NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – On Thursday, a man surrendered himself to the police after being accused of fatally stabbing his stepmother in North Miami Beach almost three weeks ago.
Based on a report from the North Miami Beach police, officers were investigating the death of Connie Cuesta, a 64-year-old woman, on June 11. The incident occurred at an apartment near the 3700 block of Northeast 169th Street.
Upon arrival, the police spoke with Connie Cuesta’s spouse and her 36-year-old stepson, Sean Michael Cuesta, who was waiting outside the apartment. According to the victim’s spouse, he discovered Connie lying unconscious on the floor in the master bedroom, face down, without a shirt, and with her pants lowered to her knees.
The victim’s spouse informed the investigators that Connie was “cold to the touch.” During the investigation, a family friend mentioned receiving a call from the victim’s spouse on the evening of June 11, reporting that something was wrong with Connie. The family friend arrived at the apartment and saw Connie’s body lying unconscious and face down in the master bedroom.
Another witness, the victim’s neighbor, was present when the officers arrived. The neighbor stated that he heard loud banging and yelling coming from Cuesta’s apartment. He approached the victim’s spouse and informed him about the noise before calling 911.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived at the scene around 9:15 p.m. and pronounced the victim dead. Following an interview with Sean Cuesta on June 12, the police noticed visible scratches on his arms and a forehead laceration. Sean Cuesta claimed to be the victim’s son and stated that he had been intermittently living with her for many years.
Further investigation revealed that on June 11, Sean Cuesta and the victim had a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation, with Sean throwing items inside the apartment. He proceeded to strike the victim’s head and face with various blunt objects, including empty wine bottles found near her body.
One of the wine bottles had a towel wrapped around its neck. Additionally, Sean Cuesta stabbed the victim four times in the left temple with a black knife found at the scene inside his backpack, which contained his belongings.
According to the police report, the victim’s extensive injuries, resulting from Sean Cuesta’s actions, led to severe bleeding throughout the living room and master bedroom. Sean attempted to clean up the blood using a towel and a green rag before showering, changing clothes, and leaving the residence.
The autopsy conducted by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim died from internal bleeding caused by laceration of all internal organs due to blunt force trauma.
After leaving the North Miami Beach Police Station, Sean Cuesta went to his aunt’s home in Hialeah. Concerned about his behavior, the family contacted the Miami-Dade police, who took him into custody under the Baker Act statute. He was later transferred to Citrus Health facility in Hialeah.
On June 16, Sean Cuesta called his aunt from a gas station in Hialeah and confessed, saying, “I killed my mother.” He was subsequently released from Citrus Health Facility before surrendering himself to the police on Thursday, just before 11 a.m.
Neighbors reported hearing loud noises from Cuesta’s home on the night of the incident. Sean Cuesta has been processed at the North Miami Beach Police Station and is currently held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and domestic battery by strangulation.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the North Miami Beach Police Department at 305-949-5500.
