Stranger Indicted for Murder of 13-Year-Old Girl in Florida

The Tragic Discovery

The nightmare began when Rose Dieujuste’s friend discovered her cell phone and shoes abandoned on a staircase in their apartment complex. Concerned, the friend alerted Rose’s family, who immediately began searching for the missing girl. Their worst fears were confirmed when a relative found Rose barely alive in a utility closet, her body marred by a severe stab wound and signs of sexual assault. Despite efforts to save her, Rose succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, leaving her family and community devastated.

Authorities quickly released surveillance footage of a “heavy-set” man seen leaving the building where Rose was found. The man in the footage was later identified as Dorisme by his father, who recognized him and alerted the sheriff’s office. It took a week of searching before Dorisme was finally apprehended by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

A Troubled Past and a Gruesome Crime

Dorisme’s criminal history is both troubling and extensive. In 2021, he pleaded no contest in a child abuse case involving a runaway teen girl, although more severe charges of lewd or lascivious molestation were dropped. He served a year in jail for the abuse case. More recently, in June 2023, Dorisme was involved in a bizarre incident where he was found walking near a daycare with a knife, making incoherent statements about being chased and not wanting to talk to Russians. This incident led to his arrest under the Baker Act, which allows for involuntary mental health evaluation and treatment. However, prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges until the horrific stabbing of Rose Dieujuste.

During a court hearing in July, Dorisme’s defense attempted to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence, arguing that surveillance footage showing a man purchasing a knife was too grainy to definitively identify Dorisme. However, the prosecution countered by presenting damning evidence, including the fact that Dorisme’s father had identified him in the footage and that investigators found the packaging for a 12-inch knife in the utility closet where Rose was found.

A Family’s Grief

Rose Dieujuste’s death has left her family in profound grief. A GoFundMe page set up by Rose’s sister described the horrific nature of her injuries, including the large stab wound that ultimately claimed her life. In an emotional post, Rose’s sister struggled to find the words to express her heartbreak and disbelief at the tragedy that had befallen their family.

As the legal process unfolds, Dorisme remains in custody at the Orange County Jail, with no bond granted due to the severity of the charges. The case has shocked the Orlando community and highlights the devastating impact of violence on innocent lives.