A Florida woman, aged 40, has been convicted of attempted murder, aggravated child abuse with a weapon, and felony battery, and is set to serve a minimum of 20 years in prison. Doris Espinoza-Rodriguez was found guilty of stabbing her lover’s two children, a 14-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, in an incident that occurred on January 16, 2023, in an Osceola County residence.
Espinoza-Rodriguez took the stand in her defense during the four-day trial, claiming that she acted in self-defense as the children’s father had instructed them to attack her. However, the jury rejected her claims. The sentencing, scheduled for December 9, could see her facing up to 30 years for the attempted murder charges and a potential life sentence for the aggravated child abuse with a weapon counts.
The incident reportedly began with a dispute between Espinoza-Rodriguez and her boyfriend during a dinner outing. Court documents reveal that upon returning home, Espinoza-Rodriguez expressed a desire to harm herself. When her boyfriend and his children tried to pacify her, she brandished a knife, threatening to “go out in a bang,” before launching an attack on all three.
The 14-year-old boy was stabbed in the left shoulder and chest area, while the 10-year-old girl was stabbed in her left shoulder. Despite his injuries, the 14-year-old managed to call 911. When deputies arrived, they found the boyfriend restraining Espinoza-Rodriguez and promptly arrested her.
The deputies discovered the 10-year-old girl in a bedroom, lying in a pool of blood from multiple stab wounds. Both children, who suffered life-threatening injuries, were airlifted to the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children for emergency medical treatment. The boyfriend, who sustained a hand injury while disarming Espinoza-Rodriguez, showed deputies where he had discarded the weapon, described as a paring knife with a black handle and blood on the blade.
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez praised the 14-year-old boy’s bravery, stating that his intervention likely saved his sister’s life. Lopez also commented on the unusual relationship between the man and Espinoza-Rodriguez, describing it as “very odd” and not a typical family setup. He suggested that the boyfriend’s desire to distance himself from Espinoza-Rodriguez may have triggered the argument that led to the violent incident.