The internet is the gift that keeps on giving ain’t it? Each day, there’s some random news that pops up on my timeline and reminds me just how strange us humans can be. The latest WTF-worthy bit of news involves a woman, a murder, and a bottle of Mountain Dew. That description alone is the sorta story I can imagine R.L. Stein dreaming up.
According to Fox 35 Orlando, a woman named Nichole Maks, who was a suspect in the death of her 79-year-old roommate, attempted to remove any shred of bodily evidence by washing herself with Mountain Dew. Many of you probably aren’t surprised this happened in Florida, after all, as it’s a state that regularly winds up in the news for the oddest things.
The sugary soda cleanse apparently happened after the woman was told by the local authorities that they planned to collect her DNA as part of the investigation. Jail records show that Maks was booked and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest with violence.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 1. Fox 25 Orlando says that a citizen flagged down a Daytona Beach officer due to a nearby house fire. After firefighters arrived and put the fire out, a man’s body was found on the floor with blunt force trauma to the back of his head and numerous stab wounds to his torso. The victim was identified as 79-year-old Michael Cerasoli.
A bloody knife was found by police inside the victim’s bedroom near his body and blood was also found on the wall next to Maks’ bedroom closet. The authorities eventually located Maks at a nearby Krystal’s restaurant with no shoes on, and blood on the side of her leg. The shirt she was wearing had been torn and also had blood on it. Maks was carrying a knife and hammer as well.
After being apprehended, Maks gave the police contradicting accounts on what happened. At one point she claimed to be homeless and denied knowing the victim. She even denied carrying the knife and hammer that she dropped in front of the police. Maks later admitted to being Cerasoli’s roommate. As she was being escorted to the police cruiser, she was told that her DNA would be collected. That’s when she asked for a drink and was given a diet Mountain Dew soda.
When asked about the fire, she became "agitated," refused to speak and requested an attorney, authorities said. Then, rather than drinking it, she poured it all over herself in hopes of tampering with any remaining evidence. The DNA report revealed that the knife that Maks was carrying did indeed have the victim’s DNA on the blade, and hers on the handle.
Maks is currently in Volusia County Jail. Her attorney has requested a mental examination to determine whether or not she’s competent enough to stand trial.
