Julie Ann Sulpizio, charged with leading sheriff’s deputies into a deadly ambush, is mentally competent to proceed to trial, according to Florida State Hospital.

She is being transported back to Tavares where hospital, defense and prosecution experts will appear before a judge to further evaluate her condition, says Assistant State Attorney Ken Nunnelly.

Lake deputies were called to the 38000 block of Brookside Drive in Eustis on Aug. 2, 2024 by neighbors who said they were being physically attacked.

They said she called them pedophiles and “sinners,” and identified herself as “Helen under God’s will.” She said, “Julie was in Heaven.”

She also said, “You see, we need to trick Lucy.” The probable cause affidavit said that is her name for Lucifer.

The neighbors said she tried to trick them into going into her house but they did not trust her.

When a deputy arrived, she was handcuffed after a struggle and she yelled out, “Michael, Gabriel, Timothy. It’s time now to protect my children.”

As the law enforcement officers entered the home to check on her husband and children, Deputy Bradley Link was shot and killed. Master Deputy David Howell and Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano were wounded.

Master Deputy Bradley Link

Michael Sulpizio and daughters Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio committed suicide, according to investigators.

Deputies said they could hear one of the daughters shout, “My king will kill all of you, you are Lucifer’s children.”

Sulpizio, 50, is charged with principal to first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, battery on a law enforcement officer, and three counts of battery.

No trial date has been set. The competency hearing could take place as soon as the end of April.