In an emotional courtroom scene last week, Spencer Pearson was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, Madison Schemitz, and two others. The sentence followed a nearly 10-hour hearing filled with powerful testimonies and heartbreaking details of the attack and its aftermath.
Pearson, found guilty of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery, showed no mercy when he stabbed Schemitz 17 times in a Ponte Vedra Beach parking lot in June 2023. Schemitz’s mother, Jaclyn Rogé, and a bystander, Kennedy Armstrong, were also injured while trying to protect her.
“I Remember Every Single Second”
The courtroom was captivated by Schemitz’s courageous statement, where she recounted the harrowing attack and its devastating impact on her life. “June 3, 2023, was without a doubt, the absolute worst, most traumatic day of my life, and I remember every single second of it,” she shared.
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Prosecutors presented a video montage of Schemitz’s grueling recovery, highlighting her incredible strength and determination. Despite being paralyzed from the chest down initially, she defied the odds and regained the ability to walk with the aid of a cane.
Armstrong, who bravely intervened and knocked Pearson off Schemitz, delivered a powerful message to his attacker. “You planned this,” he stated. “You knew what you were doing. And thanks to God you failed. You will remain a failure until you see God and he sends you to the devil.”
Schemitz’s mother, Rogé, gave a scathing testimony, calling Pearson “evil” and directing her anger towards his parents. “You’re a monster,” she said. “I pray for my family’s peace, and I pray for your family to have the lives you deserve.”
A visibly distressed Pearson apologized to the court and pleaded for mercy, citing mental illness and a lack of prior violent history. His lawyer argued that head trauma from his football career may have played a role in his actions.
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However, the judge remained unmoved, emphasizing the irreparable damage Pearson caused. “There are just certain crimes that are committed that merit the maximum possible sentence,” he said.
Schemitz detailed the months of stalking and harassment she endured after breaking up with Pearson. She described feeling “suffocated, trapped, manipulated and controlled,” and recounted instances where Pearson relentlessly tracked her location.
The attack occurred when Schemitz, her mother, and a friend were leaving a restaurant after spotting Pearson inside. Schemitz recalled the terror of seeing Pearson running towards her, the vicious stabbing, and the desperate attempts to save her life.
“The defendant’s decision on June 3, 2023, will forever haunt me,” Schemitz shared, her voice filled with emotion. She described waking up in the ICU, paralyzed, and the ongoing fight to regain her independence.
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