In 2024, a 35-year-old Florida woman was sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing her elderly roommate.
On July 1, 2023, Nichole Maks attacked 79-year-old Michael Cerasoli inside their shared home—beating and stabbing him before setting the place on fire.
But what left many speechless was what she did during her arrest: she poured Diet Mountain Dew all over herself, hoping it would erase any trace of DNA evidence.
 |
| Nichole Maks |
Just before 2 a.m. on July 1, 2023, Daytona Beach firefighters responded to a house fire on Clark Street.
After the firefighters put out the flames, they made a disturbing discovery—Michael Cerasoli’s body lying face-down in his bedroom.
The Police were quickly called to the scene, and during their investigation, detectives found a bloody knife believed to be used in the attack.
There were blood stains on the walls which revealed there had been a violent struggle.
Crime scene Investigators also discovered two cell phones in the home—one of them belonged to Nichole Maks, but she was nowhere to be found.
According to Law & Crime, police quickly named her a
person of interest in the brutal attack and issued a
local bulletin for her arrest.
At about 3:30 a.m., a detective spotted Nichole Maks barefoot near a restaurant in Holly Hill.
As he walked up to her, she dropped a knife and a hammer—both of which were later connected to the murder.
She also had blood stains on her hands and leg, and her shirt was torn, adding to the suspicion.
When questioned by police, Nichole Maks gave several conflicting stories.
At first, she claimed she had been homeless for the past four years.
She eventually admitted that she lived with Michael Cerasoli, but claimed she hadn’t seen him that day.
Later, she changed her story again, saying she had seen him when she went upstairs to “feed her spiders.”
"Her statements were inconsistent from the start, and her behavior suggested she was trying to cover her tracks," said a Daytona Beach Police spokesperson.
Because of her conflicting stories and the blood on her body, police decided to arrest Maks and take her to the station for further questioning.
The officers also informed her that they would need a DNA sample as part of the investigation.
At that point, Maks asked the officers for a Diet Mountain Dew, saying she was feeling unwell and thirsty.
But to their surprise, she poured the drink all over herself, in a desperate attempt to wash away any remaining DNA evidence.
"Maks began resisting, pouring soda on her body and hair, then kicking officers as they tried to restrain her," an affidavit stated, as per Law&Crime.
While it’s unclear whether Diet Mountain Dew can actually destroy DNA, some studies suggest that sucralose—a sweetener found in the drink—may damage DNA when ingested.
Regardless, her desperate attempts failed, and forensic experts later confirmed that her DNA was found on the murder weapon
 |
| Nichole Maks dousing herself with Diet Mountain Dew |
 |
| Nichole Maks with a Diet Mountain Dew |
Durig her trial, Maks’ defense argued that a lifetime of trauma contributed to the crime.
Her attorneys revealed she was a victim of sex trafficking and abuse, dating back to her teens.
A court-appointed psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type) and post-traumatic stress disorder, conditions exacerbated by prolonged periods without medication.
Medical records indicated she had been off prescribed treatments for six months prior to the killing.
According to Dr. Jeffrey Danziger, a defense psychiatrist, Maks was hallucinating at the time of the murder because she was not taking her drugs.
She reportedly believed that Cerasoli was drugging her with chloroform and raping her, at the orders of a motorcycle gang she claimed to be affiliated with.
According to her defense lawyer, Maks was part of the gang, and they treated her like "their property".
They physically and sexually abused her whenever they wanted, so this made her to believe they were using her roommate to continue the abuse.
Nicole Maks’ family members confirmed parts of her traumatic past with the motorcycle gang during the trial.
One relative shared that they had once received an anonymous video showing Maks restrained and being physically and sexually abused.
 |
| Nichole Maks in court |
The court agreed that Maks had a difficult past, but said she knew exactly what she was doing when she committed the crime. This was clear from how she tried to hide the evidence and trick the police after the murder.
Judge Leah Case emphasized: "We can’t lose sight of the fact that she murdered somebody... She knew what she was doing."
In November 2024, Maks accepted a plea deal, reducing her charge from first-degree murder (which carries a life sentence) to second-degree murder.
She also pleaded no contest to arson, evidence tampering, and resisting arrest.
On September 5, 2024, she was sentenced to 35 years—the minimum under her plea agreement.
She received credit for 562 days served and must undergo mental health treatment during her 20-year probation.
While Maks’ traumatic past played a role, the court held her accountable for taking a life.
Comments
Post a Comment