He wrote Harrouff suffered from "severe mental disease," in particular bipolar disorder and acute manic episodes with psychotic features and clinical lycanthropy delusions, also known as werewolf syndrome. He then admitted it was human.. Austin Harrouff is currently at the age of 24 years old. She described him as extremely remorseful for the pain he caused the families, and she said that he was sincerely open to treatment. STUART A judge Monday ruled that accused killer Austin Harrouff is not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2016 murders of a Tequesta couple at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane in southern. He said he convinced his son to put away the knife, which was later found near the victims. Austin Harroff, a student at FSU, was detained on suspicion of killing John and Michelle Stevens outside of their home and assaulting them with cannibals. Ms Mishcons body was then found. Landscaper John, was found with Harrouff pinning him to the floor, chewing his face in the driveway. Austin Harrouff, 25, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of first-degree murder and other charges for his August 2016 slayings of John Stevens, a 59-year-old landscaper,. Court documents: Murder suspect Austin Harrouff tells Martin deputies he 'ate humans'. Do you know what you said to him? They told us that hell now go to some sort of mental hospital, but its not a place where people are held for long, Cindy Mishcon told The Post. But here we are, opening the prison doors for a double murderer. The unthinkable violence happened in this case not by choice, intention, or with an identifiable motive, but because Austin has a mental disease., Have a tip we should know? Desantis wants to fix a broken criminal justice system, he has said it, and the system is broken," White said. told The Post he doesn't believe Austin Harrouff's crocodile tears in the Dr. Wade Harrouff appears on Dr. Phil McGraw's TV show. He then pleaded with officers to kill him, saying: Shoot me now, I deserve to die.. He bases that not on any eyewitness accounts, he bases it on texts that are between fraternity brothers. Prosecutors may push for changes or additions to some Florida laws which, they said, tied their hands when it came to trying to get a prison sentence for a double murderer. Prior to his alleged attack, Harrouff walked out of a restaurant, where . If not with his life, then with the only thing we can get from him, which is a civil judgment.". Although the result of the case fails to bring comfort to the families of the victims, this finding brings this matter to its right and lawful end, said King. Four words come to mind: white, rich boy justice, Mishcon said, according to WPLG. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 1:22. For him to be acquitted by reason of insanity, Harrouff must convince a judge or jury he didn't know what he was doing at the time of the murders, or didnt know it was wrong, and couldnt appreciate the consequences of his actions. You have not only destroyed the memory of them for me, but you have caused me to live in a constant state of fear. tells The Palm Beach Post his son remains in the hospital and his organs are failing. What's next for killer Austin Harrouff after being found not guilty by reason of insanity? In a statement sent to Law&Crime, Harrouff attorney Nellie L. Kingmaintained Harrouffs actions that day were completely out of character and stemmed from mental illness. John Stevens III and 53-year-old Michelle Mishcon (WPEC). Eventually, Harrouff is taken to St. Marys Medical Center. He recalled stabbing the man and biting him before waking up in the hospital. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ", It goes on to say, "He remembers having a machete in his hand and stabbing her 'and it was like she was covered in darkness.' Police have said Harouff killed both John and Michelle Mischon Stevens with a machete outside of their Palm Beach County home in August 2016. Investigators said his Google searches consisted of questions about needing sleep, white magic, "How to know if you're going crazy" and several other topics. Watson said Gamache didnt take into account a history in Harrouffs family of bipolar disorder. The 19-year-olds internet searches gave more insight into what he was thinking in the days and hours before the homicides. That theory is later debunked by toxicology reports. Harrouff appeared in court via Zoom and said nothing as he stood at a podium from the Martin County Jail and listened to his lawyers say they may seek a non-jury trial, which Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer indicated may not be scheduled before August, and as late as November. Not his parents. After a meal with his father ended in an argument, Harrouff stormed off, claiming the last thing he remembers is walking home. The pair of 35-year-old Australian