who had shown up voluntarily. As Paulino questioned Armando, a security officer informed him that the family had seen a screwdriver, a cell phone case and a pink blanket in his vehicle in plain view. During questioning, Armando told Deputy Paulino that he had stopped by after being told by a female coworker named "Tati" that Miya was missing. He claimed to have last seen Miya at 3 p.m. that same day in the clubhouse. However, family members sensed that something was amiss. Moments later, Armando assisted Deputy Paulino in searching a building on the property, and it was then that he learned that Armando had access to all areas as part of his duties as a maintenance worker, including a master key FOB. Paulino cleared Armando to leave as he believed there was insufficient probable cause to detain or arrest him at that time. At 8:40 a.m., family members who were conducting surveillance at Armando's residence in Winter Park observed him exiting his vehicle. The family noticed that Armando had blue rubber gloves, a dark book bag and a pink blanket, which they believe belonged to Miya. They contacted the Casselberry police, but officers there claimed they could not do much as it was a missing person case under the Orange County Sheriff's Office. An unknown male family member asked Armando to consent to a limited search of his residence with an officer present, and Armando agreed. Nothing of evidentiary value was found and the matter was closed. At 11:52 a.m., two deputies arrived at Arden Villas to investigate Miya's disappearance. At some point in the afternoon, the matter was escalated to the missing persons unit. Detectives arrived and during interviews they learned Miya's door was accessed on Friday at 4:34 p.m. by the on-call maintenance key FOB despite no active work orders for her apartment that day. Miya's brother confirmed to detectives that Armando had sent Miya somewhere between 600 to $700 through Cash App for, "being pretty." Miya immediately returned the money. In addition, a coworker stated that Miya and Armando had not been romantically involved and felt it was weird that he sent her messages. She shared a message Armando sent to Miya with detectives which particularly troubled her. It read: The messages were entered into evidence. Multiple friends and coworkers corroborated these accounts. Based on the investigation's findings, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Armando and turned the warrant over to the sheriff's office, Felony Apprehension Unit. 27 year old Armando Caballero had spent most of his life in Orlando. He graduated from Colonial High School and received a scholarship to play football at Warner University. However, he was expelled in his sophomore year after setting off a small explosion in a dorm hallway, ostensibly as a prank. After living with his mother for a few years, he began living alone. In an interview with detectives, his mother described him as passive and respectful, stating that it takes a lot for him to get upset or angry. Yet Armando's criminal record indicates otherwise as he was arrested for discharging a firearm on school property and ordering a destructive device in 2013. Officers also believe he was the person responsible for the weight throwing incident at the Sabal apartments earlier in the year. While the sheriff's office continued their search for Miya and Armando, a press conference scheduled for Monday, September 27th at 1 p.m. was postponed due to a 911 call received that morning. Okay, good afternoon. We are here today because we need our entire community's help in locating 19 year old Miya Marcano. I'm here with Miya's father and mother Marlon Marcano, Ms. Gabriel, her mother, Marlon, her brother Marlin Jr, her stepmother Giselle, her aunt Pia, a grandmother, Violet, and Joy. We are imploring anyone with any information about Miya's whereabouts to please come forward. After Miya was reported missing, our detectives determined 27 year old Armando Manuel Caballero was a person of interest in her disappearance. Earlier today, Armando Caballero was found dead at an apartment complex in Seminole County. It appears he has killed himself. Caballero's vehicle was found at the scene and is being delivered to the sheriff's office for processing. And so the death investigation of Caballero is being conducted by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. We have been actively searching for Caballero this weekend. And I want to reiterate, Miya is still missing. Her disappearance is suspicious. And our detectives and the family members obviously suspect foul play. So we are still doing everything possible we can to find her. So at this time, I'm going to invite a couple of family members to say a few words. The family does not desire to answer any questions at this time. My name is Pia and I'm the aunt of Miya. Miya, this message is for you. 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. We miss you. We know that you're strong. We are. Me and you had that conversation. Miya, any time something should happen, fight, because we have your back. Your mom, your dad, grandparents, your stepmom, your brother, your uncles, your aunt. You're my only niece. You know we love you. We cherish you. You are the family's princess. We miss you and fight. We are here. And we are waiting for you. This family believes in God. We believe in hope. And we have faith. As soon as you ready Miya come, give us the sign and we are right there. You know it. I love you, Miya. Armando's body was found in the same apartment complex where he had allegedly thrown a weight through a window. His vehicle was discovered at that location as well. And in it, officers found black duct tape with strands of black hair. The hair was later identified through forensic testing as a DNA match to Miya's. Over the next five days, hundreds of law enforcement personnel, friends, family and community members searched multiple locations for Miya. Well, Eliot, right now, deputies are focusing on New Smyrna Beach. That's where they picked up a ping from the suspect's cell phone. So now they're checking out that area, seeing if there's any signs of Miya. Meanwhile, the family and friends, they're holding out hope. They held a vigil tonight outside her apartment. Send your angels to be with me and let her guardian angels enlighten and keep her safe from any harm. Family and friends of Miya Marcano are praying for a miracle, holding vigil outside her apartment. Her mom tightly clutching a teddy bear that belongs to Miya. That's something that Miya always had. Then when they went to the apartment and saw that Teddy was there, we knew something was wrong. We need closure. Regardless of what it takes. We need closure. I don't know what kind of life it would be for never knowing where