Authorities in Florida are still investigating the motive for a 26-year-old man breaking into an apartment in a luxury high-rise in Miami and murdering a sleeping 17-year-old boy.
According to Miami police, Kyrill R. Kehl, 26, stabbed 17-year-old Dominic Ferrell to death while he was sleeping in his father’s 34th floor apartment at Icon Residences early Sunday morning. Police believe he slipped into the building.
“We know the suspect was in the lobby for a bit before some residents went on the elevator,” Miami police Officer Michael Vega told local CBS affiliate WFOR. “He tagged along with them and went up to the 47th floor, knocking on doors and attempting to open them. He eventually descended to the 34th floor. He goes to the victim’s apartment and opens the door because it was unlocked. He then goes into the 17-year-old’s bedroom and stabs him to death.
Kehl ran to an adjacent building that was under construction and jumped or fell about 100 feet to his death, according to Vega.
According to Vega, police “know for a fact” that the two did not know each other. Kehl may have had mental health issues, and police are awaiting a toxicology report, Vega said.
Police say Kehl arrived in South Florida from Arizona a few days before the murder. According to one landlord interviewed by Fox affiliate WSVN, Kehl spent some time in the Sunshine State in 2024.
The landlord, identified only as Christian, stated that he rented an apartment to Kehl for a few months last year. He said he noticed something was wrong with Kehl almost immediately.
“The guy had this stare, like, if looks could kill,” Christian told the outlet.
Kehl’s apartment was filthy, with large packages of meat in the refrigerator.
“And the smell. I asked, ‘How could anyone live in here with this smell? “It smells like something is rotting,” the landlord explained. “When I opened the fridge, there were not only packs of meat, but also maggots and hundreds of flies. It felt like something out of a horror film.”
Kehl reminded Christian of a well-known serial killer.
“I had this strange feeling of liking, Dahmer. I literally thought, ‘Oh my God, we’re dealing with Dahmer here.’ “I get Jeffrey Dahmer vibes,” he told WSVN. “I just had these instincts that told me, ‘this guy is not a good guy.'”
Kehl launched a GoFundMe campaign in November, asking people to help him raise funds “with the purpose of researching ancient cultures for the common threads that helped them to be so successful in their time.”
“During my initial travels within India, I also encountered some of the most impoverished communities on the planet,” he explained. “I’ve noticed that there are still some common character values that bring people together to survive in contentment despite extremely difficult circumstances. Even in the most desperate poverty, I’ve seen people band together to compassionately support one another for generations, demonstrating their dedication to their entire community.”
The fundraiser only raised approximately $3,200 of its stated $12,000 goal.
Ferrell was a rising senior at Miami Beach Senior High School who aspired to attend the University of Florida and start a business in New York City, according to his obituary.
“Dominic was magical; people were drawn to him. “He was an old soul—respectful, thoughtful, and genuine,” the obituary read. “He would come into your home, shake your hand, look you in the eyes, and ask how you were doing — and he truly meant it. His quick wit and intelligence made him an excellent conversationalist with adults, and he always exuded confidence, charm, and a sharp sense of humor.”
