A Florida woman who poured diet Mountain Dew on her head in an attempt to corrupt potential DNA samples was sentenced this week for killing her elderly roommate. Maks murdered her roommate, Michael Cerasoli, 79, by beating him with a hammer and stabbing him with a knife, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.
After the murder, Maks set the upstairs on fire. She pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, arson, evidence tampering and resisting with violence, the newspaper reported.
Later, while being questioned by police, Maks was told that her DNA was going to be taken as part of the investigation. It was then that Maks asked for a Diet Mountain Dew. She proceeded to pour the soda over her head and douse her body with the beverage, clickorlando.com reported.
When officers attempted to put her in their squad car, she began kicking and pulling at the officers, the website reported.
Defense attorneys pointed out that Maks had mental health issues and had faced sexual abuse and been the victim of trafficking in the past. A psychiatrist, Dr. Jeffrey Danziger, testified for the defense that he had diagnosed Maks with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and post-traumatic stress disorder, adding that her drug and alcohol use had made the conditions worse, Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.
Circuit Judge Leah Case acknowledged Maks mental health issues and said the abuse she had endured in her life was "horrendous." But, Case also said, "We can't lose sight of the fact that she murdered somebody," the newspaper reported.
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