The Florida man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mother last summer will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Spencer Ross Pearson was sentenced to life in prison at a sentencing hearing on Friday, November 22, according to a press statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Pearson was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and aggravated violence causing serious bodily injury with a weapon in July.
Pearson was arrested after stabbing three people outside a Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., restaurant on June 3, 2023. He was eighteen at the time.
One of the victims was Pearson’s ex-girlfriend, Madison Schemitz. It was later established that he had been stalking and harassing the then-17-year-old before the attack.
Pearson also stabbed Schemitz’s mother, Jaclyn “Jacki” Roge, when she attempted to protect her daughter, as well as a third victim, Kennedy Armstrong.
Armstong sustained serious hand injuries after intervening and incapacitating Pearson until police came, but not before the attacker attempted suicide by slitting his own throat, according to investigators.
Pearson reportedly attacked Schemitz from behind, pinned her down, and stabbed her roughly 15 times, according to authorities. The adolescent, a star softball player at Ponte Vedra High School, sustained catastrophic injuries that left her paralyzed from the chest down.
Schemitz, a freshman in college, endured extensive physical therapy and was able to walk across the stage to collect her high school diploma less than a year after being attacked, according to the SJSO.
Prior to his sentencing, Pearson told the judge that he wanted to “take responsibility for my actions” and “express my sincerest apology” to the three victims, according to courtroom footage released by WJXT.
“I’m sure June 3 was the worst day of their lives,” Pearson explained. “It was also the saddest day of my life, and will always be. On this day, I harmed three innocent people. Every second of the day, I think about the horrific atrocities I performed. It’s always on my thoughts, and this will never change.
“I need serious help, and I have for a long time,” he stated.
Following his imprisonment, Schemitz released her own statement. “As we move forward, our focus is on healing and rebuilding. “This chapter, while difficult, is now behind us,” she stated in footage aired by local channel WJXT. “And while it will take time, we are committed to moving forward with hope and strength.”
“For me, the journey is far from over,” Schemitz added. “There are still many steps to take, problems to face, and lessons to learn, but with the help of those who have stood by me, I am convinced that I will continue to grow stronger every day.
What comes next is finding peace, accepting the future, and using the power I’ve gained to assist others who may face similar challenges.”