Volusia Sheriff: Ormond Beach man 'person of interest' in homicide of missing Holly Hill girlfriend

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Courtesy photos / Michael Annicchiarico, 33, of Ormond Beach, has been named a "person of interest" in the case of missing 31-year-old Mandy Ciehanoski of Holly Hill, now presumed dead and the victim of homicide, according to the Sheriff's Office.

ORMOND BEACH -- Missing for nearly three weeks without a trace, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is now calling the search for a 31-year-old Holly Hill woman a homicide investigation.

Thursday night, the Sheriff’s Office arrested an Ormond Beach man considered a person of interest in the disappearance of Mandy Ciehanoski. While the search for Ciehanoski continues, the Sheriff’s Office has charged ex-boyfriend Michael Annicchiarico with impeding the investigation by lying about being with the woman.

Family members reported Ciehanoski as missing to the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 14. By that time, she had already been gone for a week. Sheriff’s investigators have been interviewing family and friends in an effort to find out what happened to Ciehanoski.

"Among those interviewed was Annicchiarico, who used to date the missing woman," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.  "He initially told investigators that he hadn’t seen the victim for about two years. He later changed his story, admitting that he had seen Ciehanoski as recently as December. Investigators, however, learned that also was a lie after they obtained surveillance video that showed the two together just five days before Ciehanoski’s disappearance."

Confronted by investigators with the evidence from the surveillance video, Annicchiarico has now admitted that he last saw the victim on Feb. 7, which was the last time anyone has seen or heard from her, Davidson said.

The Sheriff's spokesman added agency investigators Investigators said Annicchiarico also lied about what vehicle the victim was driving on the day of her disappearance. Based on information uncovered during the investigation, Davidson said Sheriff’s officials now believe that "Ciehanoski was the victim of foul play and is most likely dead."

The investigation has now been turned over to the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit. After bringing Annicchiarico in for another interview Thursday night, the Sheriff’s Office arrested him on charges of making a false report to law enforcement and providing false information to law enforcement during an investigation.

Investigators also charged him with forgery and unlawful transfer of a title for illegally transferring ownership of a car that didn’t belong to him. Additionally, Holly Hill Police have charged Annicchiarico with grand theft.

Annicchiarico, 33, of Ormond Beach , is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach on $13,500 bond. Anyone with information about Annicchiarico or the whereabouts of Ciehanoski is asked to contact Sheriff’s investigator Beth Fortin at 386-248-1777.

Here is a previous media release from the Sheriff's Office:

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a 31-year-old Holly Hill woman who hasn’t been seen in a week. Relatives contacted the Sheriff’s Office on Monday to report Mandy Ciehanoski missing. They said they didn’t immediately contact authorities because she had gone missing in the past. But after a week went by with no word, they became worried enough to call the Sheriff’s Office. According to relatives, Ciehanoski left her home at 1119 Valencia Ave. on Feb. 7, saying she was going to help a friend with an errand. That was the last her family has seen of her. At one point, Ciehanoski was driving a friend’s pickup truck. However, the truck was found abandoned in a park in Ormond Beach on Feb. 8. Ciehanoski, who reportedly has struggled in the past with drug and alcohol problems, is 5’4” and weighs approximately 110 pounds. She has hazel eyes and shoulder length brown hair. Anyone with information regarding Ciehanoski’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 248-1770.