Florida woman convicted of murder for beating roommate to death with a microphone stand

NAPLES, Fla. (TCN) — A woman has been convicted of second-degree murder in the 2019 death of her roommate, who was beaten to death with a cast-iron microphone stand.

On Dec. 12, the Office of the State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit, announced the second-degree murder conviction of Amanda Cook, 41, in a press release. 

In July 2019, police responded to a residence and located the body of Cook’s 64-year-old roommate, Karen Leiti, who had died of injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, WFTX reported at the time.

After the attack, Cook drove to her mother’s house. When the two returned to the scene, Cook’s mother called 911, Gulf Coast News reports. 

Cook had allegedly beaten Leiti with a 9-pound microphone stand, but when first responders arrived, Cook’s mother reportedly told them Leiti had tripped over a speaker, according to Naples Daily News.

The investigation found DNA from both Cook and the victim on the microphone stand, according to the state attorney’s office. 

During the trial, the medical examiner testified that the victim had sustained injuries comparable to those seen in high-impact car crashes.

Cook’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026. 

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