An American lawyer of Haitian origin was arrested on February 22 for attempting to kill local residents in the City of Stuart, Florida.
Beatrice Bijoux drove her vehicle into a group of people in front of the Fresh Market on February 21, 2022. She hit four people, one of whom was seriously injured. The victim was rushed to the hospital. Ms. Bijoux also tried to hit several other people, one of whom was trying to prevent her from leaving the scene of the crime.
Police were on their way to find the former lawyer with the help of a witness who was following her. According to the police report, Beatrice drove to the Stuart police station where she got out of her vehicle when the police arrived. When questioned by the police at the scene, the now former attorney explained that she intentionally tried to kill the residents. She said she heard “a voice telling her to kill people. She also said she “thought about killing her 4-year-old niece today. The niece lives with Bijoux part-time.” She intended to kill herself afterward, she explained in court.
Beatrice Bikoux has a history of mental illness, according to law enforcement. She was diagnosed in 2019 with a mental health disorder. But she has not seen her doctor since December, according to her lawyer.
Ms. Bijoux had appeared before the judge in Martin County. After hearing the facts, the judge ordered that Beatrice Bijoux be held in jail without bail.
At the time of her appearance, Beatrice Bijoux had pleaded not guilty to the charges of “aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of fleeing at great speed or without reason and four counts of attempted murder.
On March 21, the Florida Supreme Court approved Ms. Bijoux’s request to suspend her license to practice law in that state. She had been admitted to the Florida bar in 2016.
On her Instagram account of nearly 52,000 followers, Beatrice Bijoux identified herself as an American proud of her Haitian heritage.
Beatrice Bijoux: Haitian-American lawyer arrested in Florida for “intentionally trying to kill people
