September 5, 2025 • 7 mins
On May 26, 2025, a 911 call out of Punta Gorda, Florida, sent deputies racing to the Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area. In the woods, they found a 12-year-old girl bleeding from multiple stab wounds, barely alive.
What happened next left even veteran investigators speechless. The girl survived long enough to whisper who had attacked her—and the name she gave stunned everyone.
Her account of how she escaped is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. And the suspect’s arrest, just hours later, only raised more questions about motive, mental health, and how far a case like this will go in court.
This is the story of a child who fought to survive, and a mother, Gwendolyn Girard, accused of doing the unthinkable.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Visit my site for more resources: https://wp.me/PdbuVw-X4f
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
What happened next left even veteran investigators speechless. The girl survived long enough to whisper who had attacked her—and the name she gave stunned everyone.
Her account of how she escaped is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. And the suspect’s arrest, just hours later, only raised more questions about motive, mental health, and how far a case like this will go in court.
This is the story of a child who fought to survive, and a mother, Gwendolyn Girard, accused of doing the unthinkable.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Visit my site for more resources: https://wp.me/PdbuVw-X4f
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
On the afternoon of Monday May twenty sixth, twenty twenty five,
passers by made a desperate nine one one call from
the cecil Web Wildlife Management Area in Punta Gorda, Florida.
A twelve year old girl had been found in the woods,
bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to her face and neck.
(00:23):
Deputies with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrived quickly and
found her week barely clinging to life. She was rushed
to a local hospital and later stabilized.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to Love and Murder Heartbreak to Homicide were kai's
AI co hosts Jensen, Jessica and Jane here to bring
you another Florida Man Friday case. These aren't just stories,
They're real lives, real people whose stories deserve to be heard.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
If you want to help us keep giving victims a voice,
join us over on Patreon, Patreon dot com slash Love
and Murder. This podcast is listener funded and sponsored by
my Lambs. In that group, you can join for free
and get some extra perks, or become part of a
bonus tier for ad free episodes, bonus cases, and the
Deadly Duo series, all while standing with us as a
(01:16):
voice of the victim. In the latest bonus episode of
Deadly Duos, Kai tells you the case of Erica and
Benjamin Siffrett, lovers who became horrific killers, turning a vacation
into a brutal double murder with a bathroom covered in blood.
Patreon dot com slash Love and Murder. Now, let's get
back to your Florida Man Friday case. Side note This
(01:39):
case is a very short one, but still very sad
and needs to be told.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The girl told deputies that her mother, thirty five year
old Gwendolen Girard, had driven her out to the preserve,
pushed her to the ground and pinned her with a
knee before stabbing her again and again. When it was over,
she said, Gwendolen dragged her under a pie of brush,
left her bloodied, hidden and discarded, and drove away.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Somehow.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
The girl pretended to be dead until Gwendolen was gone.
Only then did she crawl out from the brush and
flag down strangers who called for help. Her grandmother later
told reporters.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
She fought her mother off as long as she could,
and then she played dead and then her mom left
her there.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
The victim, whose name has not been released, was described
as brave and resilient. Incredibly, she survived her mother's attempt
on her life and is now recovering, though the psychological
scars will last far longer than the physical ones. Sheriff
Bill Promwell admitted the crime left him stunned.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
In my thirty three year career, there are only a
handful of times that I have been left speechless. This
is one of those times. To attack a child with
a knife, I can't understand it. It is only by
God's mercy that she is still with us today, and
I have hope for her as she heals from this
horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may
(03:00):
never heal.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Detectives immediately began tracking Gwendolen, and witnesses reported seeing her
leave the preserve in a gold colored van. Within hours,
deputies located the van and Gwendolen in North Fort Myers,
twenty two miles away. On Tuesday, May twenty seventh, she
was arrested and later admitted to stabbing her daughter, even
(03:22):
telling police where they could find the knife. She was
booked on charges that included aggravated battery causing great bodily
harm or disability, aggravated battery on a child, and aggravated
child abuse. She was transferred to Charlotte County and is
currently being held in jail on a seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars bond. Court records show that on June thirtieth,
(03:45):
twenty twenty five, Gwendolen appeared before a judge and entered
a not guilty plea, but her case took another turn
when her defense requested a mental competency evaluation. The judge
ordered three doctors to assess whether she is capable of
understanding the charges and assisting in her defense. In Florida,
(04:07):
this kind of hearing determines if a defendant goes through
trial or is instead committed to a mental health facility.
