The Disappearance and Murder of Miya Marcano
For this case, I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 24 episode 12, titled ‘Where is Miya?’
A 19-year-old college student disappears after getting off work.
Background
Miya had moved to Orlando, Florida from Ft. Lauderdale, to attend Valencia College, to study sports medicine.
Miya’s parents had divorced when she was 6, but she remained close to both of them, her siblings, and extended family. Miya was described as funny, sarcastic, athletic, and full of life.
Miya Marcano
Miya with her dad.
Something is Wrong
On Friday, September 24, 2021, Miya was in contact with her mom, Yma, and cousin, Caili. Miya would always text, send Snapchats, and enjoyed being on TikTok. Miya had told her mom that she was TikTok famous, after she posted a dance video, and received over 1,000 likes and comments.
Miya had to work that night at the management office of her apartment complex. She usually worked until about 5pm. Miya was excited because she was flying home that night to go to her dad’s house in Ft. Lauderdale. Miya and Caili were excited about seeing each other that weekend.
At 5pm, Miya got off of work. She texted her friend, and said she was leaving work, and going to get ready to go to the airport. Miya’s friend texted her at 5:06pm, but Miya would never respond, or open Caili’s Snapchat.
By 6:45pm, Miya’s family knew something was wrong. Marlon Jr., Miya’s brother had also tried to reach out to her. Miya’s family reached out to her friends from school, but no one had heard from her after 5pm.
Yma contacted the airline, Uber, and Lyft, but Miya had never made it to the airport.
The Apartment
Miya’s family contacted the Orlando police department, and reported her missing.
The police arrived at Miya’s first floor apartment at 10:02pm. They knocked her door, but there was no answer. A deputy went around the back, and looked into Miya’s bedroom. Nothing seemed unusual or out of place.
Miya’s family contacted her roommate around 10:21pm. The roommate let the police inside. Miya’s bedroom door was locked, which the roommate said she had done that in the past.
The police and the roommate went back outside, and the roommate climbed through the window to let the police into Miya’s bedroom.
Inside the bedroom, the police found a small dresser barricading the door. A broken necklace was found on the floor, as well as a rusty boxcutter. Miya was always seen wearing the necklace, and the boxcutter didn’t belong to anyone in the apartment.
The police found some dried blood on Miya’s pillowcase, and her teddy bear was found in her closet. Miya’s family said that Miya was known for taking that bear everywhere. They knew something was wrong, and most of her family was already in route to Orlando.
The Confrontation
On September 25, 2021, Miya was declared a missing person at 1:36am.
Miya's family arrived in Orlando around 4am. Miya’s family were escorted into Miya’s apartment by a police officer to look around.
Caili immediately noticed that Miya’s room was in disarray, which was unlike her. Miya’s dad had put security locks on her bedroom windows, but he noticed that the locks were unscrewed and gone.
Miya had several Apple products, but her family was unable to get a location because her phone had been turned off.
Caili was looking out the window, when she noticed a silver car circling the parking lot. The driver saw Caili, and attempted to flee. As they were pulling out, they hit a parked car, and almost hit a member of Miya’s family named Simone.
Around 5am, a confrontation ensued between the man and members of Miya’s family. They accused him of sending aggressive texts to Miya. The man identified himself as Armando Caballero, a maintenance worker for the apartment. Armando said, “y’all looking for Miya?” They asked him how he knew that. Armando said their mutual friend “Tati” had said that Miya was missing. Miya told her family everything, and no one had heard of a Tati. They did however, know that Miya had been being harassed by a maintenance worker.
Caili took it upon herself to record everything, and had recorded this confrontation. Armando gave the police his name and address. Miya’s family took this information down as well.
Caili also noticed that Armando’s face and hand were swollen. He was very defensive and agitated, and they knew he was most likely involved.
The Surveillance
After a sleepless night, Miya’s family was out putting up missing persons posters. They also decided to pay Armando’s apartment a visit, and did their own surveillance on him.
Caili, Miya’s grandmother, and two other women in her family, arrived at Armando’s apartment around 8am. They parked across the street, and found him searching through his silver car.
On Caili’s recording, Armando can be seen looking through his car, and pulling out a pair of blue latex gloves. Miya’s family can be heard describing what they are seeing.
At one point, Armando was seen carrying a blanket. Miya’s grandmother gasps, and says “that’s my blanket.” It was a pink blanket that she had given to Miya. Miya’s family can be heard saying “call the police!”
The police were called at 8:17am, on September 25. Armando had heard the them, and confronted them from outside the car. He then took off, but Marlon Sr., and Jr., had been pulling in as he left, and they followed him.
The police contacted Armando to come back to his apartment when they arrived. He consented to a search of his apartment. The pink blanket was nowhere to be found. It’s believed that Armando’s roommate had gotten rid of it. The police didn’t have any evidence to arrest Armando.
The Search for a Potential Killer
The police were out looking for Miya. Meanwhile, a search had been done on the key fab system at Miya’s apartment.
Armando had used his master key to enter Miya’s apartment at 4:36pm on September 24. He then waited for Miya to arrive home, which she did at 5pm.
The police now had enough evidence to arrest Armando for burglary. However, he had vanished.
On September 27, 2021, some maintenance workers had been attempting to get into a storage unit. This was the place where Armando had been previously employed.
When the police were able to get inside the unit, they found Armando dead. He had hanged himself.
Armando Caballero
What Really Happened?
Armando’s secrets had died with him. The police were able to search his GPS coordinates from the day Miya disappeared.
Armando’s coordinates had taken the police about 17 miles away from Miya’s apartment complex. It was rundown area, near some abandoned buildings.
On October 2, 2021, Miya’s body, which was “nearly skeletonized” was discovered in some brush near some of these buildings. She was wearing jeans, a bra, and a robe. It was clear she had been getting ready for the airport. Miya’s purse was found near her. Her mouth, wrists, and ankles were bound with black duct tape.
It’s believed that Armando was obsessed with Miya. He had entered her apartment, and confronted her when she returned home. Miya’s cause of death was ruled as “homicide by undetermined means.” There was also no clear sign that she had been sexually assaulted.
Other
Miya’s family are advocates for Miya’s Law, which they are hoping will get passed. If passed, Miya’s Law will strengthen security measures in apartments around Florida. It will also require extensive background checks of employees. The first committee hearing unanimously passed the law.
Armando had a violent criminal history.
UPDATE (6/29/22)
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Miya’s Law, which has been passed. The law, as I explained before, will strengthen apartment security measures through background screenings for all employees.
https://www.wesh.com/article/desantis-miyas-law/40433388#
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think this is the second or third case I have written about involving a maintenance worker thinking it’s okay to enter a woman’s apartment. It’s sickening. Miya was 19, and had her whole life ahead of her. Armando completely fucked over this family. He was a coward, and couldn’t face up to what he did.
Miya’s family worked hard to assist (but really, did a lot more than the police) to catch her killer. My heart breaks for them. I got goosebumps listening to their audio from their surveillance on Armando.
Sources
http://www.floridapoliticalreview.com/miyas-law-unanimously-passes-in-the-florida-house-and-senate/
