A man has been arrested after his mother’s body was found in a garbage container in Miami Beach: Here’s what we know

Miami Beach police arrested 40-year-old Anthony Rosario Caruso this weekend after finding the lifeless body of his mother, Elizabeth Caruso, inside a trash container in Miami Beach.

The dramatic discovery took place inside a Blackstone apartment complex, located at the intersection of Eighth Street and Washington Avenue, in South Beach, Miami Beach.

The body was discovered after the victim's relatives, concerned about not having heard from her for over six hours, requested a welfare check.

Elizabeth, who resided in New Jersey, had recently traveled to southern Florida with the aim of checking on her son's health.

A trail of blood led to the grim discovery

The police officers arrived at the scene around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, and upon arriving, they detected bloodstains on the door of Anthony Caruso's apartment, as well as on the floor of the hallway leading to the garbage room.

According to authorities, upon inspecting the area, they found "traces of blood on the walls and floor" of the trash room.

Upon forcing access to the space housing the container, they discovered the lifeless body of Elizabeth Caruso inside.

"There was a trail of blood leading from that apartment to the trash chute, then going down the trash chute and into the waste container," detailed Officer Christopher Bess, police spokesperson, in statements reported by the local press.

The container was later removed from the scene by a crane, covered with a yellow sheet, while several evidence markers were placed on the adjacent sidewalk.

Among the items collected by the researchers were articles of clothing and a towel hanging from a tree.

An eight-hour standoff and a violent arrest

The agents initially attempted to contact Caruso at his apartment without getting a response.

Due to the lack of cooperation, the intervention of the SWAT teams and Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) was requested.

For the next eight hours, the suspect remained barricaded in his home.

The building was evacuated as a precautionary measure, and the surrounding streets were closed off.

Finally, the authorities managed to enter the apartment after obtaining a search warrant.

Due to Caruso's refusal to surrender, it was necessary to use a taser and a police dog to subdue him.

Caruso suffered an injury to his right arm during the operation, so he was transferred to a hospital before being taken to the Miami Beach police headquarters.

Once arrested, he chose not to make a statement to the officers.

A brutal and still unexplained death

The forensic report revealed shocking details about the murder.

Elizabeth Caruso sustained severe injuries to her neck, nearly to the point of being decapitated, as well as multiple fractures in her arms, hands, face, and head.

Although the exact circumstances of the crime are still under investigation, detectives have indicated that Anthony Caruso may suffer from a mental illness, which is being considered as part of the inquiry.

"She flew in from out of state to see how her son was doing, whom we believe suffers from a mental illness," the police spokesperson noted.

So far, Caruso is facing second-degree murder charges with a weapon and remains in custody awaiting his judicial process.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Miami Beach Murder Case