{"id":125661,"date":"2026-01-21T00:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/125661\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T00:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:55:12","slug":"former-client-stabs-counselor-to-death-florida-sheriff-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/125661\/","title":{"rendered":"Former client stabs counselor to death, Florida sheriff says"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA woman who was a mental health counselor was stabbed to death by a former client, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.The double stabbing happened at an office building on Lee Road on Monday night, leaving the woman dead and another person critically injured.Michael Smith, 39, a former client of the licensed counselor who works in the office building, has been identified as the suspect. He was found dead just before 8 a.m. near the 9000 block of Windy Ridge Road on Tuesday. Deputies say he died by suicide.According to OCSO, Smith interrupted a therapy session between Rebecca White, the counselor, and another client, demanding to speak with her.Deputies say White immediately addressed Smith and told him to leave. When the male victim, White’s client, told Smith that he was calling 911, Smith produced a knife and attacked them both. BackgroundJust after 9 p.m. on Monday, deputies responded to the scene where they discovered White with “significant injuries,” according to OCSO. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.OCSO said the second victim was also transported to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Deputies say the man in his 30s underwent surgery and is expected to recover.The attack occurred during a large gathering inside the building, located near Adanson Street and west of I-4. Witnesses described the chaotic scene as deputies arrived. “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, and I couldn’t see what was really going on,” a woman at the scene said. “They were just standing there, and then I saw all the cops coming, they were flying each way. And then going behind the building.”\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A woman who was a mental health counselor was stabbed to death by a former client, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The double stabbing happened at an office building on Lee Road on Monday night, leaving the woman dead and another person critically injured.<\/p>\n

Michael Smith, 39, a former client of the licensed counselor who works in the office building, has been identified as the suspect. He was found dead just before 8 a.m. near the 9000 block of Windy Ridge Road on Tuesday. Deputies say he died by suicide.<\/p>\n

According to OCSO, Smith interrupted a therapy session between Rebecca White, the counselor, and another client, demanding to speak with her.<\/p>\n

Deputies say White immediately addressed Smith and told him to leave. When the male victim, White’s client, told Smith that he was calling 911, Smith produced a knife and attacked them both. <\/p>\n

Background<\/p>\n

Just after 9 p.m. on Monday, deputies responded to the scene where they discovered White with “significant injuries,” according to OCSO. <\/p>\n

She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.<\/p>\n

OCSO said the second victim was also transported to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Deputies say the man in his 30s underwent surgery and is expected to recover.<\/p>\n

The attack occurred during a large gathering inside the building, located near Adanson Street and west of I-4. <\/p>\n

Witnesses described the chaotic scene as deputies arrived. <\/p>\n

“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, and I couldn’t see what was really going on,” a woman at the scene said. “They were just standing there, and then I saw all the cops coming, they were flying each way. And then going behind the building.”<\/p>\n

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