88-Year-Old Man Accused of Killing Wife and Staging Scene to Make It Look Like She Died by Suicide: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

A photo of a North Port Police Department car.Photo:North Port Police Department

North Port Police Department vehicle

North Port Police Department

On Sunday, Jan. 26, at around 3:00 a.m. local time, North Port Police Department (NPPD) officers responded to a call in the 2700 block of Halladay Street in the Florida city “regarding a deceased individual and a reported self-inflicted death,” police said in aFacebookpost.

Miroslav Maksic mugshot.North Port Police Department

Miroslav Maksic booking photo

Per onlineinmate records, the suspect was booked into the jail on Monday, Jan. 27 at around 9:36 p.m. without bond. His arraigning date has been listed as March 14.

NPPD chief, Todd Garrison, said in the Facebook post, “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,” the chief added.

Officers said they could see the victim’s body through the window, lying in a “supine position in a pool of blood,” the outlet stated, citing a police report. The friend of the family said she had dinner with the couple the night before.

Per the report, police found a .357 Magnum revolver in Miljka’s left hand, despite the 911 caller saying her dominant hand was her right one. It allegedly looked like somebody had tried to wipe up the blood. A towel was allegedly found above the victim’s head.

The suspect was reportedly not home when officers arrived, but when police did speak with him, he allegedly changed his statement “several times,” per WFTX, citing the report.ABC Action Newsstated he appeared “to be in a state of confusion.”

A stock photo of police tape.Getty

Accident or crime scene cordon tape police line do not cross.

Getty

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

WFTX added that the medical examiner said an autopsy revealed the victim suffered from a gunshot wound in the cheek and a fatal shot to the back of the head. The bullet was thought to have been found in the same hand the gun was found in, which the medical examiner said was “inconsistent with the path of the fatal projectile.”

“Several things weren’t adding up … So, as the investigation continued it ultimately [led] to the arrest of the husband in this case,” NPPD’s Josh Taylor said, according to WFTX.

source: people.com