Darlene Horton, a retired teacher, was highly regarded in her Florida community for her 'vibrant personality' and philanthropy Devastated friends of the American woman stabbed to death in London have paid tribute to the retired special education teacher, hailing her as an "inspiration". Darlene Horton, 64, was just hours away from returning to home to the small Florida city of Tallahassee with her husband when she was killed on Wednesday night.