Rebecca White, Orlando, Orange County mental health counselor stabbed to death by former client, Michael Smith. Male client who therapist was seeing at time of stabbing, man in his 30’s also suffered critical stab wounds. Suspect was later found dead from self inflicted wounds in suicide.
An Orange County, Florida therapist has died after she was fatally stabbed by a former client during a counseling session. A male client who the therapist was counseling was also stabbed during the attack, suffering critical injuries.
Rebecca White, 44, a licensed mental health counselor and the un-identified male client were stabbed Monday night at the therapist’s Winter Park office on Lee Road by a former client who had barged in during their session.
Former client suspect barged in on counselor while she was in session with another client
Michael Smith, 39, a former client of the licensed counselor was later found dead in an apparent murder-suicide.
The pair were attacked around 9 p.m. in the 900 block of Lee Road near Adanson Street, Orlando, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said. According to OCSO, Smith interrupted a therapy session between White and another client, demanding to speak with her, the Orlando-Sentinel reported.
Deputies say White demanded Smith, ‘who was behaving erratically,’ to leave. When White’s client, a man in his 30’s told Smith that he was calling 911, Smith produced a knife and attacked both White and the male client.
Both White and the male victim were transported to a nearby hospital, where the therapist later died from her injuries. The male client underwent surgery and remained in critical condition. Authorities said the male victim was expected to survive, WESH reported.
Who was Rebecca White of ‘Down to Earth Therapy Solutions’?
Smith who fled the scene was found deceased Tuesday morning at nearby residence at the 9000 block of Windy Ridge road from what authorities believe were self inflicted stab wounds.
Not immediately clear is the nature of White’s previous dealings with the suspect, how long Smith had been a client, what had initially brought him to White’s practice, when and why their counselor-client relationship ended and why the man had come to her office, Monday evening.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a targeted attack, with no further details released. Nearby offices were briefly locked down as authorities secured the scene.
White, who specialized in anxiety and stress therapy according to her LinkedIn profile, started her business ‘Down to Earth Therapy Solutions’ in 2022, and had worked as a licensed mental health counselor for 20 years. According to her page on Therapyden, White offered individual and couples therapy her at her office off Lee Road.
Officials have yet to release a motive.
