PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla — Spencer Ross Pearson, the 18-year-old accused of stabbing three people in a Mr. Cubby's Wings parking lot in Ponte Vedra on June 3, has been booked in jail, according to an incident report from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
SJSO says Pearson is being held in special housing because of his risk of self-harm. He has access to mental health professionals who will meet with him. Pearson is in custody Friday after being hospitalized with self-inflicted injuries in the incident.
"He's probably under some type of 24-hour watch, it's probably done to the fact that he tried to kill himself," First Coast News Crime and Safety Expert Mark Baughman said.
The mugshot shows Pearson with noticeable stitches on his neck in which a deputy says they arrived at the scene during the incident and saw the man laying on his back in the grass near the restaurant with a severe laceration to his throat.
Police records show that Pearson had followed one of the victims -- identified as Madison Schemitz, since March 2023. Schemitz's sister, Tatiana Cruceta told First Coast News in a earlier statement this month, that the two were in a previous relationship.
"I don’t know all the details, but I do know that there were some issues in the past after they had broken up, where he was threatening her safety," Cruceta said. "My mother was looking to get a restraining order against him so this was definitely premeditated. This was definitely something that he had planned.”
Less than a week before the stabbing, Schemitz mother, Jacki Rogé filed a complaint against Pearson for harassing her daughter, saying she had concerns for his mental health. Rogé accused Pearson of 'following Schemitz to school, leaving ‘notes on her vehicle', and harassing her on social media using fake accounts.
On June 3, Schemitz was with her mother and a few friends at Mr. Chubby's Wings when Pearson walked in.
Casey Estep, who was eating with Schemitz and her mom at the restaurant shortly before the stabbing, told First Coast News that when Schemitz and her mom spotted Pearson, "They were like, 'Oh, we’ve got to go.'"
Estep said they asked for the check and tried to quietly leave, but before she could finish cashing out, Pearson took off running toward Schemitz and her mom.
The arrest warrant states that shortly after leaving the restaurant, Pearson charged after Schemitz and began stabbing her fifteen times.
"It shows premeditation, on his part, that he intended to do something like this," Baughman said.
Baughman says Pearson will likely undergo a physiological evaluation.
"They ask him a number of questions just to determine sanity basically understand, right from wrong, you know. That's to determine if he's capable of standing trial," Baughman added.
According to the family, Schemitz suffered damage to her spinal cord in the attack and is currently paralyzed. Records also show her mother, Jacki Rogé, was stabbed twice, in the forehead and leg. Kennedy Armstrong, a good Samaritan who intervened, was also injured with severe cuts to his right hand.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says minor treatment to Pearson's injuries will be done in the jail, but he will be transported to the hospital for any specialized treatment. As for Pearson's future, if convicted:
"The sentencing guidelines could be 25 years. He's looking at a substantial amount of time in prison, if he gets convicted of these charges," Baughman said.
A friend of Schemitz sold #MadisonStrong keychains in support of raising money for the victim's recovery. Alyssa James, who has known Schemitz since the sixth grade, partnered with Locally Yours, a Ponte Vedra arts and crafts store to make the keychains. To buy a keychain message Locally Yours on Instagram.
Pearson is facing multiple felony charges against him including one count of aggravated battery and two counts of attempted murder. His first court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.