ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A mental evaluation was ordered Monday for a man accused of stabbing a 13-year-old girl to death on the Fourth of July after his attorney said he was unfit 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 battery and attempted sexual battery in the death of Rose Diejuste.
According to court records, Dorisme’s attorney said a doctor found Dorisme incompetent to stand trial. The state requested another evaluation with a status hearing set for Oct. 17.
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.”
Dorisme was arrested 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.
Mina said surveillance video showed Dorisme following the girl at a distance while she was heading to her friend’s apartment.
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.” Prior to the girl’s death, 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.
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.”
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: