Florida – In a harrowing incident in Florida, a 35-year-old woman, identified as G. Girard, has been arrested after stabbing a 12-year-old girl multiple times and dumping her under a brush in a protected area, thinking the girl was dead. Authorities say the child miraculously survived and is currently in stable condition after undergoing emergency treatment.
Girard has been formally charged with aggravated battery and aggravated child abuse following the horrific incident that unfolded on May 26. The sheriff’s office responded to a distress call in Florida’s oldest wildlife management area, where bystanders discovered the injured child, who had suffered stab wounds to her face and neck. When deputies arrived, they found the girl in a weak and severely injured state, in urgent need of medical attention. She was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Despite the trauma she had just endured, the girl was able to identify her attacker by name, telling investigators that Girard had assaulted her with a knife before dragging her under the brush and fleeing in a gold-colored van. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the relationship between Girard and the child. Shortly after receiving the victim’s account, deputies from the sheriff’s office tracked down the suspect vehicle and located Girard. The van was impounded for evidence processing, and Girard was taken into custody for questioning.
According to law enforcement officials, detectives from the major crimes unit obtained a warrant for her arrest after conducting an interview in which Girard confessed to stabbing the girl and even provided the location of the weapon used in the assault. The details of her confession were not publicly released, and authorities have yet to provide a motive for the attack. Girard is currently being held at the county jail with bond set at $750,000. She does not have an attorney listed as of the latest court filings. The investigation remains active.
The brutality of the attack shocked even the most seasoned law enforcement officers. Sheriff B. Prummell expressed disbelief at the cruelty of the act in a public statement. “In my 33-year career, there are only a handful of times that I have been left speechless. This is one of those times,” he said. “To attack a child with a knife … I can’t understand it. It is only by God’s grace that she is still with us today, and I pray for her as she heals from this horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may never heal.”
The sheriff emphasized the extraordinary strength of the young girl who, despite being gravely wounded and abandoned in an isolated area, managed to survive and provide key information that led to her attacker’s arrest. The girl remains hospitalized and was last reported in stable condition. Medical staff have not released further details about her injuries or the extent of recovery needed. Given the severity of the wounds and the emotional trauma, her path forward will likely require both physical and psychological care.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including any prior connections or motives between Girard and the victim. A probable cause affidavit had not yet been made available at the time of the most recent reports. This horrifying act has left a community shaken and a child with lifelong scars — but thanks to her courage and the quick work of first responders, justice is now in motion.
