JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: A teenager, who was allegedly stabbed mutiple times by her ex-former boyfriend, has said she has been left paralyzed from the chest down due to the attack. Madison Schemitz, however, also noted that she was “incredibly lucky to be alive today.”
As per PEOPLE, the 17-year-old said at a media conference, “I will take each day as its own opportunity to live and make a difference in the world.” Schemitz was with her mother Jaclyn "Jacki" Roge in the parking lot of Mr Chubby’s Wings in Ponte Vedra in early June when Spencer Pearson attacked her.
Who is Spencer Pearson?
Pearson is a former football player. Not much is known about him except that he allegedly stabbed Schemitz nearly 15 times on June 3. The 18-year-old accused attacked Roge as well, who sustained injuries on her forehead and leg, and a bystander who tried to save the mother-daughter duo. The teenager is currently in jail after being pressed with two counts of attempted premeditated murder and three counts of aggravated battery charges.
After the attack, First Coast News interviewed Schemitz’s elder sister, who said, “There were some issues in the past after they'd broken up, where he was threatening her safety. My mother was looking to get a restraining order against him, so this was definitely premeditated.”
Who is Madison Schemitz?
Betty Griffin Center Community educator Jeff Gatlin described Schemitz as “a great softball player. She's a good infielder, strong ballplayer, great kid, great person.” Besides, a GoFundMe describes her as “a rising senior at PV High and a star softball player.”
After the attack, the teenager was reportedly planning to launch a branch of One Love Foundation, a non-profit that aims to end relationship abuse, at Ponte Vedra High School. At the press event, she said, “I hope that by bringing the One Love movement to our community and one day sharing my story, it can help others and ultimately change the way we all treat and love each other,” adding, “I am determined and confident in myself that I will reach my goals to one day walk again. My story is just getting started. Everyone is behind me. There is no one holding me back.”
A GoFundMe for the teenager and her mother read, “Please donate below to help raise funds for Madison Schemitz and her mother, Jacki Rose. Madison has been in and out of surgery since the attack occurred. I am a co-worker and family friend of Maidon's Father, Chris. Funds will go towards helping cover medical expenses as well as any other necessary expenses during this difficult time. All donations are given to Madison Schemitz and her family.”
