St. Augustine, Florida – A Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend and her mother. Spencer Pearson, 20, faced 18 years to life for the crime, but Judge Lee R. Smith deemed any deviation below the guidelines as inappropriate.
Pearson was arrested in June 2023 for stabbing Madison Schemitz and her mother, Jaclyn Rogé, outside a restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach. Schemitz, who was 17 at the time, was left temporarily paralyzed after being stabbed more than a dozen times. The attack occurred as the mother and daughter were trying to leave the restaurant after spotting Pearson.
During the sentencing hearing, the courtroom was packed with the victims surrounded by their family and friends. The lead detective presented surveillance video that showed the events leading up to the stabbings, revealing Pearson’s history of stalking his ex-girlfriend.
Pearson’s father took the stand to express remorse for his son’s actions and to thank Kennedy Armstrong, a bystander who was injured while trying to help Schemitz during the attack. Dr. Mark Rubino, a neurologist, testified about Pearson’s maldevelopment to his frontal lobe, potentially contributing to impulsivity and a lack of understanding the consequences of his actions.
Dr. Harry Krop, a forensic psychologist hired by the defense, diagnosed Pearson with major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and social phobia. While ruling out bipolar disorder, he suggested that Pearson might be on the autism spectrum disorder.
Schemitz has been vocal about her recovery on social media and is now advocating for victims of domestic violence. Following the court proceedings, prosecutors and the sheriff’s office held a press conference where Carnegie Medals were presented to Jaclyn Rogé and Kennedy Armstrong for their courageous actions during the attack.