Rebecca White built her life around helping people feel safe, heard, and grounded. On the night of Jan. 19, that commitment cost her everything.

White, a 44-year-old licensed mental health counselor, was fatally stabbed inside her Orlando therapy office after a former client arrived demanding to see her, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. She had just finished a session with another client around 9 p.m. when the man entered the office.

Authorities said the former client, 39-year-old Michael Smith, attacked White and her current client, a man in his 30s, repeatedly stabbing both before fleeing the scene. The surviving client managed to call 911. Both victims were rushed to a local hospital, where White later died from her injuries. The client is expected to survive.

White was the owner and practitioner behind Down to Earth Therapy Solutions, a private practice where she worked one-on-one with clients seeking mental health care. Friends and family describe her as deeply committed to her work and to the people she served.

The following morning, Smith’s body was discovered roughly 14 miles from the office. Investigators believe he died by suicide. Authorities have not publicly explained what prompted him to confront White that night.

Records obtained by local outlets show Smith was a registered sex offender who had been released from prison in 2022. As part of his parole, he was required to undergo psychological or psychiatric evaluation tailored to someone with a history of violent sexual offenses and antisocial behavior.

In the aftermath, White’s family has shifted focus not only to their grief, but to unanswered questions about safety and access at the office building where she worked late hours.

“We are struggling to understand how this could have happened,” the family said in a statement to FOX 35 Orlando. “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.”

They added that the tragedy raises broader concerns about systemic failures that may have contributed to a situation they believe could have been prevented.

“Right now, our family is grieving an irreplaceable loss,” the statement continued. “We are heartbroken, angry, and searching for answers — but above all, we are mourning Rebecca.”

The surviving client faces a long recovery. According to his mother, he suffered stab wounds to his face and hand, leaving scars and possible nerve damage. But the emotional toll of surviving an attack in what should have been a safe, therapeutic space remains immeasurable.