A missing woman was found dead in an Orange County condominium Friday, deputies said.
Vanessa Cocly, 23, was reported missing Saturday, and was last seen leaving Cypress Street in Taft, deputies said.
Cocly's body was found at the Sand Lake Courtyard Condominiums at Sand Lake Road and Orange Blossom Trail.
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Deputies are searching for Christian Penchi, 32, who might be driving a 2013 black Lexus with Florida license plate number 735-RQI.
Cocly had an on-again-off-again relationship with Penchi, who is considered a person of interest in the case, said Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are trying to find him. We do not know where he is,” Williamson said.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for Penchi’s condo, Williamson said.
“This is an official homicide investigation,” Williamson said.
Watch the Sheriff's Office's news conference below:
Investigators said they found Cocly's black Nissan Versa earlier this week in the parking lot of Southern Technical College, where she was a student.
Her family told investigators that those actions are “highly uncharacteristic” of Cocly.
“They have a strong family bond, and for them to not know about her (whereabouts) -- I don’t think she just vanished like that,” said neighbor Carol Quisquinay.
Quisquinay said she saw Cocly almost every day.
Malik Graham, who also lives at the condo complex, said he recently saw the couple together.
"When I (had) seen them, they were sitting there. They were having a conversation," he said. "They had little arguments, but I heard nothing about it. So for me to hear that was that guy -- that's crazy."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-8477.
Cox Media Group
