This archive report was first published on 3 October 2021.
On October 2, 2021, a body was found in an Arden Villas apartment complex in Orlando, Florida, and authorities believe it to be that of Miya Marcano, a 21-year-old student who was reported missing on September 24, 2021.
Ms. Marcano's father, Marlon Marcano, expressed his grief on Instagram, saying, “I need it to be whole again.”
Ms. Marcano was a second-place winner in the 2012 Virgin Islands Prince and Princess Pageant and was often referred to as “the family’s princess” by her relatives.
The Arden Villas apartment complex, where Ms. Marcano lived and worked, released a statement saying, “The loss of Miya’s brilliant light and loving spirit is one that will forever reverberate in those whose lives she touched.”
Her disappearance drew attention to the issue of missing women and girls, particularly those from marginalized communities, who often go unnoticed.
Dr. Bethany Backes, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Central Florida, noted that the case of Ms. Marcano, a woman of color, was particularly notable given the recent attention surrounding the disappearance of Gabrielle Petito, a white woman.
