ORLANDO, Fla. – A 28-year-old man is accused of fatally stabbing a 13-year-old girl who was recently found inside a utility closet of an Orange County apartment complex, according to the sheriff.
Rose Dieujuste, 13, was found July 4 with “obvious signs of trauma” at a complex along South Rio Grande Avenue. 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 she was barely alive,” Mina said during a news conference. “Unfortunately, she was transported to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.”
Jerry Dorisme, 28, was arrested Thursday after the sheriff’s office released surveillance video of a man leaving the parking lot of the complex and received tips from the community, Mina said.
“Rose was on her way to visit another friend in the building in that same complex. When she was attacked, her friend found Rose’s cellphone and shoes in the staircase in that apartment building and reached out to Rose’s family,” Mina said.
The girl’s family member knocked on doors of the complex to try and find Rose, according to the sheriff.
“They entered the utility closet and then ultimately found Rose in that closet, attempted CPR and first aid on her, and she was unresponsive,” Mina said.
The sheriff said there were signs of sexual abuse, and evidence is being processed to determine if she was sexually assaulted.
Mina said surveillance video showed Dorisme following the girl at a distance while she was heading to her friend’s apartment.
“At the murder scene, detectives found the packaging of a 12-inch knife believed to be the murder weapon. So an extensive canvas of the area uncovered video from a store nearby that showed Dorisme buying that same kitchen knife from the store, the one which was used in the murder,” he said.
Dorisme was previously arrested on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child in 2020, according to the sheriff, but the charge was “ultimately dropped to child abuse.” Most recently, Mina said deputies were called about a man walking down the street with a knife. According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant, the incident happened on June 18 on Silver Star Road.
“Our deputies were able to de-escalate that situation, have him drop the knife, but he ended up punching three of our deputies. He was ultimately Baker Acted as a result of that incident,” he said.
Residents in the area told deputies he had been seen in the past watching girls in the area.
“He did not know her, but he used to live in that area. He’s very familiar with that area. He has frequented that area ... They were definitely concerned about him,” he said. “You know, other than the lewd and lascivious conduct and then the Baker Act a few weeks ago, it’s been our only contact and knowledge about him.”
Mina thanked the community for sharing tips that helped identify Dorisme, leading to his arrest.
“The community really came through. Media really came through for us, putting this picture out there, which ultimately led to his arrest ... She should not have died this way. And, you know, my heart aches for her family and her friends and her loved ones. But what we can do now is, you know, provide justice for this family moving forward,” he said.’'
The sheriff’s office shared a link on social media to a GoFundMe established to help with funeral expenses. Access it by clicking here.
Dorisme was booked in the Orange County jail on a first-degree murder charge.
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