Nichole Maks, 37, pleaded no contest on February 27, 2025, to charges of second-degree murder, arson of a dwelling, resisting with violence, and tampering with evidence. She received the minimum sentence for her charges.
The Crime
Authorities responded to a fire at a residence around 1:46 a.m. on July 1, 2023. Inside, they discovered the body of a 79-year-old man on the second floor, who had blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds.
A bloody knife and two cell phones, one belonging to Maks, were found near the victim’s body. However, Maks was not present when police arrived.
The Arrest
At 3 a.m., officers found Maks walking barefoot near a restaurant, carrying a knife and hammer. She had blood on her legs and a ripped shirt. Initially, Maks denied knowing the victim and claimed to have been homeless for four years, but later admitted they lived together.
During questioning, Maks stated she had never entered the victim’s room but sometimes went upstairs to “feed her spiders.”
The Attempt to Destroy Evidence
When officers attempted to collect a DNA sample, Maks asked for a Diet Mountain Dew. She then poured the soda over her body and hair, seemingly to interfere with forensic testing. Maks also resisted arrest, leading to additional charges of tampering with evidence and resisting with violence.
Despite her efforts, investigators matched Maks’ DNA to the knife found near the victim.
Sentencing
Maks was arrested in 2023 and later pleaded no contest to the charges. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison on February 27, 2025.
