Miami police have arrested Stefano Cremasco Cicero, 36, the operating manager of the 1986 Steak House in Coconut Grove, for the murder of his mother. Officers responded to an "unknown request" at the Solitare Brickell apartment building around 5 a.m. on Friday and found Cicero in the lobby with blood on his hands, clothing, and shoes.
Cicero reportedly told officers, "I was defending myself," before leading them to his 47th-floor apartment. Inside, they discovered an unnamed woman suffering from stab wounds. The victim was identified as Cicero's mother and was pronounced dead at 5:08 a.m.
A food delivery driver told police she was dropping off an order to the apartment when Cicero, in the lobby, asked her to call 911. She entered the lobby and heard Cicero speaking to the dispatcher before he handed the phone to her. The witness observed blood on him and later gave the phone to officers after Cicero refused to take it back.
Apartment Search and Surveillance Footage
Following a warrant to search the residence, police found several silver kitchen knives with blood on them, two bloodstained white shirts, a broken wine bottle, and shattered glass.
Surveillance footage and key fob records indicated that Cicero and his mother returned to the apartment building together around 10:30 p.m. the previous night. They were alone in the elevator.
At approximately 4:25 a.m., footage showed Cicero entering an elevator wearing a white shirt, white shoes, and khaki pants, all appearing to be bloodstained. He was also seen holding a knife. He exited the elevator, dropped the knife, then picked it up before entering another elevator to go upstairs. Later, at 4:40 a.m., Cicero was seen re-entering an elevator, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, before exiting the building and using his phone. He returned to the lobby shortly after and sat on the couch before interacting with the delivery driver.
Cicero was arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correction Center. He has been charged with second-degree murder. He is currently on an immigration hold as he is in the U.S. on an investor visa.
Personal and Family Context
Cicero, born in Mexico and of Argentine descent, has managed the upscale 1986 Steak House, which opened in May. His wife, who is listed on the apartment lease with him, stated she was in France for a wedding at the time of the incident. She confirmed Cicero's mother had traveled from Mexico and was staying with her son.
According to police, Cicero's wife mentioned that he and his mother did not have a close relationship following her and his father's divorce. She was unaware of any mental illnesses but noted that Cicero had been stressed about the new restaurant's opening. Cicero and his wife became engaged in October 2023 and had a wedding in Italy in June 2025.