Teen was staying with dad in Brickell condo when he was stabbed by stranger: court records
The teen stabbed to death while he was sleeping in a luxury Brickell condo over the weekend was staying with his father at the time he was attacked by a stranger who later fell to his death at a neighboring building, according to court records.
Miami Police found the body of 17-year-old Dominic Ferrell early Sunday morning on the 34th floor of Tower 3 of the Icon Residences by SS Vacation Rentals, 485 Brickell Ave. He had been stabbed brutally with a kitchen knife, according to a law enforcement source. He was a student at Miami Beach Senior High.
In court documents, Dominic’s mother Christine Maron said Dominic, the eldest of four, was staying with his father, Jon Ferrell, at the Icon Residences when he was stabbed while sleeping at 2:15 a.m. The father was asleep in the condo with him, Maron said, according to the documents.
Dominic’s father wasn’t supposed to have contact with him or his three siblings because Maron had a temporary restraining order against him, granted by a Miami-Dade judge in May. The restraining order was set to expire on June 23.
Dominic visited his father against Maron’s wishes, Maron’s court filing says.
READ MORE: Fatal stabbing at luxury Brickell high-rise appears to be random, police say
Dominic’s parents have been going through a contentious divorce since May, court records show. On Tuesday, Maron asked a judge to allow her to obtain Dominic’s body for a service and burial, stating she is “afraid for both herself and her surviving children.” The judge granted her request.
Miami attorney Robert Barrar, who is representing Maron in her divorce, declined to comment and said the family was not talking.
Witnesses and surveillance footage show the suspect, identified by Miami Police as 26-year-old Kyrill R. Kehl, running into a neighboring building that was under construction. Police followed a trail of blood and discovered that Kehl had fallen to his death. Police say it’s unclear whether the fall was intentional or accidental.
Kehl, whose last known address was in Arizona, arrived in Miami a few days before the stabbing. Police say they don’t know how he got here.
Security breached
Kehl entered Tower 3 through the lobby, which is open to the public. Tower 3 has both condo units, some of which are rented through Airbnb, and hotel rooms as the W Miami Hotel is located there.
Kehl waited until two men went up on the elevator, Miami Police spokesperson Officer Mike Vega said. He then went up to the 47th floor, before making his way down to the 34th floor.
“[Kehl] tried different doors to see if they were unlocked,” Vega said.
Kehl found the door unlocked on the 34th floor. He entered the condo, grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Dominic while his father slept, a law enforcement source told the Miami Herald.
Police suspect that the 26-year-old’s potential mental health issues played a part, but Vega said toxicology results confirming whether drugs and alcohol were involved won’t be available for months.
A resident at the Icon said Wednesday she had received an email from Icon management, telling people to “be more conscious of their surroundings, make sure we close the doors on the balconies, which the police already put out in the public news.”
The resident, who has lived in Tower 1 for eight years, did not want to be named.
She also talked about how residents were concerned about their safety.
“We don’t really feel secure anywhere .... there is very little police presence.”
The Icon did not respond Wednesday to repeated queries from the Herald.
Classmates remember Dominic
Dominic was an alumnus of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, a preschool to middle school located at 1435 SW 12th Ave.
In a video posted to the school’s social media, Dominic can be seen wearing a blue cap and saying he started at the school when he was 13 in the eighth grade.
“My best memory has been being dropped off at school with my family to support me,” Dominic tells the camera. “St Peter and Paul means happiness to me because it has supported me getting friends.”
Saints Peter and Paul commemorated his loss via Instagram on Tuesday evening.
Hundreds of comments were left on the Catholic school’s post.
“This doesn’t feel real,” one comment left by designedbymadonnaa read. “I had math class with him and i remember him being so well mannered and just a great character in general.”
A tribute to Dominic was also shared on Miami Beach Senior High School’s athletics social media.
“With heavy hearts, we remember our fellow Hi-Tide,” the post read. “Their spirit will forever be part of our school.”
Miami Herald writer Isabel Rivera contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM.
