Mental health exam ordered for man accused of stabbing and killing 13-year-old girl in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Florida. – A psychiatric evaluation was ordered Monday for a man accused of stabbing a 13-year-old girl to death on July 4 after his lawyer said he was incompetent to stand trial.

Jerry Dorisme was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily harm or terrorize, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault in connection with the killing of Rose Diejuste.

According to court records, Dorisme's attorney said a doctor found Dorisme incompetent to stand trial. The state requested further evaluation and a status hearing on the case is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Dieujuste, 13, was found with “obvious signs of trauma” in a complex on South Rio Grande Avenue on July 4. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the girl was “senselessly and brutally murdered” and found half-naked in the closet.

“She had been stabbed and was barely alive,” Mina said during a press conference. “Unfortunately, she was taken to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.”

Dorisme was arrested after the sheriff's office released surveillance video of a man leaving the complex's parking lot and received tips from the public, Mina said.

“Rose was on her way to visit another friend in the same complex. When she was attacked, her friend found Rose's cell phone and shoes in the stairwell of the apartment building and contacted Rose's family,” Mina said.

Mina said surveillance video showed Dorisme following the girl from a distance as she made her way to her friend's apartment.

Dorisme was previously arrested in 2020 for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, according to the sheriff's office, but the charge was “ultimately dropped to child abuse.” Before the girl's death, Mina said, officers were called about a man walking down the street with a knife. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the incident occurred on June 18 on Silver Star Road.

Residents in the area told officers that he had been seen stalking girls in the area in the past.

“He didn't know them, but he used to live in that area. He knows it very well. He's been there a lot… They were definitely concerned about him,” he said. “You know, other than the lewd and lascivious behavior and the Baker Act a few weeks ago, that was our only contact and knowledge of him.”

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