An 88-year-old North Port man has been charged with the homicide of his 76-year-old wife after authorities uncovered evidence suggesting he attempted to stage her death as a suicide, local police reported.
Responding to a 3 a.m. call last Sunday, North Port police arrived at the 2700 block of Halladay Street to investigate a reported self-inflicted death. What they found instead was a scene allegedly manipulated by the victim's husband, Miroslav Maksic, as per WFLA's report. According to a statement from North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison, "This is a tragic situation, but I’m thankful for the dedicated work of our investigators and the Medical Examiner’s office who worked diligently to quickly uncover the truth. Justice for the victim and loved ones is our top priority, and we remain committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions."
Further investigation by detectives, and the Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that the death of Miljka Maksic could not have been self-inflicted, leading to the arrest of Miroslav Maksic. He was taken into custody and is currently held without bond in the Sarasota County Jail, this information coming from FOX 13 News.
Additional details provided by ABC Action News mention that Miljka was found in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds and a handgun in her left hand. A friend of the deceased reported to police that Miljka was right-handed and had exhibited no suicidal tendencies, contradicting Miroslav Maksic's initial claim of suicide. Miroslav was not present when officers first arrived but showed up later in a state of confusion. The wounds found on Milijka were inconsistent with suicide, the Medical Examiner noted, further deepening suspicions regarding Maksic's involvement.
The arrest sheds light on a grim reality of domestic violence, one where alleged perpetrators may go to extreme lengths to obscure their involvement. In this ongoing investigation, the North Port Police's efforts to unravel the true circumstances behind Miljka Maksic's tragic death continue. As Miroslav Maksic awaits trial, the community grapples with the unsettling nature of the crime and the façade of normalcy that can mask darker truths within seemingly tranquil households.
