Body suspected of missing Florida student Miya Marcano has been found, sheriff says

A body believed to be that of missing Florida student Miya Marcano was found near an apartment complex in Orange County on Saturday, law enforcement officials said.

“Obviously, this is not the update I wanted to give everyone today,” Sheriff John Mina said at a press conference. “Our hearts are broken. Everyone wanted this outcome to be different.”

Marcano was last seen on September 24 at her home at the Arden Villas apartment complex in Orlando, about a mile from the University of Central Florida. The Second year of the College of Valence, 19, worked at the resort’s rental office and was due to return home to Fort Lauderdale that day, but did not show up for her flight.

Mina said Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies were searching near another apartment complex in Orlando, Tymber Skan on the Lake, when they discovered the remains around 10:45 a.m. in a wooded area. A handbag with Marcano’s identification was located near the body, according to the sheriff.

MPs were in the area because cellphone recordings showed Armando Manuel Caballero, whom the authorities described as a “prime suspect”, was in or near the apartments the same evening Marcano was reported missing. Mina said Caballero lived in the complex and stayed there for about 20 minutes.

Caballero, 27, was a maintenance worker at the Arden Villas apartment complex and had shown interest in Marcano, but she repeatedly rejected his romantic advances, authorities previously said.

Investigators learned during their search for Marcano that Caballero had access to a master key and used that key to enter Marcano’s unit.

He was found dead this week from an apparent suicide, authorities said.

The sheriff said Marcano’s parents had been notified of the discovery and that a positive identification would come from the medical examiner’s office. Authorities are not looking for anyone else, Mina said.

“We believe quite conclusively that Armando Caballero is responsible for this crime and we are not looking for any other person in this matter,” said the sheriff.