PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The teen who was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend expressed overwhelming gratitude and relief that a 538-day case was finally closed on Friday night after he was sentenced to life in prison.
From Friday morning into the night, it was a long day in court filled with hours of victim impact statements and reliving the life-changing moments of a June 2023 attack often described as vicious and horrific.
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Madison Schmetiz was left partially paralyzed when she was stabbed 17 times by Spencer Pearson, but her remarkable recovery had her walking across the stage at her graduation just under a year later.
She thanked her attorneys, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office and family and friends for their unwavering support to see justice be served.
“Knowing that we have such a strong and caring community behind us has kept our spirits high, and for that, I’m forever grateful,” Schmetiz said.
Schmetiz recognized that the journey was far from over for her recovery.
“There are still many steps to take, many challenges ahead, many lessons to learn but with the support of those who have stood by me, I’m confident that I will continue to grow stronger each day,” she assured.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said he usually doesn’t attend court hearings but decided to watch this one live.
He and Schmetiz presented the Carnegie Medal, which is a prestigious honor of heroism, to Schmetiz’s mother, Jaclyn Rogé and Kennedy Armstrong, the man who is credited for his life-saving actions.
Schmetiz expressed extreme gratitude for her mother, who was also injured in the attack.
“Mom, you’ve been my rock and my best friend throughout this entire journey. Your love, your strength and your unshakable belief in me have carried me through the hardest times, the fact that you sacrificed so much always and put my well-being first and beyond,” she said.
She also shared a message of thankfulness to Armstrong.
“Kennedy, I will never be able to thank you enough for saving my life in a moment of absolute need. You were there, acting without hesitation, and you’ve been by my side helping me rebuild and stay strong,” Schmetiz said. “Your courage, kindness and constant support have meant the world to me, and I’m forever grateful for the way you’ve stood by me through thick and thin. The two of you are my heart, and I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
Watch the full press conference below: