Man convicted of attack on Madison Schemitz and her mother

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Court TV) – A Florida man who pleaded guilty to attacking his ex-girlfriend and her mother has been given a life sentence.

He had faced 18 years to life and his lawyers argued for a sentence of less than 18 years, but the presiding judge announced: “Any deviation below the guidelines is inappropriate.”

FILE – Spencer Pearson (St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office)

Spencer Pearson, 20, was arrested in June 2023 for stabbing Madison Schemitz and her mother, Jaclyn Rogé, outside a Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant. Schemitz, who was 17 at the time, was temporarily paralyzed after being stabbed more than a dozen times.

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Pearson had been harassing his ex-girlfriend for months, according to an arrest warrant. The attack happened as the mother and daughter tried to leave the restaurant after seeing Pearson. Kennedy Armstrong, a bystander, was injured in the attack while trying to help Schemitz.

A warrant said Pearson also “cut his own throat multiple times and told witnesses he was trying to kill himself.”

In July, Pearson pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

The courtroom was packed at Pearson’s sentencing on November 22, with the victims sitting side by side in the front row of the gallery, surrounded by family and friends.

The lead detective in the case testified first, introducing multi-angle surveillance video inside and outside the restaurant where the stabbings took place. From interviews with Schemitz and her mother, investigators learned that Pearson had stalked his ex-girlfriend, left notes on her car, followed her, created fake social media accounts to communicate with her and posted a photo of himself trying to suicide with a tie. .

Pearson’s father took the stand and spoke about how happy his family was for Schemitz and how hard his son was taking their breakup. Pearson’s father tearfully described his son’s suicide attempt before the attacks – where he and his wife found their son hanging from his closet by a tie and immediately sought mental help for their son. Daniel Pearson then turned to the victims and held back tears as he apologized for his son’s actions and thanked Kennedy Armstrong for saving several lives, including his son’s. “What a hero, Pearson’s father said, I think you saved my son too, even if you didn’t mean to. I thank you for that.”

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Neurologist Dr. Mark Rubino, who also testified in Wade Wilson’s double murder trial, believed that due to repeated head injuries from football, Pearson appeared to have developed maldevelopment of his frontal lobe, which could contribute to impulsivity and an inability to understand the consequences of his actions.

A forensic psychologist hired by the defense, Dr. Harry Krop, testified about his diagnosis: major depressive disorder with psychotic features, social anxiety, social phobia, and although he ruled out bipolar disorder, he believed he was on the autism spectrum disorder.

Schemitz has documented his recovery social media and advocates for victims of domestic violence. Schemitz has also worked with the family of Tristyn Bailey, who was killed by Aidan Fucci in 2021.

After the case, prosecutors and the sheriff’s office held a press conference where they Carnegie Medal wias presented to Smoke and Armstrong.