PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Spencer Pearson, the 19-year-old accused of stabbing Madison Schemitz, her mother and a good Samaritan who came to their aid, has pleaded guilty to three of five counts against him.
Schemitz, a star athlete at Ponte Vedra High School, was paralyzed in the stabbing on June 3, 2023. She has continued to recover after learning to walk again.
Pearson was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and two counts of aggravated battery causing serious injury with a weapon.
He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges. On Wednesday, he changed his plea on three of the charges.
Pearson is now pleading guilty to both counts of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and one of the aggravated battery charges. The outstanding two charges (one first-degree murder, one battery) will be dropped as part of a plea agreement. However, there is no plea agreement defining Pearson's sentence. A judge will determine that.
The stabbing happened outside Mr. Chubby's Wings in Ponte Vedra. Police say Pearson, an ex-boyfriend of Schemitz, had followed her for months leading up to the incident.
Schemitz and her mother, Jacki Rogé, attempted to leave the restaurant when they saw Pearson. According to police records, Pearson charged at them and stabbed Schemitz. Rogé was stabbed in the forehead and leg trying to protect her daughter.
Kennedy Armstrong, the good Samaritan, suffered hand injuries.