Florida Therapist Fatally Stabbed by Former Patient in Office Attack
A Florida therapist has been brutally stabbed to death by a former client who allegedly forced his way into her office demanding an immediate session, according to authorities in Orange County. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about safety in therapeutic settings.
Violent Office Intrusion Leaves Therapist Dead
Rebecca White, a 44-year-old licensed therapist and founder of Down to Earth Therapy Solutions, was attacked on Monday evening at her practice in Orange County. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Michael Smith, 39, a former patient with a documented criminal history including sex offences and kidnapping charges, burst into White's office and demanded a therapy session.
Officers first responded to the scene at approximately 9 pm on Monday after receiving emergency calls. Upon arrival, they discovered that not only had White been stabbed, but one of her current patients had also been attacked during the violent incident. The sheriff's office confirmed that Smith stabbed the other client after that individual began calling 911 for help.
Attacker Found Dead Hours Later
While White was rushed to hospital with critical injuries, she tragically succumbed to her wounds. Her patient, however, is expected to make a full recovery according to medical assessments. Just hours after the attack, at approximately 8 am on Tuesday morning, authorities discovered Smith's body. The Orange County Sheriff's Office stated that preliminary evidence suggests he took his own life following the violent assault.
An eyewitness who observed much of the unfolding drama told local news station WESH 2 about seeing police racing to the scene. "I looked through the glass door, and I could see a big man with a red hoodie on and a woman next to him with a white shirt on," the witness recounted. "They were just standing there, and then I saw all the cops coming, they were flying each way. And then going behind the building."
Community Mourns Beloved Therapist
The sudden and violent death of Rebecca White has devastated the local community, with many of her patients and colleagues expressing profound grief and shock. Patrick Floto, who had been meeting with White for therapeutic sessions for three years, told Click Orlando that he immediately drove to her office upon hearing the news, hoping it wasn't true.
"I had to make sure it wasn't true," Floto said emotionally. "But it is." He revealed that he had spoken with White earlier on the day of the attack about scheduling a session and described her death as leaving "a hole that will never be filled." Floto added, "I think the world is a worse place without Rebecca in it."
Professional Legacy and Specialised Practice
Charlotte McCollough, a close friend of White's, shared that she has been inundated with phone calls from people expressing their appreciation for the late therapist's work. "I've received so many calls from people saying how good of a therapist she was, specifically to the area that was her specialty, the niche that she specialized in," McCollough told WFTV9.
Rebecca White founded Down to Earth Therapy Solutions in 2022, though she had been working in the mental health field since 2008. Her professional background included serving as a behavioral health consultant for the Florida Department of Children and Families and working as a family therapist before establishing her own practice.
Her most recent practice specialized in individual, couples, and sex therapy, with White describing her approach as creating a "judgment-free environment" for her clients. In her professional biography, she wrote: "I have a depth of knowledge about mental health issues and combine that with a compassionate approach to help you navigate a path worth walking. I create a judgment-free environment and guide clients towards taking positive actions that are essential to creating a new reality."
McCollough added her own tribute to her friend's professional dedication: "This has been devastating for our community as well as therapists and for me personally. Rebecca was an excellent therapist."
The Independent has contacted the Orange County Sheriff's Office for further comment on the investigation.
Mental Health Support Resources
For those experiencing feelings of distress or struggling to cope with this news or other mental health challenges, support is available through several confidential channels. In the UK and Republic of Ireland, the Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org. Their website provides details of local branches.
In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For individuals in other countries, the website www.befrienders.org provides information about helplines available in various regions worldwide.
