Stefano Cremasco-Cicero, aged 36, faced a Miami-Dade court on Sunday, charged with fatally stabbing his mother in a luxury apartment at the Solitair Brickell building. His sole explanation to detectives was, "I was defending myself."
According to an arrest report detailed by Telemundo 51, Miami police officers arrived at the 50-story skyscraper on Southwest 8th Street shortly after 4:45 a.m. on Friday following a 911 call. They discovered the victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, with multiple stab wounds in the apartment on the 47th floor. Miami Fire Rescue personnel declared her deceased around 5:05 a.m.
Surveillance footage captured Cremasco-Cicero and his mother taking the elevator to the 47th floor around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. Hours later, the video shows him entering the elevator with blood-stained clothing and holding a knife, which he dropped and picked up again. He changed clothes, exited the building, walked down the street while talking on the phone, and later returned to the lobby.
A food delivery driver, at Cremasco-Cicero's request, dialed 911 after he opened the lobby door and sought assistance. She observed blood on him. When detectives confronted Cremasco-Cicero, he reiterated his claim: "I was defending myself."
During a search of the apartment, investigators discovered several blood-stained kitchen knives and two T-shirts with blood splatters.
The accused's wife, who was in France attending a wedding, informed detectives that Cremasco-Cicero's mother was visiting from Mexico and the pair had plans for dinner that night. She also disclosed that the mother-son relationship had been strained since the parents' divorce, and that he was under stress due to the opening of a new restaurant in Coconut Grove.
Business records from Florida indicate Cremasco-Cicero is a manager at 1986 Steak House, an Argentine-inspired restaurant located in Mayfair Plaza, Coconut Grove, which launched in May 2026. He also held the position of operations manager for the U.S. division of Grupo Orfano, a hospitality group with 18 establishments across Mexico, the United States, and Argentina.
Cremasco-Cicero and his wife have been listed on the lease of the Solitair apartment since July 2024, and he held an investor visa. Following his arrest, he was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
On Sunday, Judge Lissette De La Rosa denied bail for Cremasco-Cicero, who appeared in court wearing a green protective gown. Prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder with a weapon, a crime in Florida that can result in a life sentence. Additionally, he faces an immigration hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Recent years have seen other cases in South Florida where sons have been accused of fatally attacking their mothers, such as Cuban teenager Derek Rosa in Hialeah in October 2023 and a young man in Sunrise in 2025, highlighting the prevalence of such familial crimes reaching regional courts.
The pretrial detention hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, before Circuit Judge Ellen Sue Venzer, who has been assigned to the case.
Understanding Familial Crimes in South Florida
What charges is Stefano Cremasco-Cicero facing?
Stefano Cremasco-Cicero is charged with second-degree murder with a weapon, a serious offense that could lead to a life sentence in Florida.
What evidence links Cremasco-Cicero to the crime?
Surveillance footage shows Cremasco-Cicero with blood on his clothes, holding a knife, and leaving the crime scene. Investigators also found blood-stained knives and clothing in the apartment.
How common are familial crimes in South Florida?
Familial crimes, particularly those involving children attacking parents, have been recurring in South Florida, as evidenced by recent cases brought to local courts.