Law enforcement agencies are continuing to search for a Haines City woman missing since May 28.

  • Yanela Lorente, 28, last seen leaving her home on Cherokee Avenue
  • Family putting up flyers around town
  • Have information? Contact Heartland Crimestoppers at 1-800-226-8477

It's been five days since Yanela Lorente, 28, was last seen leaving her Haines City home alone. Investigators are calling her disappearance suspicious because she has missed work and hasn't called her mother, which is unusual.

"It's very suspicious," said Haines City Deputy Police Chief Jim Elensky. "We're very concerned about her well being and the longer this goes on, we're going to have to suspect foul play." 

Patience is wearing out for her family, who desperately wants to find her.  

"It's devastating," said her sister, Yani Lorente. "I'm mad because we can't find her. There's nothing we know. But at the same time, we want to find her and we have hope."

Meanwhile, Yanela's mother, Leidi Rodriguez, pleaded in Spanish for Yanela to call her or say something, and for anyone who has seen her to call police. Family members came up from LaBelle, Florida to aid in the search effort, posting fliers all over Haines City.

Rodriguez said she last talked to her daughter Sunday afternoon, and learned that Yanela had gotten into an argument with her live-in boyfriend.

"On Sunday when she called, she said that they had argued, but that it was going to be ok and she was going to go back home," said Rodriguez. "And after that she just turned off her phone and we haven't heard from her." 

The family described Yanela as very reserved, and said she didn't have friends in the area. They said she's been with her live-in boyfriend for five years and that they moved to Haines City a little more than a year ago.

The couple also lived with a roommate, whom Haines City Police said Yanela's boyfriend met online. The two men became business partners, and police said they're the last two people who saw her.

Large scale investigation

 

Haines City Police said they're conducting a large scale investigation, with more than a dozen people working day and night to find her. The Polk County Sheriff's Office is assisting.

They executed a search warrant on the home Wednesday night. One of the things they seized was Yanela's computer.

"Unfortunately, this isn't like your hour TV show," said Haines City Deputy Chief Jim Elensky. "We have a lot more to do. That's one of them, looking at gate cameras and that will be done, as well. We have forensics on computer. We're waiting for phone records."

Investigators said Yanela's boyfriend is cooperating with their investigation. He was at the police station Thursday morning and on his way out, he spoke to Yanela's family in Spanish, away from the cameras.

Yanela's boyfriend reported her missing Monday. Detectives said the same day, he found her car at the Hillochee Park area off of Old Polk City Road.

Investigators said it was a place the couple visited before, and had even camped overnight. They said the roommate, Yanela and her boyfriend had visited there Thursday.

The family and police are hoping the public can tell them her whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call Haines City Police or Heartland Crimestoppers to report a tip anonymously at (800) 226-TIPS.