The previous star athlete who stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mom in a frenzied parking zone assault in Florida final summer season — earlier than slashing his personal throat — nonetheless had the scars of his suicide try as he appeared in court docket for his sentencing.
Spencer Ross Pearson, 20, was handed a life sentence on Friday after he pleaded responsible to tried homicide and aggravated battery costs in July.
His household blamed head trauma he sustained as a highschool soccer star for the assault.
Pearson was in arrested in June 2023 after stabbing his ex-girlfriend Madison Schemitz, then 17, and her mom, Jaclyn Roge, in addition to a bystander who tried to intervene exterior a Ponte Vedra Seaside restaurant.
The then-18-year-old had been stalking Schemitz. She was left paralyzed from the chest down within the assault, The Florida Occasions-Union reported.
Surveillance video of the assault reveals the mom and daughter making an attempt to depart the restaurant as Pearson follows them, ultimately dashing towards Schemitz and stabbing her 15 instances. Roge tried to struggle off her daughter’s attacker, and was stabbed within the brow and leg.
A bystander who intervened was additionally slashed however was in a position to cease the onslaught.
Pearson then slit his neck earlier than he was taken into custody.
Each Schemitz and Pearson, in addition to each of their mother and father, testified through the emotionally charged sentencing.
Throughout her testimony, Schemitz stated she had been fascinated by this second ever because the horrifying assault.
“June 3rd, 2023, was without a doubt the absolute worst, most traumatic day of my life. And I remember every single second of it,” she learn.
Schemitz later added: “Your honor, a 17-year-old girl should not have to know the feeling of getting stabbed. Your honor, I should not have to remember the feeling of my body being inflicted with the knife over and over again. … I remember the moment I realized I was paralyzed. I remember struggling to breathe and formulate words.”
Pearson additionally took the stand to apologize, telling the court docket he “hurt three innocent people.”
“I think of my terrible crimes committed every second of every day. It’s on my mind constantly and this will never, ever change. … I can’t begin to imagine what I’ve put them through and the negative effects I’ve had on everyone involved. I understand the anger and hatred they all have for me,” he stated.
Pearson’s father, Daniel Pearson, testified in regards to the football-related head accidents his son suffered over time, and the way he and his spouse discovered their son making an attempt to kill himself after he and Schemitz broke up.
The distraught father apologized to all three of the victims, telling his son’s ex-girlfriend, “Madison, you were always so sweet… you were such a beautiful person to be around. You were so good to our family. I’m sorry this happened to you. I think about you every day, I pray for you every day. You’re a sweet soul, you’re a beautiful person, I know that. I’m sorry.”
Docs who testified instructed the court docket an MRI of Pearson confirmed proof of a number of head accidents just like what an NFL participant may maintain and stated his violent act could be extra doubtless due to his mind accidents.
In the meantime, Schemitz’s mom took the stand to inform Pearson he gave “Madison a life sentence on June 3rd, 2023, and it only seems fitting that you get the same.”
Whereas Pearson’s protection crew sought 12 years in jail adopted by 15 years of supervision and psychological well being counseling, Decide R. Lee Smith selected a harder punishment.
“June 3rd of 2023, the events that unfolded on that afternoon were horrific,” Smith stated. “This defendant launched a vicious attack on a 17-year-old girl … who had only weeks earlier done her part to try to save his life when he attempted suicide. The same person who tried to save his life he violently and viciously attacked.”
The decide famous that the lasting influence of Pearson’s crimes would make “any deviation below the [sentencing] guidelines is inappropriate.”
