MIAMI, Fla. — A routine food delivery at a Brickell high-rise reportedly turned into the beginning of a homicide investigation after a restaurant manager allegedly asked the delivery driver to call 911 following the death of his mother.
Stefano Cremasco Cicero, 36, was arrested shortly after 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at the Solitair Brickell Apartments, where police say the alleged stabbing occurred.
He has been charged with second-degree murder with a weapon in connection with his mother’s death. Miami Police spokesperson Kenia Fallat said investigators believe the incident appears to have been isolated.
“Everything points as to that the incident that took place is definitely isolated and maybe domestic,” Fallat said, according to NBC Miami.
Delivery Driver Asked to Call 911
According to an arrest affidavit officers were called to the high-rise after Cremasco Cicero allegedly approached a food-delivery driver in the lobby.
The driver was reportedly at the building to deliver an order when Cremasco Cicero let her inside and asked her to call 911.
According to the affidavit, he called 911 and handed his phone to the woman. She spoke with the dispatcher and attempted to return the phone to him, but he allegedly refused to take it back.
When officers arrived, the delivery driver reportedly handed the phone to police. The unusual encounter quickly led officers upstairs to Cremasco Cicero’s apartment.
Mother Found Dead Inside 47th-Floor Apartment
At the apartment, officers allegedly spoke with Cremasco Cicero, who reportedly told them, “I was defending myself.” Investigators then entered the apartment and discovered his mother behind the entry door.
According to the arrest affidavit, the woman was found covered in blood and suffering from multiple apparent stab wounds. Investigators also reportedly found several kitchen knives with blood residue inside the apartment.
The woman’s identity has not been included in the information provided, but authorities said she was Cremasco Cicero’s mother and had been visiting from Mexico.
Her death is now at the center of the homicide investigation.
Surveillance Footage Raises Questions
Investigators are also examining surveillance footage from the apartment complex as they piece together the timeline. According to the affidavit, Cremasco Cicero and his mother were allegedly seen returning to the apartment at approximately 10:32 p.m.
Several hours later, surveillance footage reportedly showed Cremasco Cicero entering an elevator alone around 4:26 a.m. Investigators allege that he was wearing bloody clothing and carrying a knife at the time.
The footage could provide important information about what happened inside the apartment during the hours between the pair’s return and Cremasco Cicero’s appearance in the elevator.
Authorities have not publicly established a complete account of what led to the fatal confrontation.
Wife Was in Paris During Investigation
Investigators also contacted Cremasco Cicero’s wife, who was reportedly in Paris when the incident occurred. According to the affidavit, she told investigators that Cremasco Cicero and his mother “were not close” following his parents’ divorce.
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The affidavit also reportedly indicated that Cremasco Cicero had been under significant stress because of the opening of a new Argentinian restaurant in Coconut Grove.
However, stress surrounding work has not been identified as a confirmed motive for the alleged killing. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and what happened before the woman’s death.
Murder Charge and Immigration Hold
Cremasco Cicero was taken into custody and now faces a second-degree murder charge with a weapon. Miami-Dade jail records also indicate that he is being held under an immigration hold.
Authorities have described the case as an isolated incident, but the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish exactly what happened inside the high-rise apartment.
The case has drawn attention not only because of the alleged killing but also because of the unusual sequence of events that followed, including the defendant’s reported request for a delivery driver to contact emergency services.
As investigators continue examining surveillance footage, physical evidence and witness statements, additional details could emerge about the events leading up to the mother’s death.
What do you think about the unusual circumstances surrounding this case? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
