Investigators say the suspect, identified as Michael Smith, 39, was found dead by suicide the next day.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A licensed mental health counselor was fatally stabbed Monday night inside her Orange County office after a former client burst into an ongoing session and attacked her, deputies said. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Rebecca White, 44, and the suspect as Michael Smith, 39.
Authorities say the attack unfolded at an office building in the 900 block of Lee Road, near Adanson Street, shortly after 9 p.m. Monday. They said Smith interrupted a therapy session between White and another client, demanded to speak with her and, when told to leave, stabbed White multiple times. The second client, a man, was also stabbed and underwent surgery. Investigators said Smith was found dead Tuesday, adding that evidence indicates he died by suicide. The sheriff’s office has not released a motive, and detectives are reviewing statements, security video and prior contacts between the suspect and the victim as part of the ongoing investigation.
Deputies said the sequence began when Smith entered the suite and confronted White. White told him to leave, and the confrontation turned violent. Paramedics took White to a hospital, where she later died. The second victim was transported in critical condition and has since stabilized after surgery, according to deputies. “This remains an active investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a written statement. Investigators said Smith fled after the stabbing. He was found the next morning during a search that included patrol units and detectives following tips about his whereabouts.
Records show White practiced in the Orlando area and met clients at the Lee Road office. Investigators identified Smith as a former client, and court documents indicate he had prior felony convictions, including a rape case involving a knife. Deputies said those past convictions are part of the review but stopped short of linking them to a motive. Authorities have not named the surviving victim and did not release the person’s age, citing privacy. Detectives also did not detail precisely where Smith was found dead. As of Friday, no additional suspects were being sought, and investigators said there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The office building where the attack occurred sits along a busy commercial corridor between Orlando and Winter Park. Deputies responded to multiple 911 calls, and businesses nearby reported a heavy law enforcement presence Monday night as crime scene technicians collected evidence. The sheriff’s office said it is reviewing building security footage and interviewing witnesses who were in nearby suites when the disturbance began. White was well-known among local clinicians and, colleagues said, often worked with clients managing complex histories. Friends and peers described her as a dedicated professional focused on helping people long term.
Detectives said they are constructing a minute-by-minute timeline from 8:45 p.m. Monday through midmorning Tuesday, when Smith was found dead. The medical examiner is conducting autopsies for White and Smith. Investigators said they are processing forensic evidence, including a knife recovered at the scene, and will forward their findings to the state attorney’s office. Officials said updates will be released as major milestones occur, including the medical examiner’s reports and any public records releases from the sheriff’s office in the coming days.
On Thursday, flowers and candles were placed outside the office entrance. A clinician who works nearby said the normally quiet hallway turned into a cluster of flashing lights and hurried footsteps as deputies arrived. A store employee next door said the building locked down as investigators moved people away from the suite. Colleagues said White supported clients others might not take and had recently expanded her practice to meet demand. “She believed people could change,” one peer said, “and she showed up for them.”
As of late Friday, deputies said the homicide investigation remains open while they await final autopsy results and complete interviews. The next update is expected after the medical examiner issues findings early next week.
Author note: Last updated January 25, 2026.