Therapist, 44, Stabbed to Death at Her Office by Former Client, Who Then Fled and Killed Himself

A Florida therapist was fatally stabbed at her office by a former client, authorities said. The suspect later fled and was found dead the next morning in what investigators believe was a suicide.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said 44-year-old Rebecca White had just finished a session with another client around 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, when Michael Smith, 39, arrived at her Orlando office demanding to speak with her, according to WESH, Florida Today and FOX 35 Orlando.

Deputies said Smith then began stabbing White and her client, a man in his 30s. The client was eventually able to call 911, and Smith ran from the scene.

White and the client were both transported to a local hospital with stab wounds. White later died from her injuries. The client, whose name has not been released, is expected to survive.

The client’s mother wrote on GoFundMe that he is expected to be left with “a scar on his mouth and other areas of his body,” along with possible nerve damage after being stabbed in the hand.

Smith’s body was discovered about 14 miles from the office building around 8 a.m. the following morning. Deputies told the outlets they believe he died by suicide.

Investigators have not yet said what led Smith to confront White.

Records obtained by FOX 35 showed Smith was a registered sex offender who was released from prison in 2022. His parole conditions required that he undergo “psychological or psychiatric evaluation geared towards someone who has committed a violent and vicious sexual battery and who has a violent anti-social personality disorder.”

According to her website, White worked as a licensed mental health counselor and ran her own practice, Down to Earth Therapy Solutions. In the aftermath of her death, her family raised concerns about security and access to the office building.

“We are struggling to understand how this could have happened,” the family told FOX 35 in a statement. “There are serious and troubling questions surrounding building access, security measures, surveillance, and how an individual was able to enter the premises during those hours.”

“This tragedy raises concerns about systematic failures that may have contributed to a situation that should never have occurred and, in our view, could have been prevented,” the family added. “Right now, our family is grieving an irreplaceable loss. We are heartbroken, angry, and searching for answers — but above all, we are mourning Rebecca.”