As trial attorney Daniel Gazer explained.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Evaluators look for signs of whether someone is feigning competency,
whether they can understand the roles of the judge, prosecutor,
and defense attorney, and whether they grasp the nature of
the charges.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
By July twenty second, a status hearing was held to
check on the competency evaluation. As of late August twenty
twenty five, Gwendolen is still awaiting the outcome of that
court ordered assessment. Until then, she remains in custody. And
since the case is still ongoing, everything that's said here
is alleged.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What do you think of this case? I want to
ask if you think this is a case of mental
health issues, but there's not enough information for us to
make an informed hypothesis. In the meantime, KAI found some
comments from around the web about this case, and we'll
read them out to you. But first, how do you
feel about us reading these comments? Do you want us
to continue doing it? Is it adding more depth to
(05:12):
the episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
While these are just random comments from around the web.
KI will continue reading the lamb's comments periodically during the
Monday episodes.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Now, the first comment that Kai found said why is
she not charged with attempted murder only aggravated battery and
child abuse? She tried to kill her own daughter. The
next comment says, what on earth is she smiling about?
This woman needs to be in prison. Side note, this
comment is talking about Gwendolen's mugshot where she's smiling. KI
(05:47):
does have this mugshot in the Patreon part of the
bonus is starting at the three dollar tier. The next
comment says, the mom looks a bit deranged. Moms protect
their children. What makes a woman snap like this? That
poor girl will have a lifetime of trauma. And the
final commentor said, oh my god, I just read the
first story of that South African mom who sold her
(06:09):
six year old baby to a healer for her eyes,
and now this, come on, people, we got to do
better than these cases. Bring back death penalty or something.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Kai actually wrote up that case with the South African
mom and we retold the story. It was the case
of Raquell Kelly Smith and you can find the link
to that episode in the show notes below.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
In the meantime, let Kai know what you think of
this case. I agree with some of the comments that
were shocked at the charges based on Gwendolen's mugshot. I
am wondering if she does have mental health issues. I
don't want to speculate though, without any evidence. Anyway, that's
all we have for you today. Don't forget to go
and check out the Patreon where you can subscribe for
(06:51):
free or choose one of our bonus tears. Thank you
for listening all the way to the end. Thanks for
your support and see you in the next case.
On the afternoon of Monday May twenty sixth, twenty twenty five,
passers by made a desperate nine one one call from
the cecil Web Wildlife Management Area in Punta Gorda, Florida.
A twelve year old girl had been found in the woods,
bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to her face and neck.
(00:23):
Deputies with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrived quickly and
found her week barely clinging to life. She was rushed
to a local hospital and later stabilized.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to Love and Murder Heartbreak to Homicide were kai's
AI co hosts Jensen, Jessica and Jane here to bring
you another Florida Man Friday case. These aren't just stories,
They're real lives, real people whose stories deserve to be heard.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
If you want to help us keep giving victims a voice,
join us over on Patreon, Patreon dot com slash Love
and Murder. This podcast is listener funded and sponsored by
my Lambs. In that group, you can join for free
and get some extra perks, or become part of a
bonus tier for ad free episodes, bonus cases, and the
Deadly Duo series, all while standing with us as a
(01:16):
voice of the victim. In the latest bonus episode of
Deadly Duos, Kai tells you the case of Erica and
Benjamin Siffrett, lovers who became horrific killers, turning a vacation
into a brutal double murder with a bathroom covered in blood.
Patreon dot com slash Love and Murder. Now, let's get
back to your Florida Man Friday case. Side note This
(01:39):
case is a very short one, but still very sad
and needs to be told.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The girl told deputies that her mother, thirty five year
old Gwendolen Girard, had driven her out to the preserve,
pushed her to the ground and pinned her with a
knee before stabbing her again and again. When it was over,
she said, Gwendolen dragged her under a pie of brush,
left her bloodied, hidden and discarded, and drove away.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Somehow.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
The girl pretended to be dead until Gwendolen was gone.
