A man accused of murdering three tourists near Disney World in January 2026 had been set free just four years earlier after a “woke” prosecutor failed to fight his insanity defense on attempted murder charges, Florida’s Attorney General reveals.
The Tragic Pattern of Failure
Ahmad Jihad Bojeh now sits in jail without bond, accused of premeditated murder in the shooting deaths of three men at a Kissimmee rental property. Robert Luis Kraft, 69, Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, and James Puchan, 68, were killed on January 17 in what authorities describe as a senseless act of violence. The tragedy has reignited fierce debate over Florida’s criminal justice system after revelations emerged about Bojeh’s prior release. In 2021, Bojeh faced charges of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, aggravated battery, and criminal mischief—violent felonies that should have kept him behind bars.
Instead, Bojeh walked free in 2022 after being acquitted via an insanity defense. A judge determined he no longer met the criteria for involuntary commitment, finding no substantial likelihood he would inflict serious harm on others. That assessment proved catastrophically wrong. Attorney General James Uthmeier points directly at State Attorney Monique Worrell, arguing her office failed to vigorously contest the insanity plea that allowed a dangerous individual back onto the streets. Uthmeier stated bluntly, “She didn’t put up a fight… we need dangerous people locked up.” For families in central Florida’s tourism corridor, this failure represents an unacceptable breakdown in public safety.
Woke Prosecution Meets Consequences
Monique Worrell’s track record as State Attorney has been controversial from the start. Governor Ron DeSantis suspended her in 2023 for “neglect of duty” in handling violent crime cases, citing patterns of leniency that endangered communities.
Despite her suspension, Worrell won re-election in 2024 against DeSantis appointee Andrew Bain, signaling continued support from progressive voters in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties. Her approach prioritizes criminal justice reform over what many conservatives view as common-sense public safety measures. Worrell defends the 2022 Bojeh case as “fully litigated at trial,” emphasizing that judges—not prosecutors—make final rulings on insanity defenses after reviewing expert testimony.
That defense rings hollow to victims’ advocates and law enforcement professionals who see a pattern of soft-on-crime policies producing deadly results. The Attorney General’s clash with Worrell extends beyond this case. In 2024-2025, Uthmeier challenged her handling of a road-rage shooting involving Tina Allgeo and “stand your ground” laws, which ultimately resolved through a plea deal.
These conflicts expose a fundamental divide between prosecutors focused on rehabilitation and mental health versus those prioritizing accountability and victim protection. The Bojeh case crystallizes the stakes: three families lost loved ones because the system valued ideological commitment to criminal justice reform over hard truths about violent offenders.
Insanity Defense Loopholes Demand Reform
Florida’s current insanity defense allows defendants to admit committing criminal acts while claiming mental illness prevented them from understanding consequences or wrongfulness. Uthmeier has championed replacing this standard with a “lack of mental capacity” test requiring objective evaluations of whether defendants could form criminal intent.
This reform would close loopholes that enable violent criminals to manipulate psychiatric assessments and exploit judicial sympathy. Uthmeier cited a parallel Kentucky case where a defendant found not guilty by insanity in January 2026 had previously been involved in the stabbing death of six-year-old Logan Tipton, demonstrating this is a national problem requiring urgent attention.
The current system places impossible burdens on communities. Mental health professionals conduct evaluations that often underestimate reoffense risks, as evidenced by the 2022 determination that Bojeh posed no substantial threat. Judges rely on these flawed assessments, and prosecutors like Worrell accept them without mounting aggressive challenges.
The result: dangerous individuals cycle back into society where they can—and do—kill again. Reform advocates argue that protecting constitutional rights of the accused must be balanced against the fundamental right of law-abiding citizens to live safely. Objective testing focused on the capacity to form intent would provide clearer standards while preserving legitimate mental health defenses for truly incapacitated individuals who lack criminal culpability.
Political Accountability and Public Safety
The Bojeh case unfolds against the backdrop of Florida’s broader reckoning with progressive prosecutors. DeSantis’s willingness to suspend Worrell in 2023 set a precedent for holding elected officials accountable when their policies endanger citizens. Uthmeier’s public criticism on the social media platform X and subsequent media interviews signal the current administration’s commitment to transparency about prosecutorial failures. Worrell accuses Uthmeier of “politicizing tragedy,” but conservatives recognize this as a deflection from substantive accountability. When three men die because a violent offender was released prematurely, political consequences are not only appropriate but necessary to prevent future tragedies.
The proximity of these murders to Disney World amplifies concerns about safety in Florida’s high-tourism areas. Kissimmee attracts millions of visitors annually, and violent crime near these destinations damages the state’s reputation and economy. Families planning vacations deserve assurance that local prosecutors prioritize their protection over ideological experiments in criminal justice reform. As Bojeh awaits trial on premeditated murder charges, the legislative push for insanity defense reform gains momentum.
Lawmakers face a clear choice: continue allowing judges to release dangerous criminals based on subjective psychiatric evaluations, or adopt objective standards that keep violent offenders incarcerated until they genuinely pose no threat. For Robert Kraft, Douglas Kraft, and James Puchan, reform comes too late—but their deaths must not be in vain.
Sources:
Florida Attorney General Challenges Prosecutor Over Road Rage Shooting Case – FOX 35 Orlando
Orlando Monique Worrell James Uthmeier Road Rage Shooting Stand Your Ground – Tampa Bay Times