ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Court TV) – A Florida man who pleaded guilty to attacking his ex-girlfriend and her mother will spend life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Spencer Pearson had faced 18 years to life in prison—and his attorneys argued for a sentence of less than 18 years—but Judge Lee R. Smith declared, “Any deviation from the guidelines is inappropriate.”

FILE – Spencer Pearson (St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office)

Pearson, 20, 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 years old at the time, was temporarily paralyzed after being stabbed more than ten times.

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Pearson had been harassing his ex-girlfriend for months, according to an arrest warrant. The attack occurred when the mother and daughter tried to leave the restaurant after spotting Pearson. Kennedy Armstrong, a bystander, was injured in the attack while trying to help Schemitz.

A warrant stated that Pearson also “slit his own throat multiple times and told witnesses he was trying to commit suicide.”

In July, Pearson pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery causing serious bodily harm.

The courtroom was packed during Pearson’s hearing on November 22, with the victims sitting side by side in the front row of the gallery, surrounded by family and friends.

The lead detective on the case testified first, introducing surveillance video from multiple angles inside and outside the restaurant where the stabbings occurred. Through interviews with Schemitz and her mother, investigators learned that Pearson stalked his ex-girlfriend, left notes on her car, followed her, created fake social media accounts to communicate with her and sent a photo of himself attempting suicide commit with a tie. .

Pearson’s father took the stand and talked about how much his family loved Schemitz and how difficult his son found the breakup. Pearson’s father tearfully described his son’s suicide attempt before the attacks, in which he and his wife found their son hanging himself in his closet with a tie, and he immediately sought mental help for their son. Daniel Pearson then turned to the victims and held back tears as he apologized for his son’s actions and thanked Kennedy Armstrong for saving multiple lives, including his son’s. “What a hero,” Pearson’s father said. I think you saved my son too, even if you didn’t mean to. I thank you for that.”

MORE | Mother Spencer Pearson: ‘We tried to get Spencer help’

Neurologist Dr. Mark Rubino, who also testified in the double murder trial of Wade Wilson, opined that as a result of repeated head injuries from football, Pearson appeared to have developed poor development of his frontal lobe, which could contribute to impulsivity and the inability to deal with consequences understand football. his actions.

A forensic psychologist hired by the defense, Dr. Harry Krop, testified about his diagnosis: major depressive disorder with psychotic features, social anxiety disorder, social phobia, and although he ruled out bipolar disorder, he believed he was on the autism spectrum. .

Schemitz has documented her recovery on social media and advocates for victims of domestic violence. Schemitz has also worked with the family of Tristyn Bailey, who was murdered by Aidan Fucci in 2021.

After the proceedings, prosecutors and the sheriff’s office held a press conference where the Carnegie Medal was presented to Rogé and Armstrong.