Additional Charges for Florida Murder Suspect, Nichole A. Maks, After She Used Diet Mountain Dew Soda to Erase Evidence

A woman in Florida, suspected of murder, faced additional charges when she requested a soda from the police and proceeded to pour it over herself. 

She did it in an attempt to erase forensic evidence, as stated by the Daytona Beach police.

Nichole A. Maks, aged 35, was charged with tampering with evidence and resisting arrest with violence, as well as premeditated first-degree murder in relation to the death of Michael Cerasoli, aged 79, on August 5. 

A probable cause affidavit shared with Fox News Digital by the police provided these details.

Firefighters were called to a residence on Clark Street at approximately 1:46 a.m. on July 1, following a situation where clothing was set on fire, resulting in a minor fire incident.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office confirmed the fire but had no further information regarding the arson investigation.

After extinguishing the fire, responders discovered Cerasoli's body in a room marked with blood. He had suffered head trauma and stab wounds, according to the police.

The landlord of the deceased reported to the police that Maks was another tenant, though she was nowhere to be found.

Two cellphones were found near the deceased: one belonged to Cerasoli, while the other, with a bloodied knife resting atop, belonged to Maks.

Less than two hours later, a bloodied and barefoot Maks was spotted outside a Krystal restaurant in Holly Hill, a nearby community. 

When approached, she dropped a knife and a hammer at the police officers' feet.

Maks avoided answering questions about her recent actions and living situation. Initially, she pointed towards a nearby pawn shop and later stated that she had been without a home, living on the streets for the past four years.

When detectives showed her Cerasoli's photo, she denied knowing him. However, she later admitted she knew him but denied seeing him on the day of his murder. 

She then changed her story again, claiming to live with Cerasoli and having been at their shared home earlier that day.

Daytona Beach police took Maks into custody for questioning. 

After being informed of her Miranda rights, Maks stated that she had never entered Cerasoli's bedroom and only went to the second floor of their shared apartment to feed her spiders.

When asked about the weapons she had dropped, Maks became agitated, requested a lawyer, and resisted attempts to gather DNA evidence from her body. 

Eventually, she was taken into custody after pouring soda on herself to interfere with potential evidence.

Blood on the knife near Cerasoli's body matched samples from Maks' clothing, and her DNA was also discovered on the weapon's handle.

Maks is presently incarcerated in Volusia County Jail without bail and is scheduled for a court appearance on September 5.

A recent study from North Carolina State University indicated that sucralose, a common artificial sweetener found in Diet Mountain Dew and other sodas, could break down DNA.

However, it remains uncertain whether using soda to wash oneself would effectively eliminate forensic evidence.

In another news, four individuals have been arrested for abducting a woman and keeping her in a dog cage. See detailed story here

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