Orange County was shaken late Monday night after a deadly stabbing inside a mental health counseling office claimed the life of a well-known therapist and left another man fighting to survive. The violence unfolded quietly, behind closed doors, in a place meant for healing.
Deputies said the attack happened around 9 p.m. on January 19, 2026, at an office building in the 900 block of Lee Road. Inside was 44-year-old Rebecca White, a licensed mental health counselor who had spent years helping others navigate trauma and pain. That night, she became the victim of a brutal act she never saw coming.
Investigators said White was stabbed during the incident and rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries. News of her death spread quickly through the local mental health community, leaving colleagues and clients stunned and grieving.
A second victim, a man in his 30s, was also stabbed while trying to step in and stop the attack. Authorities said he had just finished a therapy session with White moments earlier. In the chaos, the wounded man managed to call 911 himself, reporting the stabbing and begging for help. He was taken into surgery and is expected to recover.
According to deputies, the suspect was Michael Smith, a former client of White. Investigators said Smith showed up at the office demanding to see her. When White refused to let him inside, Smith allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked both her and the man before fleeing the scene.
Hours later, the case took another dark turn. Around 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, deputies located Smith’s body. Preliminary findings indicate he died by apparent suicide, bringing the manhunt to a sudden end but leaving many questions unanswered.
The investigation is still ongoing as authorities work to piece together what led up to the deadly confrontation. For now, Orange County is left mourning a therapist who dedicated her life to helping others, only to lose her own in a sudden, violent moment that has rattled the community.
