Person of interest in missing Florida student case found dead in his apartment
09/29/2021 1:54 pm PDT
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A person of interest in the case of missing 19-year-old student Miya Marcano was found dead Monday.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced 27-year-old Armando Manuel Caballero died in Seminole County from an apparent suicide. Caballero was reportedly a maintenance worker in the apartment complex where Marcano lives.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Marcano was last seen September 24 at the Arden Villas Apartment Complex in Orlando at approximately 5 p.m. According to an updated missing persons bulletin, Marcano was wearing a red shirt, jeans, and black hoodie. She reportedly had a flight scheduled to Fort Lauderdale that evening but never made it onto the plane.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said in a press conference Caballero’s car was being transported to the Sheriff’s Office for processing. Mina called Marcano’s disappearance "suspicious" and said he and the family "obviously suspect foul play." Mina added Caballero had been dead for "quite some time" by the time he was found.
Mina said in a press conference Monday Caballero previously "demonstrated a romantic interest in Miya," but she "repeatedly rebuffed" his advances.
MIYA MARCANO UPDATE: Armando Manuel Caballero, 27, person of interest in Miya Marcano's disappearance was found dead today. It appears he killed himself. Miya is still missing. Anyone with info on Caballero or Miya should call OCSO at 407-836-4357 or @CrimelineFL at 800-423-8477. pic.twitter.com/WBukzi8QAJ
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) September 27, 2021 @OrangeCoSheriff
Caballero reportedly told investigators he last saw Marcano at approximately 3 p.m. on the day she went missing. Mina said a master key fob, which Caballero "was known to be in possession of," was used to access Marcano’s apartment at 4:30 p.m.
During the press conference, Mina said there were a "few items" they deemed suspicious in her apartment and they are continuing to investigate her disappearance first and foremost.
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