Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has joined in VI’s collective mourning over the death of Miya Marcano after her body was believed to be discovered in Orange County, Florida on October 7, 2021. Photo: Youtube

The news of the death sent shockwaves throughout both the VI and USVI where Marcano has strong roots. Ahead of the discovery of the body, the story had gained national attention in the US when the FBI became involved in the search. Photo: Internet Source

Sheriff John Mina out of the Orange County Sheriff's Office has said on Saturday that while positive identification of the body will have to come from the medical examiner’s office, officers were certain of the identity. Photo: Facebook

Sheriff John Mina out of the Orange County Sheriff's Office has said on Saturday that while positive identification will have to come from the medical examiner’s office, officers were certain of the identity.

Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in his first statement on this death had said on Saturday evening, “This evening my dear beloved people in the Virgin Islands, we are mourning the loss of young, beautiful, talented, Miya Marcano. We were all praying for her safe return."

Marcano's death a 'senseless' loss - Premier Fahie 

Hon Fahie continued, “We have indeed lost a young ambitious Virgin Islander with such a bright future. Senselessly, her life was taken and we are saddened by the news, especially her family and her close loved ones who referred to her as the princess in their lives. So many lives have been touched by her joyful and amazing spirit. She was an inspiration.”

Hon Fahie encouraged the family to find comfort in God as the VI mourns with them.

The Premier was at the time attending the Seatrade Cruise Global conference held in Florida.

Prayer & candlelight vigil

Meanwhile, at a prayer and candlelight Vigil in remembrance of Marcano at the Benjamin Romney Park in West End, Tortola, last evening, October 3, 2021, the Premier detailed that while in Florida he, along with Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer, took a visit to the family of Marcano following the devastating news.

“We really want to show BVI Love, you know a lot of things about us as BVI people is that no matter how much we may differ when the time comes to come together we have a PhD in that,” he said.

"All we can do was embrace & cry" - Premier Fahie 

Hon Fahie said on visiting the family, including Violet Delville-Hodge, aka 'Letty' the grandmother of Marcano, “we didn’t get much say, all we can do was embrace and cry,” Premier Fahie said.

“And even thinking about it now… to lose a child with such senseless crime in the prime of their life, is something difficult for all to fathom, there are not any words as I told them that you can say that can bring full comfort during that time, the old thing that we can hold on too is that God knows the reason for everything,” he said.   

Hon Fahie said he ‘broke down’ following the news given the family had faced losses in the past and knowing that a similar tragedy could happen to “anyone of our children.” 

Shockwaves throughout VI & USVI

Meanwhile, the news of the death sent shockwaves throughout both the VI and United States Virgin Islands (USVI) where Marcano has strong roots. Ahead of the discovery of the body, the story had gained national attention in the US when the FBI became involved in the search.

Marcano was last seen alive on Friday, September 24, 2021. 

Detectives said leads from the cellphone records of dead suspect Armando Manuel Caballero; who is believed to have committed suicide, pointed to the area just off of Tymber Skan Apartment in Orange County, Florida, prompting police to conduct a search and leading to the discovery of the body.

At the West End vigil, Premier Fahie thanked the VI community for coming out to pay tribute to Marcano.