Florida Man Arrested for Mother’s Murder After Body Found in Miami Beach Trash

Anthony Caruso, a 40-year-old man from Miami Beach, has been charged with second-degree murder after police discovered the body of his mother, Elizabeth Caruso, in a trash chute at his apartment complex. Elizabeth, a retired schoolteacher from New Jersey who had come to visit her son, was found with severe neck injuries nearly causing decapitation and multiple bone fractures. Police responded to a welfare check after a relative expressed concern due to lack of contact, finding blood smeared from the apartment door to the trash room. Caruso barricaded himself in his apartment for several hours, leading to an evacuation and intervention by SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams before his arrest, during which he resisted and was subdued. Authorities are investigating the circumstances, noting Caruso's possible mental illness and additional charges including assault and arson. The New Milford School District honored Elizabeth Caruso's 25 years of service as a special education teacher, highlighting her legacy of respect and admiration.