Suspect arrested after fatal knife attack on teenager found in closet in Florida

A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal stabbing attack of 13-year-old Rose Dieujuste. The 13-year-old was found “partially naked” in a closet before her death, authorities said.

Rose was on her way to her friend’s apartment, a building in the same Orlando apartment complex where she lived, when she was attacked on July 4, WESH reported.

“Her friend found Rose’s cell phone and shoes in the stairwell of the apartment building and contacted Rose’s family,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina told reporters.

“A family member was knocking on doors to see if they could find Rose,” he continued. “And then they entered the utility room and eventually found Rose in this closet.”

The teenager was “partially naked and barely alive” at the time, Mina said. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Investigators are trying to find out whether she was sexually abused.

“Rose’s murder has shocked our community and our agency – every time a child is murdered, we all mourn together,” Mina said.

The murder sparked an intense manhunt for the suspected killer, 28-year-old Jerry Dorisme. Video from inside the complex reportedly shows Dorisme following Rose as she walks toward her friend’s building.

Authorities also released footage from a nearby store showing Dorisme purchasing a kitchen knife.

Mina told reporters that the packaging of a similar knife was found near Rose’s body.

Dorisme was arrested on Thursday and charged with first-degree murder of the teenager.