In September of 2021 19-year-old Miya Marcano was last seen alive at her apartment complex in Orlando. On October 2nd, Miya's loved ones' worst fears were confirmed when her body was found deceased and "nearly skeletonized". The only suspect was a maintenance worker at her apartment complex, 27-year-old Armando Caballero. He never faced criminal charges as he hung himself before Miya's body was discovered.
The tragic loss of young Miya inspired her family to create the Miya Marcano Foundation. The foundation's goal was to pressure lawmakers to pass a bill that would prevent similar events from occurring in the future. Eventually, Miya's Law (Senate Bill 898: Lodging Standards) was signed and passed.
Miya's Law mandates that landlords and building managers perform extensive background checks for all prospective employees. The law also requires landlords to give tenant a 24-hour notice before entering a rented property. In addition, the law reinforces requirements regarding access to individual units including keeping a log accounting the issuance and return of keys.
This law is designed to protect the tenant and ensure that what happened to Maya Marcano doesn't happen to anyone else.
