Woman accused of killing man then trying to foil investigators with Mountain Dew pleads

A woman who reportedly stabbed a man to death and later poured Diet Mountain Dew on herself in an effort to interfere with DNA collection has reached a plea deal that will send her to prison from 35 to 75 years.

Nichole Maks, 37, was accused of stabbing to death Michael Cerasoli, 79, inside a Daytona Beach home on July 12, 2023, before setting the residence’s second floor on fire, according to police.

Circuit Judge Leah Case will decide how much time Maks will serve at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 27 at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Woman accused of pouring Diet Mountain Dew on herself to foil police

When Maks was arrested, police officers told her they were going to take some DNA samples. Maks then requested a drink and was given a can of Diet Mountain Dew, a report stated.

Maks started pouring the Diet Mountain Dew over her head and hair in an attempt to interfere with the collection of evidence, the report stated.

Maks reached the plea agreement on Nov. 21 in which she pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, which is punishable by up to life in prison. She had been charged with first-degree murder, which carries mandatory life in prison, if convicted.

Maks also pleaded no contest to arson of a dwelling, a first-degree felony, and evidence tampering and resisting arrest with violence, both third-degree felonies.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida woman accused of murder and Mountain Dew ploy reaches plea