Man, who wasn’t able to get over a break-up and left his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend paralyzed after stabbing her 17 times while she was in the process of acquiring a restraining order, was sentenced

Florida – In a harrowing case in Florida, a 20-year-old man, identified as S. Pearson, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend, an incident that also injured her mother and a bystander.

Pearson faced the severe judgment of life imprisonment following his guilty plea for the attempted murder of his former high school girlfriend, M. Schemitz. On June 3, 2023, Pearson stabbed his then-17-year-old girlfriend 17 times, an attack that left her paralyzed from the chest down. The brutal assault occurred at a restaurant where Pearson and Schemitz had previously spent many moments together. According to reports, Schemitz was in the process of acquiring a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend when the incident happened, as her fears following the end of their 8-month-long relationship continued to grow.

During the sentencing, the court heard from the victim, Schemitz, who expressed the profound impact the attack had on her life. “I’ve thought about this day, this moment, this statement for the last 538 days. 538 days of living in true torment. 538 days that regardless of the circumstances always had the same dark cloud looming over,” Schemitz conveyed the continual trauma she has endured since the attack.

The emotional courtroom atmosphere was charged as other victims shared their stories. J. Roge, Schemitz’s mother, was seriously wounded while trying to protect her daughter. She directly addressed Pearson, encapsulating the sorrow and betrayal felt, “You’re a monster,” she stated, underscoring the pain inflicted not only physically but emotionally.

K. Armstrong, the bystander who intervened during the attack, also suffered significant injuries that have permanently affected his carpentry career. His heroism that day saved lives, but the cost was high, as he relayed to the court the irreversible changes to his life.

The defense painted a picture of a young man overwhelmed by mental health challenges, exacerbated by the pressures of a deteriorating relationship. Reports suggested that Pearson had suffered from mental trauma, compounded by years of playing contact sports, and was not able to handle the breakup with Schemitz.

On the day of the stabbing, Pearson’s plan was initially to end his own life. He had brought a knife to the restaurant, a place laden with personal memories, to use on himself after what he intended to be his last meal. His violent outburst towards Schemitz was portrayed by his defense as a tragic derailment fueled by acute emotional distress rather than a premeditated intent to kill.

Judge R. Smith acknowledged the complexities surrounding Pearson’s mental state but emphasized the need for accountability. “The defendant violated that most basic, sacred trust of a parent in the most horrible way. In the middle of the night, she killed him, her own son, got in her car with his body, drove to a dumpster, then threw him away like a piece of trash,” he remarked, reflecting on the gravity of the crimes committed.

Prosecutors argued vehemently for a life sentence without parole, citing the severity and premeditation of the attacks. They highlighted multiple inconsistencies in Pearson’s accounts of the events and his actions immediately following the stabbing, which included misleading investigators about his whereabouts and intentions.

As Pearson begins his life sentence, the victim and her family community continue to heal from the wounds inflicted that fateful day. The case has spurred discussions on mental health awareness, the adequacy of the justice system in dealing with mentally ill offenders, and the measures needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.