Kamal Ghorui
A Florida therapist was stabbed to death after an enraged former patient forced his way into her office during an evening session, authorities said. Rebecca White, 44, was attacked late Monday at her Orange County practice when Michael Smith, 39, arrived unannounced, demanding to speak with her, WESH reported.According to investigators, White asked Smith to leave and called 911. Moments later, Smith allegedly stabbed White and then attacked another patient who attempted to intervene. White was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The other victim, a man in his 30s, underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition but is expected to recover.Smith fled the scene and was found dead by suicide several hours later. Authorities have not released details about how he died or what prompted the attack.White, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, had worked in the field since 2008 and founded her Orlando-based practice, Down to Earth Therapy Solutions, in 2022. She previously served as a family therapist and as a behavioural health consultant for the Florida Department of Children and Families. On her website, White described her approach as compassionate and judgment-free, focused on helping clients move beyond survival toward thriving.White’s fellow therapists also expressed grief over her death. Taking to X, one wrote, “Heartbroken over the tragic stabbing death of 44-year-old therapist Rebecca White, a few blocks from my office, on Jan. 19 by a former client.” The post added that White “was compassionately helping someone in pain when violence struck,” and noted that another client was also seriously injured in the attack.In a statement released to FOX 35, White’s family questioned building access and security measures at the office, raising concerns about how an individual was able to enter the premises after hours. “We are heartbroken, angry, and searching for answers,” the family said, calling the loss “irreplaceable” and potentially preventable.Florida records show Smith was a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history. He had previously served 22 years in prison following convictions in 2003 for kidnapping, burglary, and two counts of sexual battery stemming from a violent home invasion in West Palm Beach. Authorities confirmed that DNA evidence linked Smith to that earlier crime. The investigation into the fatal attack remains ongoing.
