A Florida woman, dressed in diet mountain dew soda, violently murdering her elderly roommate and then in a final ditch effort to tamper with evidence, learned she would spend decades behind the bar.
On Thursday, Volusia County Circuit Court Judge Leah R. Case ordered 37-year-old Nicole Marks to sentence 35 years in a state correctional facility.
Detectives reportedly noticed that Max appears to have blood on her legs and torn shirt.
In July 2023, Max was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of tampering with evidence, and one count of resisting arrest for violence. Max did not contest any crimes with fewer second-degree murders and refused to resist violence, arson of housing, or tampering with physical evidence.
Maks' public defender claimed that she was sexually abused and sexually trafficked throughout her life, dating back to her teenage years.
The case judge said, “We can't lose sight of the fact that she murdered someone. She knew what she was doing.”
“I feel that, but because of her mental health, this didn't happen,” Case said. Daytona Beach News Journal. “The abuse she suffered at the hands of most of the men she's ever contacted (as the prosecutors said) was horrifying.”
Marks faced a maximum sentence of 75 years, but according to the terms of the judicial agreement, the 35-year sentence was the smallest prison time she could receive.
Police say Marks used a knife and a hammer to kill his roommate (79-year-old Michael Cerasori) inside a Daytona Beach home at about 1:45am on July 1, 2023. Police say.
Police reportedly recovered a bloody knife and two cell phones near the victim's body at the crime scene.
Law and Crime A detective found a shoeless Mac near the restaurant and reported that she “dropped a knife and hammer” in his presence when she was confronted.
Detectives reportedly noticed that Max appears to have blood on her legs and torn shirt.
According to court documents, Max told detectives he had been homeless for the past four years.
When officers showed her a photo of Serasori, Max reportedly “denies knowing the victim.”
After being pressed by investigators, Max is said to have admitted that she had lived with the man for a short time, but she insists that she has only seen “a handful.” She is also allegedly denied seeing him the day he was murdered. Police said Max later confessed that she was not homeless, but lived with Serasori, and that she had previously been at home.
While in custody, police told Marks that they would be taking DNA samples from her.
Max then asked for a drink and was given a can of Diet Mountain Dew, court documents say.
It is said that Max then dyed Diet Mountain Dew Soda all over her body.
“Marks started to procrastinate over soft drinks… [a detective] Maks tried to grab a can of soda from Maks' hands,” the affidavit said. Max then began to pull and kick the officers, trying to secure a Mac for the vehicle. Mac's actions resulted in her accusations of tampering with evidence and resisting arrest with violence. ”
Police said DNA from the blood of a knife next to the victim coincided with a sample taken from Marks.
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