she's at. So we pray and we ask if anybody knows anything. Please let us know. On October 2nd, the Orange County Sheriff's Office organized another press conference to announce an urgent development in the search for Miya Marcano. Good afternoon. Obviously, this is not the update that I wanted to give to everyone today. Earlier today, the Orange County Sheriff's Office Emergency Response Team was searching the area of Tymber Skan apartments. That's off of South Texas Avenue in Orange County. And that's when they discovered a body, we believe to be that of Miya Marcano. About an hour ago. Detectives notified Miya's parents of our tragic news. Our hearts are broken. I told you Thursday that hundreds of Orange County Sheriff's Office personnel were committed to this case and working very hard. Everyone wanted this outcome to be different. So why were we at Tymber Skan apartments? So, cell phone records showed us that Caballero was in or near the Tymber Skan apartments on Friday evening between eight and 9:00. That's the evening that she was reported missing. And he was there for about 20 minutes. Nothing in the records indicate that he ever returned there prior to killing himself. So we went, we sent search teams out first thing this morning. That's when they found what we believe to be Miya. And although we are very certain of the identity, the positive identification will have to come from the medical examiner's office. An autopsy was conducted by Dr. Stephany the next day. Dr. Stephany was unable to determine the cause of death due to the advanced stage of decomposition. However, based on the evidence and circumstances surrounding her disappearance, Dr. Stephany concluded the manner of death was a homicide. Forensic testing later confirmed that the blood on the pillow and pillowcase at Miya's apartment and the hair on the duct tape found in Armando's car matched Miya's DNA profile. Based on the investigation's findings, detectives believe the following is the most likely sequence of events in the murder of Miya Marcano. At 5 p.m., Miya is captured on surveillance camera, leaving the leasing office at the conclusion of her shift and walking to her apartment. At 5:06 p.m., Miya's ney fob activates her door and she enters her apartment. It is believed Armando had been inside her unit since 4:32 p.m., lying in wait. It was evident from the condition of the bed, broken jewelry on the floor, bloodstains on the pillowcase and pillow that Armando attacked her and a struggle ensued. Armando is believed to have killed Miya and taken her body to the trunk of his vehicle via the bedroom window at around 5:50 p.m. At 7:38 p.m.. Armando left the Arden Villas area and proceeded West through downtown Orlando before entering Southcentral Orange County. He eventually arrived at the Tymber Skan apartments, where he once resided, at around 8:30 p.m., and drove to the back northeast corner of the complex, which was mostly abandoned with overgrown grass, no buildings and no human foot traffic. He removed Miya's body from his car and placed her in a thick tree covered barrier leading to a lake behind the complex. She had already had her legs, hands and face a neck area wrapped with black duct tape, similar to the ones he used for maintenance work. He left her red purse on the ground beside her and put her work shirt and bloody pillow cover inside the purse. His family and their attorney, Daryl Washington, held a news conference saying the apartment complex where Miya lived and worked could have and should do more to keep its residents safe. "We are looking at all the legal remedies available to the family, but obviously and it's very clear that there was some negligence that was involved in this case." In October 2021, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Arden Villas. In addition, the family states they are still wondering why her case wasn't initially treated with more urgency by law enforcement when there was immediate evidence of foul play. There was blood on her pillow and her bedroom door had furniture against it to prevent it from opening. The reporting deputy was warned about Armando's behavior and that he had been harassing Miya. The family told the deputy Miya's apartment was in disarray, that Armando possibly had Miya's blanket in his car and her teddy bear was not where it was supposed to be. At the very least, they felt Armando should have been detained and formally interrogated instead of a relatively short, informal street interview. But according to Deputy Paulino, he felt he had no evidence Armando did anything wrong, so he released him. In documents related to an internal investigation, Deputy Paulino admitted he missed some red flags. In July 2022 the Orange County Sheriff's Office concluded that Deputy Paulino and his supervisor, Corporal Kenneth Dale, failed to act urgently in the case of Miya Marcano. Investigators found that Deputy Paulino neglected to report crucial details to his supervisor, Corporal Dale, including the discovery of blood on a pillow in Miya's room and broken jewelry on the floor. As a result, Dale classified Miya as a voluntary missing person rather than a missing endangered person, which prevented detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division from being contacted. Consequently, Paulino was suspended without pay for 150 hours while Corporal Dale received a ten hour unpaid suspension. Marcano family attorney Daryl Washington said the Marcanos believe the suspensions are not enough and said they would like to see the deputy and his supervisor face tougher consequences, including termination. Sheriff John Mena released the following statement. Miya Marcano was young, talented, and full of life. Her disappearance and murder garnered international attention and involved a concerted effort to obtain justice by her family. The Orange County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, neighboring law enforcement agencies and the local community. While, according to police records, the terrifying murder occurred before the police became involved, and the actions of law enforcement provided much-needed closure for Miya's loved ones, serious shortcomings need to be addressed. These include a lackadaisical approach at the start of the police investigation, overlooked evidence, and security failures by the apartment complex. Despite the tragic outcome, the Marcano family continues their fight for justice for Miya. After her death, the family established a nonprofit organization named the Miya Marcano Foundation. According to the foundation's website, the organization's primary focus is to ensure that Miya's death was not in vain and to prevent families of missing persons from enduring what Miya's family suffered on the evening of September 24th, 2021.