She was moments away from heading home when a knife-wielding attacker stormed her parked car, setting off a violent encounter that ended in tragedy and a chilling confession.
A 27-year-old Florida hairstylist was fatally stabbed in the parking garage of a luxury apartment complex in Sunrise, Florida, early on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Authorities identified the victim as Hailey Hosford, a business owner and yoga retreat teacher from Boca Raton.
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. at The Retreat at Sawgrass Village, located at 3000 NW 130th Avenue. Hosford had just exited a rental car when Jackson Julian Sagesse Jr., 21, approached her while armed with a knife.
As he moved closer, Hosford attempted to re-enter the vehicle through the rear passenger door, but Sagesse allegedly forced the door open. A violent struggle followed, during which Sagesse was seen on surveillance footage repeatedly making stabbing motions into the car.
During the attack, a male companion of Hosford returned to the scene from the apartment. A confrontation between the two men turned violent, and Sagesse reportedly stabbed the friend in the throat.
Despite the injury, the male victim managed to flee and contact police. He was later found near the front of the complex and transported for medical attention for a puncture wound to his throat.
Police discovered Hosford unresponsive inside the black Mercedes-Benz sedan on the first floor of the garage. She had sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck and throat and was pronounced dead at 2:01 a.m.
A steak knife matching those from a kitchen set was recovered from the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Another steak knife was later found in Sagesse’s pocket.
According to the arrest affidavit, Sagesse was quickly identified and taken into custody at the same apartment complex, where he lived with his mother.
He was wearing the same clothing as the suspect seen on surveillance video. Investigators noted blood on the rear door of the apartment and found two knives missing from a kitchen block.
After being read his Miranda rights, Sagesse admitted to the stabbing. “I just killed someone and walked away,” he stated, according to the police report
Although he claimed to be acting in self-defense, officers reported that he gave inconsistent statements and failed to specify any clear threat. Sagesse told police he was heading to the gym when he noticed the car’s lights on in the parking garage.
He claimed he went back to retrieve a knife for protection before returning. He is charged with premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail.
Hosford, who owned a beauty salon in Fort Lauderdale, was known among friends and clients for her involvement in various activities.
“No one deserves that. It’s very, very shocking and very sad and very scary,” said Erica Rheingold, a friend of the victim. “She was very into her work, and business, and traveling. Yoga retreats, all that stuff.
Sagesse refused to appear in bond court the day after his arrest.
Close friend Aubrey Rosebrock also spoke about the tragedy. He told WSVN that Hosford was waiting for her friend to return from the apartment when she noticed the suspect approaching.
Surveillance footage showed a metal object in the suspect’s hand as he advanced toward the vehicle. Rosebrock said Hosford attempted to hide by getting back into the car, but was attacked before she could close the door.
“She noticed he was charging her, and he forced himself into the car before she had time to shut the door,” he said. Rosebrock believes the act was random and senseless. “I know she was a fighter; I believe she fought, and I believe she was scared,” he expressed.
He also shared the final message he received from Hosford, “I just wanted to tell you that the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the water is turquoise, and that I love you much, and that you mean the world to me.”
“She’s not a Jane Doe, and I want the world to know what her name is and who she was. There’s evil, and there’s good, and we lost the good. The good lost,” concluded Rosebrock.
The emotional impact of Hosford’s death continues to be felt across her community. On Facebook, Aline Lima remembered her as someone with “beautiful and truly contagious” energy.
Calling her loss “heartbreaking,” she emphasized that a young teacher and hairstylist had fallen victim to brutal violence. Lima added, “May her memory be honored, and may justice be served.”
In support of the Hosford family, a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $14,500 toward a $16,000 goal for funeral expenses. The page describes Hosford as a “kind, vibrant soul whose light touched everyone around her.”
The family has requested that guests dress in colors reflecting Hosford’s joyful spirit, stating that wearing black is not necessary. Friends are expected to travel from around the world to attend her service once arrangements are finalized.
Hosford’s death has left a deep impact on her loved ones and community. As the investigation continues and legal proceedings move forward, those who knew her remember a life dedicated to beauty, wellness, and connection — now tragically cut short.