Only then did she crawl out from the brush and
flag down strangers who called for help. Her grandmother later
told reporters.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
She fought her mother off as long as she could,
and then she played dead and then her mom left
her there.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
The victim, whose name has not been released, was described
as brave and resilient. Incredibly, she survived her mother's attempt
on her life and is now recovering, though the psychological
scars will last far longer than the physical ones. Sheriff
Bill Promwell admitted the crime left him stunned.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
In my thirty three year career, there are only a
handful of times that I have been left speechless. This
is one of those times. To attack a child with
a knife, I can't understand it. It is only by
God's mercy that she is still with us today, and
I have hope for her as she heals from this
horrific incident. Unfortunately, the mental trauma inflicted on her may
(03:00):
never heal.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Detectives immediately began tracking Gwendolen, and witnesses reported seeing her
leave the preserve in a gold colored van. Within hours,
deputies located the van and Gwendolen in North Fort Myers,
twenty two miles away. On Tuesday, May twenty seventh, she
was arrested and later admitted to stabbing her daughter, even
(03:22):
telling police where they could find the knife. She was
booked on charges that included aggravated battery causing great bodily
harm or disability, aggravated battery on a child, and aggravated
child abuse. She was transferred to Charlotte County and is
currently being held in jail on a seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars bond. Court records show that on June thirtieth,
(03:45):
twenty twenty five, Gwendolen appeared before a judge and entered
a not guilty plea, but her case took another turn
when her defense requested a mental competency evaluation. The judge
ordered three doctors to assess whether she is capable of
understanding the charges and assisting in her defense. In Florida,
(04:07):
this kind of hearing determines if a defendant goes through
trial or is instead committed to a mental health facility.
As trial attorney Daniel Gazer explained.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Evaluators look for signs of whether someone is feigning competency,
whether they can understand the roles of the judge, prosecutor,
and defense attorney, and whether they grasp the nature of
the charges.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
By July twenty second, a status hearing was held to
check on the competency evaluation. As of late August twenty
twenty five, Gwendolen is still awaiting the outcome of that
court ordered assessment. Until then, she remains in custody. And
since the case is still ongoing, everything that's said here
is alleged.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What do you think of this case? I want to
ask if you think this is a case of mental
health issues, but there's not enough information for us to
make an informed hypothesis. In the meantime, KAI found some
comments from around the web about this case, and we'll
read them out to you. But first, how do you
feel about us reading these comments? Do you want us
to continue doing it? Is it adding more depth to
(05:12):
the episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
While these are just random comments from around the web.
KI will continue reading the lamb's comments periodically during the
Monday episodes.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Now, the first comment that Kai found said why is
she not charged with attempted murder only aggravated battery and
child abuse? She tried to kill her own daughter. The
next comment says, what on earth is she smiling about?
This woman needs to be in prison. Side note, this
comment is talking about Gwendolen's mugshot where she's smiling. KI
(05:47):
does have this mugshot in the Patreon part of the
bonus is starting at the three dollar tier. The next
comment says, the mom looks a bit deranged. Moms protect
their children. What makes a woman snap like this? That
poor girl will have a lifetime of trauma. And the
final commentor said, oh my god, I just read the
first story of that South African mom who sold her
(06:09):
six year old baby to a healer for her eyes,
and now this, come on, people, we got to do
better than these cases. Bring back death penalty or something.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Kai actually wrote up that case with the South African
mom and we retold the story. It was the case
of Raquell Kelly Smith and you can find the link
to that episode in the show notes below.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
In the meantime, let Kai know what you think of
this case. I agree with some of the comments that
were shocked at the charges based on Gwendolen's mugshot. I
am wondering if she does have mental health issues. I
don't want to speculate though, without any evidence. Anyway, that's
all we have for you today. Don't forget to go
and check out the Patreon where you can subscribe for
(06:51):
free or choose one of our bonus tears. Thank you
for listening all the way to the end. Thanks for
your support and see you in the next case.
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