The previous star athlete who stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mom in a frenzied car parking zone assault in Florida final summer time — earlier than slashing his personal throat — nonetheless had the scars of his suicide try as he appeared in courtroom for his sentencing.
Spencer Ross Pearson, 20, was handed a life sentence on Friday after he pleaded responsible to tried homicide and aggravated battery expenses in July.
His household blamed head trauma he sustained as a highschool soccer star for the assault.
Pearson was 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 Seashore restaurant.
The then-18-year-old had been stalking Schemitz. She was left paralyzed from the chest down within the assault, The Florida Instances-Union reported.
Surveillance video of the assault reveals the mom and daughter making an attempt to depart the restaurant as Pearson follows them, finally dashing towards Schemitz and stabbing her 15 occasions. Roge tried to battle off her daughter’s attacker, and was stabbed within the brow and leg.
A bystander who intervened was additionally slashed however was capable of 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 throughout the emotionally charged sentencing.
Throughout her testimony, Schemitz mentioned she had been fascinated with this second ever for the reason that horrifying assault.
“June third, 2023, was certainly absolutely the worst, most traumatic day of my life. And I bear in mind each single second of it,” she learn.
Schemitz later added: “Your honor, a 17-year-old woman shouldn’t should know the sensation of getting stabbed. Your honor, I shouldn’t have to recollect the sensation of my physique being inflicted with the knife over and over. … I bear in mind the second I noticed I used to be paralyzed. I bear in mind struggling to breathe and formulate phrases.”
Pearson additionally took the stand to apologize, telling the courtroom he “harm three harmless folks.”
“I consider my horrible crimes dedicated each second of each day. It’s on my thoughts continually and it will by no means, ever change. … I can’t start to think about what I’ve put them by means of and the detrimental results I’ve had on everybody concerned. I perceive the anger and hatred all of them have for me,” he mentioned.
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 have been at all times so candy… you have been such a lovely individual to be round. You have been so good to our household. I’m sorry this occurred to you. I take into consideration you each day, I pray for you each day. You’re a candy soul, you’re a lovely individual, I do know that. I’m sorry.”
Docs who testified instructed the courtroom an MRI of Pearson confirmed proof of a number of head accidents much like what an NFL participant may maintain and mentioned his violent act can be extra possible 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 third, 2023, and it solely appears becoming that you just get the identical.”
Whereas Pearson’s protection workforce 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 third of 2023, the occasions that unfolded on that afternoon have been horrific,” Smith mentioned. “This defendant launched a vicious assault on a 17-year-old woman … who had solely weeks earlier completed her half to attempt to save his life when he tried suicide. The identical one that tried to avoid wasting his life he violently and viciously attacked.”
The choose famous that the lasting impression of Pearson’s crimes would make “any deviation under the [sentencing] tips is inappropriate.”
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