Miya Marcano’s household sues Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace of negligence

Two years after the disappearance and subsequent dying of Caribbean-American faculty pupil Miya Marcano, the household of the teenager has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace, in addition to the 2 deputies who have been tasked with dealing with her lacking individual case.

Based on ClickOrlando, the lawsuit mentioned the sheriff’s workplace failed “miserably” to correctly prepare and supervise its deputies in tips on how to deal with a lacking individual case like Marcano’s. It additionally accused two workers of the sheriff’s workplace — Deputy Samir Paulino and Cpl. Kenneth Dale, Paulino’s supervisor — of violating Marcano’s civil rights.

After Marcano’s disappearance was reported on Sept. 24, 2021, Paulino went to the Arden Villas condo advanced the place Marcano lived to carry out a well-being test requested by her household.

A report acknowledged that Marcano bed room confirmed proof {that a} doable crime had been dedicated: the door to her bed room had been blocked with a bit of furnishings, her mattress wasn’t made, there was blood on her pillow, and damaged and bent jewellery on the ground.

Dale mentioned Paulino didn’t inform him most of that data throughout an company investigation into the case. Due to this, Marcano was thought-about a “voluntary lacking individual” as an alternative of a “lacking endangered individual.” The case was additionally not escalated to the Felony Investigations Division.

The lawsuit additionally claims Paulino didn’t take the household or the condo advanced safety guard significantly after they requested about fingerprint proof or offered particulars about issues that Armando Caballero, a upkeep employee on the advanced, may very well be concerned in her disappearance.

Caballero was discovered lifeless from suicide on Sept. 27, 2021. Marcano’s physique was found on Oct. 2, 2021. It’s now believed Caballero killed Marcano.

Paulino obtained a 150-hour unpaid suspension as self-discipline for the investigation failures, and Dale obtained a 10-hour unpaid suspension. Nonetheless, the household discovered that self-discipline inadequate.

“This failure to self-discipline its workers in a related respect displays a deliberate indifference to the rights of its inhabitants and is actionable below 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Regardless of Paulino’s willful neglect, OCSO continues to make use of him with a easy slap to the wrist,” the lawsuit mentioned.

Timeline of Marcano’s dying

Orange County authorities discovered the physique of Miya Marcano in a wooded space close to an condo constructing on Oct. 2.

Authorities mentioned the 19-year-old vanished on the identical day a upkeep man improperly used a grasp key to enter her condo. Her household reported her lacking after she missed a flight dwelling to South Florida on Sept. 24.

The sheriff mentioned Caballero was thought-about the “prime suspect.” Caballero, 27, apparently killed himself; his physique was discovered three days after Marcano was final seen.

Learn extra on Miya Marcano

Marcano had repeatedly “rebuffed” romantic advances by Caballero. Detectives spoke to Caballero after the Valencia Faculty pupil was reported lacking, however had no proof to detain him at the moment. They obtained a warrant for his arrest after studying he had entered her condo earlier than she disappeared. His physique was then discovered inside a storage.

Within the wake of the Marcano case, Florida lawmakers handed a invoice final yr aimed toward rising bodily security for renters.

Mayor of Pembroke Pines Frank Ortis final yr declared April 26, what would have been Miya’s twentieth birthday, as Miya Marcano Day within the metropolis.

Miya was a South Florida native who graduated from Charles W. Flanagan Excessive College in Pembroke Pines. She is the daughter of standard Trinidadian South Florida deejay, Marlon Marcano, referred to as “DJ Everlasting Vibes.”