Fla. Mom Dead, Daughter in Critical Condition After Person Breaks Into Home and Goes on Stabbing Spree in Middle of the Night

A brutal attack in Florida left one woman dead and her daughter in critical condition over the weekend.

It all happened just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 12 when an individual broke into the home of Maguy Pouye in North Fort Lauderdale, according to a news release from the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

The individual proceeded to violently stab Pouye and her daughter, Isabelle Joseph, before fleeing the scene, police said.

Deputies arrived on the scene to find both women suffering from stab wounds, and paramedics soon took the women to a nearby hospital where doctors declared Pouye deceased, according to the BSO.

Doctors were able to treat Isabelle’s injuries but listed her condition as critical.

At the same time, deputies released a warrant hoping to track down and arrest the suspect, 56-year-old Vital Joseph. They eventually got their man thanks to some help from another law enforcement agency.

“Late Saturday night, Joseph was arrested by the Palm Bay Police Department with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol,” the BSO said. “Joseph was booked into the Brevard County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and burglary of a dwelling with a battery.”

The BSO also said that Joseph and Pouye had previously been in a relationship, and that he once lived in the home where the attack took place in the early morning hours of Saturday. Deputies declined to comment when asked if Joseph and Isabelle were related.

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Isabelle is now hoping to raise money for her mother’s funeral on GoFundMe.

“She was the center of our world—a strong, selfless, and devoted woman who gave her entire heart to raising her five children,” Isabelle writes about her mother. “Her love was constant, her strength unmatched, and her presence irreplaceable.”

Isabelle then goes on to say of her mother: “Losing her has left a void that words can’t begin to describe.”

The BSO said their investigation is ongoing and declined to release any additional details about the victims, including their ages.

Joseph was booked into the Brevard County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and burglary of a dwelling with a battery. He will make his first court appearance on Tuesday.