A man was arrested Sunday in Florida for allegedly murdering his mother after her body was discovered nearly decapitated in a dumpster outside an apartment complex, CBS News reported, citing police.
Forty-year-old Anthony Caruso was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in the alleged murder of his mother Elizabeth Caruso, according to CBS News. Miami Beach Police discovered the woman inside a dumpster in the trash room at an apartment complex on 800 Washington Avenue. They also found blood smeared throughout the apartment, including on the door to the trash room, the outlet reported.
Police had been dispatched to the apartment after Elizabeth Caruso’s son-in-law called and informed them he had not heard from her in over six hours, CBS News reported. Elizabeth Caruso had been visiting Miami Beach from New Jersey to check on her son Anthony, who had a history of mental illness, according to police.
Miami Beach Police spokesman Christopher Bess confirmed police had discovered Elizabeth’s body while speaking with NBC Miami.
“We did discover a female victim inside of a waste container. When our officers tried to make contact with the subject, he barricaded himself,” Bess told NBC Miami. An hours-long standoff reportedly occurred, prompting the apartment complex to be evacuated, before Anthony Caruso was taken into custody.
Caruso appeared in court Monday, where a judge ordered he be held without bond, CBS News reported. Records indicate Caruso was on probation at the time of his arrest after facing previous charges, including aggravated assault, battery, battery on a law enforcement officer and criminal mischief.
A report from the medical examiner indicates Elizabeth Caruso suffered severe trauma, sustained multiple fractures to her arms, hands, face, and head and was nearly decapitated, CBS News reported. (RELATED: Judge Awards Family Half A Billion Dollars In Punitive Damages After Murder Of Teen On Spring Break)
Elizabeth Caruso retired from the New Milford Public School District in New Jersey in 2021, according to NBC Miami. She served in the district as a preschool special education teacher for 25 years, the outlet reported.