QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION BOND. ALSO IN PORT SAINT LUCIE, A WOMAN IN JAIL ACCUSED OF TRYING TO KILL HER MOTHER BY SETTING HER BEDROOM DOOR ON FIRE WHILE HER MOTHER WAS IN THAT ROOM ASLEEP. POLICE SAY TWO RUSHED THROUGH THE THICK SMOKE TO RESCUE THE VICTIM. ARI HAIT HAS DETAILS OF THE ATTACK AND THE ARREST. POLICE HERE IN PORT SAINT LUCIE SAY THIS IS A VERY SAD CASE, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE MICHELLE PICARD IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO KILL HER MOTHER, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HER EXPLANATION FOR WHY SHE DID IT. THIS IS MICHELLE PICARD, 26 YEARS OLD, AND ACCORDING TO PORT SAINT LUCIE POLICE SUNDAY NIGHT, SHE TRIED TO KILL HER OWN MOTHER. THE TWO LIVED TOGETHER IN A HOME ON ROSEAU BOULEVARD. POLICE SAY AFTER HER MOTHER WENT TO BED, PICARD SET HER MOTHER’S BEDROOM DOOR ON FIRE. WHEN THE VICTIM ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, PICARD ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED HER, MADE THREATENING STATEMENTS, AND ATTEMPTED TO PUSH HER TOWARDS THE FLAMES, ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. PICARD ALSO USED A BLUNT OBJECT TO BEAT HER MOTHER. VICTIM WAS ABLE TO RETREAT TO A BATHROOM, LOCKED THE DOOR WHERE SHE CALLED 911, AND REMAINED UNTIL OFFICERS CAME AND RETRIEVED HER. BUT ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF, THE FIRE MADE RETRIEVING THE VICTIM VERY DIFFICULT. THEY COULD BARELY SEE WHERE THEY WERE GOING. IT WAS. IT WAS VERY THICK SMOKE AND THEY COULD HARDLY BREATHE. IN FACT, THE CHIEF SAYS TWO OFFICERS NEEDED TO BE TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. A THIRD OFFICER SUFFERED A SERIOUS KNEE INJURY TRYING TO ARREST PICARD. AND AS FOR WHY SHE WANTED TO KILL HER MOTHER, PICARD SAYS SHE WAS TOLD TO DO IT. SHE WAS HEARING VOICES THAT PROMPTED HER TO COMMIT THIS ACT OF VIOLENCE. SO ANIMALS WERE TALKING TO HER, AS WELL AS VOICES IN HER HEAD. WE STOPPED BY THE HOUSE AND TALKED TO MICHELLE, PICARD’S MOTHER. SHE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. AS FOR MICHELLE PICARD, SHE’S CURRENTLY IN JAIL. SHE FACES A NUMBER OF CHARGES, INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARSON. SHE’S CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN LI
Port St. Lucie woman accused of trying to kill her mother, says animals told her to do it
Updated: 11:08 PM EDT Jun 1, 2026
A Port St. Lucie woman is in jail, accused of trying to kill her mother Sunday night.Michelle Picard, 26, lives with her mother at their home on Airoso Boulevard.Police said Picard set her mother’s bedroom door on fire after she went to bed. “When the victim attempted to put the fire out, Picard allegedly attacked her, made threatening statements, and attempted to push her toward the flames,” Port St. Lucie police Chief Leo Niemczyk said. According to the police report, Picard used a blunt object to beat her mother. “The victim was able to retreat to a bathroom, lock the door, where she called 911 and remained until officers came and retrieved her,” Niemczyk said. The chief explained that the fire made rescuing the victim extremely challenging. “They could barely see where they were going. It was very thick smoke, and they could hardly breathe,” Niemczyk said. Two officers were treated for smoke inhalation, and a third officer suffered a serious knee injury while trying to arrest Picard. As for Picard’s motive, Niemczyk said she claimed she was told to commit the act. “She was hearing voices that prompted her to commit this act of violence. So, animals were talking to her as well as voices in her head,” Niemczyk said. Picard’s mother declined to comment on the incident. Michelle Picard now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and arson.Her bond was set at $510,000.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
A Port St. Lucie woman is in jail, accused of trying to kill her mother Sunday night.
Michelle Picard, 26, lives with her mother at their home on Airoso Boulevard.
Police said Picard set her mother’s bedroom door on fire after she went to bed.
“When the victim attempted to put the fire out, Picard allegedly attacked her, made threatening statements, and attempted to push her toward the flames,” Port St. Lucie police Chief Leo Niemczyk said.
According to the police report, Picard used a blunt object to beat her mother.
“The victim was able to retreat to a bathroom, lock the door, where she called 911 and remained until officers came and retrieved her,” Niemczyk said.
The chief explained that the fire made rescuing the victim extremely challenging.
“They could barely see where they were going. It was very thick smoke, and they could hardly breathe,” Niemczyk said.
Two officers were treated for smoke inhalation, and a third officer suffered a serious knee injury while trying to arrest Picard.
As for Picard’s motive, Niemczyk said she claimed she was told to commit the act.
“She was hearing voices that prompted her to commit this act of violence. So, animals were talking to her as well as voices in her head,” Niemczyk said.
Picard’s mother declined to comment on the incident.
Michelle Picard now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and arson.
Her bond was set at $510,000.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News