The quiet neighborhood of Halladay Street in North Port, Florida, awoke to flashing red and blue lights in the early hours of Sunday, January 26. What had initially been reported as a tragic suicide quickly unraveled into a chilling case of homicide, deception, and betrayal. At the center of it all was 88-year-old Miroslav Maksic, accused of taking the life of his wife, 76-year-old Miljka Maksic, and staging the crime scene in an attempt to cover his tracks.
The 911 Call
At approximately 3:00 a.m., a long-time friend of the Maksics dialed 911. Miroslav had called her, his voice trembling as he claimed that Miljka had taken her own life. Responding officers arrived at the home to find a disturbing scene. Through the window, they saw Miljka lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A .357 Magnum revolver was found in her left hand, seemingly confirming Miroslav’s claim. However, one detail stood out—Miroslav was nowhere to be found.
A Staged Crime Scene
The initial observations at the scene raised immediate suspicion. A towel was discovered near Miljka’s head, as if someone had tried to clean up the blood. Detectives began meticulously analyzing the scene, and the inconsistencies became glaring.
During questioning, Miroslav’s demeanor was perplexing. He appeared confused, his statements shifting with each retelling of events. Investigators pressed him for details, but his accounts failed to align with the physical evidence.
The Forensic Puzzle
The medical examiner’s findings ultimately shattered Miroslav’s fragile deception. Miljka had suffered two gunshot wounds: one to the cheek and a fatal shot to the back of the head. The trajectory of the fatal bullet was inconsistent with a self-inflicted wound. Even more damning, the bullet was found in her hand—the very same hand that still clutched the revolver.
Adding to the suspicion, Miljka was right-handed, yet the gun was found in her left hand. Her long-time friend, who had spoken with her just hours before the incident, affirmed that Miljka had never exhibited any suicidal tendencies.
Unraveling the Lies
As investigators pressed Miroslav, his unraveling story and erratic behavior painted a grim picture. Under the guidance of a Serbian interpreter, he continued to provide conflicting statements. The detectives knew they had enough evidence to move forward.
On Monday night, Miroslav Maksic was arrested and charged with homicide. He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail without bond.
The Community in Shock
Neighbors struggled to reconcile the image of the friendly elderly man they knew with the heinous crime he was accused of committing.
“He was super talkative, like everything seemed really good—he was a super sweet guy,” said Mike Hague, a neighbor. “We were in shock because we would never expect an older guy, like 88, to throw it all away and kill his wife.”
For the North Port Police Department, this marked the first homicide case of the year.
Chief of Staff Josh Taylor summarized the investigation succinctly: “Several things weren’t adding up. As the investigation continued, it ultimately led to the arrest of the husband in this case.”
The Motive: Still a Mystery
As the legal proceedings begin, many questions remain unanswered. What drove Miroslav to allegedly commit such a heinous act? Was it premeditated or the result of a sudden outburst? And what would justice look like for Miljka, a woman whose life ended in betrayal?
For now, North Port remains gripped by the haunting reality that evil can lurk behind even the most unassuming faces.
