A man charged with tragically paralyzing his ex-girlfriend in a frenzied parking lot stabbing had attempted suicide weeks before the assault, court records show.
Spencer Pearson, 19, is facing attempted murder charges after he ambushed Madison Schemitz, 17 in broad daylight and stabbed her 15 times outside a restaurant in posh Ponte Vedra Beach in June, before attempting to cut is own throat.
Two months earlier, Pearson’s parents had him speak to counselors from a virtual mental health service named “Here Tomorrow” after becoming worried about his mental condition, according to a recent court filing by his attorneys in the case.
“Mr. Pearson saw personnel of Here Tomorrow on or about April 17,” the papers state. “The evening after meeting with Here Tomorrow staff, Mr. Pearson attempted to take his own life, resulting in an inpatient hospitalization for a period of five days.”
With his mental health continuing to deteriorate, Pearson again met with representatives of the organization on June 1 — just two days before his attack on the standout softball player.
The former high school football player’s attorneys are demanding Here Tomorrow turn over all records relating to their interactions with Pearson, a request they initially resisted.
“As a non-clinical organization, we have no medical records to share,” the group responded, according to the filing.
Schemitz, a rising senior at Ponte Vedra High School, was at Mr. Chubby’s Wings with her mom and friend Casey Estep on June 3 when they spotted her ex-boyfriend, Pearson.
Pearson and Schemitz had broken up months prior, but the jilted ex had been stalking her to the point that her mother, Jacki Roge, filed a complaint against him just days before the stabbing.
Rogé said her increasingly spooked daughter said Pearson had been following her on her way to school, leaving notes on her car and harassing her on social media.
Schemitz had reportedly blocked Pearson on on her channels, but he then created fake accounts to maintain access to his ex.
When the group left the eatery and began walking to their car, Pearson suddenly charged at Schemitz, cops said.
He then allegedly held her down and stabbed her roughly 15 times before turning to Roge, slashing her in the forehead and leg, according to a warrant.
Kennedy Armstrong, 23, a bystander who pulled Pearson off Schemitz and likely saved her life, was also stabbed before the suspect cut his own throat, authorities said.
Mugshots taken after the incident show a large gash across Pearson’s throat. His criminal case is ongoing.
Schemitz has since posted pics of her recovery on social media, including one about her recovery saying: “There’s no looking back. Everything happens for a reason. I’m incredibly lucky to be alive today and will take each day as its own opportunity to live and make a difference in the world.
“Moving forward I will be starting a One Love chapter at my high school, in hopes of raising awareness about the unhealthy behaviors in relationships.”