St. Augustine stabbing suspect pulled knife on McDonalds employee
Share and Follow

Arieana Gibbs, 22, was ruled incompetent to stand trial in December. She faces multiple charges in the stabbing that left the priest with life-threatening injuries.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A 22-year-old woman accused of stabbing a St. Augustine priest in October 2024 is due back in court in August after being ruled competent, court records show. This comes after she was ruled incompetent to stand trial in December.

Judge R. Lee Smith signed a court order on May 29, ruling Arieana Gibbs competent.

Gibbs faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, burglary of a dwelling or conveyance and petit theft in connection to the stabbing that left Father Matt Marino of Trinity Parish Church with life-threatening injuries.

On Oct. 23, 2024, the St. Augustine Police Department alerted the public of heavy police presence in the downtown area while they searched for a female suspect in the stabbing, later identified as Gibbs.

Police said the incident occurred around 8 a.m. near the intersection of San Marco and Rohde avenues. Gibbs was arrested around 10:30 a.m., a little further south in St. Johns County.

The police department said the attack appeared to be “random,” and that Gibbs and Marino did not know each other.

Marino spent six days in Jacksonville’s HCA Florida Memorial Hospital with a severed pulmonary artery and a collapsed lung. The Episcopal Diocese of Florida said Marino was stabbed while having coffee.

Gibbs was ruled incompetent back on Dec. 19, 2024. Smith signed a court order saying Gibbs has a mental illness that interferes with her ability to consult with her lawyer “with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.” Smith also said in the order that Gibbs has no “rational or factual understanding” of the court proceedings against her and that there is a “substantial likelihood” she would be a danger to herself or others without treatment.

In the May court order from Smith, the judge ruled Gibbs competent after reviewing a competency evaluation report from the Department of Children and Families. The order does not state when the follow-up evaluation on Gibbs was done.

Gibbs is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 14, according to court records.

Watch below First Coast News’ exclusive interview with Marino talking about the stabbing.


Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Brazil's president warns of retaliation after Trump unveils 50 percent tariffs

Brazil’s leader cautions of possible retaliation in response to Trump revealing half tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned on Wednesday that his…
Texas Trump threat suspect arrested after allegedly writing 'I won’t miss' in social media post

Texas Trump threat suspect arrested after allegedly writing ‘I won’t miss’ in social media post

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Texas man was…
Missouri judge sets trial date for accused serial killer

Trial date scheduled by Missouri judge for alleged serial killer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A trial date has now been set for…
Trump calls Butler widow, Secret Service agrees to meeting after call for accountability

Trump calls Butler widow, Secret Service agrees to meeting after call for accountability

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The widow of Trump…
Fuel switches were cut off before Air India plane crashed, preliminary report says

Initial report suggests fuel switches were turned off before Air India plane crashed

Fuel switches were cut off on the Air India plane that crashed…
Search for flood victims — and answers — continues in central Texas

Efforts persist in central Texas to find flood survivors and solutions

() The search for victims continues in central Texas as residents work…
Museum finds 70-million-year-old fossil under parking lot

Ancient fossil discovered under parking lot by museum

DENVER (KDVR) – The Denver Museum of Nature and Science announced on…
DOJ, FBI sitting on 'treasure trove' of Epstein information: Attorney

Attorney says DOJ and FBI have a wealth of information on Epstein

() Sigrid McCawley, an attorney representing people suing Jeffrey Epstein’s former accountant…