THE search for missing 19-year-old student Miya Marcano entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with a team of more than 30 detectives currently tracking down leads in the hope of finding her alive.
Miya, a sophomore at Valencia College, was last seen at around 5pm on Friday at the Arden Villas apartment complex in Orlando, Florida where she lives and works.
The teen was due to catch a flight later that night to visit family in Fort Lauderdale but never boarded the plane.
On Monday, investigators announced that the prime person of interest in Marcano's disappearance, 27-year-old Armondo Manuel Caballero, had been found dead at an apartment complex in Seminole County from an apparent suicide.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said Caballero was a maintenance worker at Miya's apartment block since June and had repeatedly shown romantic interest towards Marcano but was "rebuffed" by her each time.
Investigators are now searching Caballero's home and car for clues as to where Miya may be.
Here's what is currently known about the timeline of Miya's disappearance and everything that has happened in the days since:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Miya had been working her regular 9am-5pm shift at the leasing office of Arden Villas on the day she disappeared, according to investigators.
Miya's father Marlon Marcano said in a post on Instagram that he had spoken to his daughter on Friday afternoon but never heard from her once she finished work.
At around 4.30pm, 30 minutes before Miya was due to finish her shift, a maintenance master key fob was used to enter her apartment.
Caballero was known to have access to that fob, investigators say. Though he would later claim to police the last time he saw her was at 3pm.
Miya was scheduled to fly from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale at 10.30pm that night.
However, it appears she never made it to the airport and failed to check-in for her flight.
The last known sighting of her came at 5pm as she left work.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
On Saturday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office released a missing person's bulletin for Miya.
"PLEASE SHARE: This is the #missingperson bulletin for 19-year-old Miya Marcano, last seen on 9/24 at the Arden Villas apartments (3303 Arden Villas Boulevard, Orlando)," the bulletin read.
"We urge anyone with info to call the OCSO non-emergency line at 407-836-4357. If you see Miya, call 911."
Miya was listed in the bulletin as being five feet tall, with brown hair and green eyes.
In a subsequent search of her apartment authorities found that someone had blocked the door to her bedroom.
Meanwhile, the window in the bedroom was unlocked, the room was in a state of disarray, and a bloodstain was found on her pillow.
In a post to Instagram, Marlon Marcano wrote there were "signs of a struggle in her apartment – and she may be in danger."
That same morning, a man believed to be Caballero was filmed taking gloves, a pink blanket, and a black backpack out of his car before walking into a building.
The license plate of the car seen in the video matches the plate of the car towed away from Caballero's apartment.
Police have not yet commented publicly on the footage, however, it was captured mere hours after Miya was last seen alive.
CHILLING ENCOUNTER
Family members also flew in from Fort Lauderdale that day to help in the search to find her.
Miya’s aunt, Semone Westmaas, said that when she arrived at the Arden Villas complex she was approached by a man, whom she later realized was Caballero.
At the time, Caballero wasn't a known suspect. However, Westmaas told FOX35 that the thought of the encounter now sends shudders down her spine.
"He said, ‘Are you looking for Miya?'" Westmaas recalled.
When she asked him who he was, he reportedly responded: "'I'm the maintenance guy. I hear you're looking for me.'"
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
On Sunday, deputies began searching the wooded area behind Marcano’s apartment building.
Helicopter units were called in to assist with the search efforts, but no trace of Miya was found.
Family and friends of the missing teen also held a vigil for her outside of her apartment that evening.
Westmaas told the Orlando Sentinel that the family wouldn't be leaving the city "without answers" and until they "bring Miya home."
“Keep Miya in your prayers,” Westmaas said. “Don’t give up on Miya. I believe Miya is alive.”
In a post to Instagram, Marcano's father wrote: "Mimi, my heart is aching. I haven’t slept or eaten in days. Where are you baby??? Your whole family is here looking for you.
"We will not stop until you’re back home. I’m slowly losing my mind over here. Never have we ever gone so long without even a text message to each other."
He continued: "If your able to read this message, please know that your Daddy and the entire world loves you. Please don’t lose faith. We will find you…. I love you always and forever!"
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
At around 10.30am on Monday, Seminole County deputies discovered Armondo Caballero dead from an apparent suicide.
Sheriff Mina said deputies had been searching for Caballero through the weekend and had secured a warrant for his arrest on a burglary charge based on the information that a maintenance master key fob had been used to enter Marcano’s apartment.
A news conference had been slated for 1pm that day, however, it was pushed back by two hours following the discovery.
At 3pm, Mina revealed for the first time that Caballero was the lead person of interest in the case and announced that he had killed himself.
He'd been "dead for some time" when his body was found, Mina said.
Caballero's car was then towed from his home and taken to the Orange County Sheriff's Office to be searched for clues.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
On Tuesday morning, friends and family of Miya continued their own search for the teen.
They began their search at the Sabal Park apartment complex in Seminole County where Caballero was found dead.
Groups of volunteers also searched near Colonial Landing and Blanchard Park. Volunteers handed out flyers with Miya's picture on and details about her disappearance.
On Tuesday afternoon, deputies from Orange County returned to Sabal Club to scour the wooded area around the complex.
That area includes a walking trail that runs the length of the property, according to local reports.
Family member Mark Marcona said of Callabero from the scene: "He knows trails that nobody else knows.
"He goes places nobody else really wants to go."
Later the same day, the Ardens Villas complex released a statement about Miya's disappearance and changes the company plans to implement to protect its residents.
"After a thorough review of the ongoing reporting on the situation surrounding Ms. Marcano, we would like to provide the following factual updates," the statement began.
"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."
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Miya's family said they were unsure if they would continue search efforts throughout the day unless new leads emerged.
No further updates have yet been shared in the case.
Marcano was last seen wearing a red shirt, jeans, and a black hoodie, according to the apartment complex where she also worked.
She is described as being five feet tall and weighing 130 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is being asked to call at 407-836-4357.
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