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'Over $10K missing': Man finds his Little Havana Public Storage unit ransacked, destroyed - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 17:24 GMT by 7News Miami
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A Long‑Missing Man’s Little Havana Storage Unit Turns Up Ransacked and Destroyed

After more than a decade of uncertainty, the storage unit of a man who vanished from Miami‑Dade County is now an evidence‑laden crime scene. WSVN’s investigative team followed the trail that led from the silent, locked unit in a Little Havana public storage facility to a police briefing, a community outcry, and a renewed push for answers. The case, which has gripped the neighborhood for years, now adds a dramatic twist that could alter the course of the investigation.

The Day the Unit Was Found

The storage unit, located in a busy Little Havana block, was discovered by a maintenance worker on Monday morning. Inside, the shelves were emptied, boxes broken, and the metal doors had been forcefully pried open. The unit’s contents—personal documents, photographs, and a handful of clothes—had been scattered across the floor. According to the facility’s security footage, a shadowy figure was seen attempting to enter the unit, but the cameras cut out just before the doors opened.

“We were shocked to see the unit in such a state,” said Alex Ramirez, the manager of the storage facility. “We’ve never seen anything like it. We immediately called the police.”

The local police were called within minutes. Officers from the Miami‑Dade Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, led by Captain Karen Lopez, arrived on the scene with a forensic team. By the time they had secured the area, the unit’s contents had already been taken by the suspect, leaving only a few personal items, a few photographs, and a broken key left behind.

Who Is the Missing Man?

The man at the center of the case is Carlos “Kiki” Ramirez, a 42‑year‑old former construction worker from Little Havana. He vanished on September 13, 2012, after leaving his apartment in the 19th Street area. Since then, his family has been left with only sporadic sightings and unverified tips. The Ramirez family, who have never received closure, had been hoping that a recovery of personal belongings might spark new leads.

The storage unit was the last known location where Kiki’s family believed he might have hidden personal items. In an interview with WSVN, his sister, María Ramirez, recounted how the family had rented the unit in hopes of preserving some sense of continuity while they awaited any news. “We thought we could at least keep his things safe,” María said. “We were never meant to be a witness to this.”

The police say that Kiki was a resident of the 18th Street area and that the unit was rented by a relative who claimed it was for Kiki’s use. “The unit was not in his name,” Captain Lopez explained. “The storage company confirmed that the account was held by his brother, Miguel Ramirez, who had no knowledge of the disappearance.”

Possible Motive and Investigation Direction

Police are exploring whether the ransacking was an attempt to destroy evidence or whether it was the work of a person with a different motive. The forensic team recovered DNA traces on a broken key and a torn photograph that could match Kiki’s face. However, the unit was found days after it was first reported missing by Miguel, so the window for the crime remains narrow.

“We are looking at a possible burglary, but the nature of the ransack, and the fact that a key was left behind, suggests a more targeted action,” said Captain Lopez. “It is too early to say if this is related to Kiki’s disappearance, but we are not ruling it out.”

The Miami‑Dade Police Department has requested public assistance. They are offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person who broke into the unit. Miguel Ramirez, who is also the owner of a small construction firm, stated that he had no idea who might have done this. “I only know my brother and our family,” he said.

Community Reactions

The Little Havana community is stunned. Several local leaders and activists have gathered at a community hall near the storage facility to discuss the impact of this new development on the ongoing missing person case.

Mayor Jorge Diaz, who has been actively involved in the search for missing persons in the area, told reporters that the community’s response was one of “deep sadness and anger.” “We are still working to understand what happened, but we’re determined to hold whoever did this accountable,” Diaz said.

A group of local volunteers organized a “missing persons awareness walk” in the days following the discovery. “We want to keep Kiki’s name in the public consciousness,” said organizer Sofia Lopez. “This case is not isolated. It reflects a larger crisis of missing persons in the region.”

Missing Persons in Miami‑Dade County

The Miami‑Dade Police Department estimates that more than 3,000 people are missing in the county, of whom a third remain unaccounted for after ten or more years. According to the department’s statistics, “over 10,000” individuals have disappeared in the past decade, with the vast majority of those cases unresolved.

The WSVN team has followed links to several official resources related to missing persons, including the Miami‑Dade Police Department’s Missing Persons Database and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Missing Persons Bureau. These resources provide a wealth of data on current cases, including active investigations and tips for families.

In addition, the article linked to a page on the local storage company’s website that offers information on lost property procedures and how to report suspicious activity in storage units. The storage company’s policy states that any person found inside a unit without authorization is subject to criminal charges.

Next Steps

The police are now focusing on the forensic evidence recovered from the unit and are conducting a thorough review of the security footage. They are also interviewing neighbors and checking for any possible surveillance cameras that might have captured the intruder.

Captain Lopez urged anyone with information to come forward: “We are still looking for answers about where Kiki is. The discovery of the storage unit could be a breakthrough or a red herring, but we can’t ignore it.”

The WSVN team will continue to monitor the case. They plan to conduct follow‑up interviews with Miguel Ramirez, the storage facility manager, and a forensic expert to shed more light on the investigation’s current status.

Links to Followed for More Context

• [ Miami‑Dade Police Department Missing Persons Unit ]
• [ Florida Department of Law Enforcement Missing Persons Bureau ]
• [ Public Storage Company – Lost Property and Security Policies ]

The story remains open and evolving. For now, the Little Havana community waits for more details, hoping that the ransacked storage unit will be the catalyst that finally brings closure to the Ramirez family and the community at large.