Man arrested for fatal stabbing at Minneapolis bus shelter
- Nichole Maks fatally stabbed her roommate inside their Daytona Beach home, attempting to conceal the crime.
- After fleeing the scene with bloodied clothing, she was arrested later with weapons in her possession.
- Maks pled no contest to reduced charges and will face sentencing in early 2024.
In Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 12, 2023, Nichole Maks, 37, fatally stabbed her 79-year-old roommate, Michael Cerasoli, inside their home. Following the stabbing, she attempted to cover up her crime by dousing herself in Diet Mountain Dew and igniting a fire on the second floor of the residence. Emergency services were alerted by a concerned citizen, leading to the discovery of Cerasoli's body, which showed multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. A bloodied knife was found near the victim, providing crucial evidence to link Maks to the crime. After the incident, police located Maks at an intersection, where she was carrying a knife and a hammer. Upon her arrest, officers noted blood on her leg, and part of her clothing was torn and also showed signs of blood. Initially evasive, Maks changed her statements regarding her living situation and what transpired on the day of the incident. While she initially denied seeing Cerasoli, she later admitted to having seen him that day. Evidence, including DNA matches on the knife, ultimately led to her arrest. By November 2023, Maks reached a plea agreement, pleading no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, which could result in a life sentence. She also pleaded no contest to arson and evidence tampering, along with resisting arrest with violence, bringing her potential sentence to 34 to 75 years in prison. The court proceedings were presided over by Circuit Court Judge Leah Case, who set a sentencing determination date for February 27, 2024. The case highlighted the tragic end of a troubled living situation and raised discussions about mental health and violence in domestic settings. In a separate incident on December 23, 2023, a 58-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder following a stabbing on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. The incident, which left another man dead, unfolded late at night when two individuals were reported to be fighting. Surveillance footage, witness accounts, and police investigations captured the moments leading up to the stabbing, leading to the man's arrest shortly thereafter. This incident illustrates ongoing violence issues in urban areas and the challenges of ensuring public safety.