JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: Spencer Pearson, an 18-year-old former football player and recent high school graduate, stands accused of a frenzied stabbing attack on his ex-girlfriend Madison Schemitz, 17, and her mother, Jacki Roge, outside a restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach, near Jacksonville. The disturbing mugshot of Pearson, showing his bandaged neck from a failed suicide attempt, has now been released.
The brutal assault unfolded earlier this month, sending shockwaves through the quiet community. Pearson, armed with a knife, allegedly targeted Schemitz and her mother in a disturbing act of violence that also injured a bystander, Kennedy Armstrong, 23. According to witnesses, Pearson inflicted multiple stab wounds on Schemitz and her mother, leaving them with serious injuries. The attack came to an end when Pearson turned the knife on himself, slashing his own throat in a failed suicide attempt.
No-contact orders and special housing
After weeks of medical treatment, Pearson was recently discharged from the hospital and subsequently booked into a St John's County jail. In his court appearance, the solemn suspect, still bearing visible bandages and wearing a blue prison suit, remained silent except for acknowledging his understanding of the charges against him. A judge, concerned about the safety of the victims, issued no-contact orders for all three individuals involved in the harrowing assault. Pearson is currently being held in special housing due to the continued risk of self-harm.
Schemitz, a rising senior and accomplished softball player, has suffered severe spinal cord damage as a result of the attack, temporarily experiencing paralysis at one point. Friends and family have rallied around her, organizing local fundraisers and raising nearly $150,000 on a GoFundMe page to support her recovery.
The incident has raised questions about prior interactions between Pearson and the victims. It has been revealed that Roge had filed a police report against Pearson just days before the stabbing, detailing a series of harassment incidents. According to Roge, Pearson had allegedly been stalking her daughter since their breakup in April, with incidents including following her to school, leaving notes on her car, and creating fake social media accounts to send her messages.
An encounter turned violent
On the day of the attack, June 3, Schemitz, her mother, and a friend had gathered at Mr Chubby's Wings in Ponte Vedra Beach. Upon spotting Pearson seated nearby, the mother and daughter chose to leave the establishment due to his alleged stalking behavior. Tragically, Pearson pursued them into the parking lot, charging at the pair and initiating the violent altercation.
During the confrontation, Schemitz and her mother screamed for help, catching the attention of Kennedy Armstrong, who rushed to their aid. In the ensuing chaos, Pearson targeted Schemitz, repeatedly stabbing her at least 15 times, while Roge sustained stab wounds to her leg and forehead. Armstrong, who bravely intervened, was also attacked and suffered a severed artery in his arm. Witnesses were left in shock as Pearson began slashing his own neck, adding to the already horrific scene. Authorities swiftly responded to the incident, apprehending Pearson and providing medical attention to all those injured.
Pearson faces charges of two counts of attempted murder. He is being held without bond and has been ordered to have no contact with the victims' family. Additionally, he is prohibited from coming within 1,500 feet of his ex-girlfriend or her mother, and he is forbidden from returning to Mr Chubby's Wings, the location where the assault occurred, the New York Post reported.