women have revealed they want to get pregnant at same time with the same man. The victims families did not buy that Harrouff was insane when he beat and stabbed their loved ones to death on Aug. 15, 2016. "Right now, we have not guilty by reason of insanity, which, for all intensive and purposes, it gets the defendant off completely," White said. Dec. 5, 2017: Austin Harrouff's attorneys, Robert Watson and Nellie King, file a notice of intent to use the insanity defense during his first-degree murder trial. Prosecutors may push for changes or additions to some. Have a tip or story idea? He said that what happened to the victims was horrific, probably one of the worst slayings in the circuit. The now 25-year-old former-frat boy is still awaiting trial as his lawyers have claimed he is mentally ill and the FBI found no evidence of illicit drugs in his. August 18, 2021. You are the reason I check all my doors at night. Now prosecutors have released startling images which show the 19-year-old student being handcuffed and taken away by police and with his mouth agape, The Sun reports. When the police came to the scene, both John and Michelle had been beaten and stabbed outside their Florida home. Now I Could 'Do It 20 Times Better' The grisly slayings shocked the country after it emerged Harrouff left a bloody mess across the couples driveway and garage and sheriffs deputies described how the college student was growling like a dog and had abnormal strength with several deputies needing to pull him off of Stevens. Updated An article on Palmbeach revealed he was at the age of 19 in 2016. Austin started to mentally decompensate in the weeks, days, and moments leading up to the incident. Judge Bauer in court defended the Harrouffs team, prosecutors, and the expert witnesses from criticism voiced in court. After being removed from the body, Harrouff was taken to hospital for two months, suffering from a burned oesophagus. First published on March 5, 2020 / 5:40 PM. To date, it's unknown what Harrouff ingested. They said he tried to test his powers and said things like, "I've become like almost immortal.". However, Austin, according to the Daily Mail, was under the influence at the time. Ivy Stevens spoke with The Post about learning to cope with the loss. Was Austin insane? Michelles brother Mason Mishcon said. Florida Judge Sherwood Bauer, of the 19th Judicial Circuit, found Harrouff not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered him to be sent to a mental hospital after the prosecution and the defense reached an agreement to avoid trial, according to court documents. Sanity issue in third exam:State expert saysAustin Harrouff was not insane during2016 double murder, In September, when prosecutors said Gamache concluded Harrouff was sane during the murders, Watson argued that the exam Gamache conducted fell short of a mental health evaluation and was more of a cross examination on a series of texts and other material that was in discovery.. White said he would contact state lawmakers to ask them to support the legislative changes and additions in the next session, feeling Gov. It only takes into account the actions someone takes while actively intoxicated, not the actions they might take while experiencing psychological impacts from withdrawal or long-term drug use. He also injured another victim, to near fatality, but they survived. The prosecutors in this case just didnt have what it took to handle it.. "Anytime we have a not guilty by reason of insanity, basically we are surrendering the outcome to a bunch of paid experts, and psychology is not a hard science. "I know it's not flakka-induced," Wade Harrouff said. Its a sad case. Austin Harrouff, the 25-year-old accused of stabbing a Florida couple to death and biting the face of the male victim in 2016, will be sent to a mental hospital instead of prison, according to court documents. Investigators said his Google searches consisted of questions about needing sleep, white magic, "How to know if you're going crazy" and several other topics. Two psychologists concluded Harrouff was not sane at the time of the crime. Aug. 26, 2016, Harrouff is conscious at St. Mary's Medical Center, but remains in the hospital for several more weeks as he recovers. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. That seems to be the only thing anyone has cared about for the past six years, not the two dead people that he butchered. White also said because of the current definition of "voluntary intoxication," Gamache's conclusion that Harrouff was experiencing psychosis from withdrawals would only go to support insanity, not voluntary intoxication. Harrouff has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon for the deaths of Mishcon and Stevens; one charge of burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery while armed for breaking into their garage; and one charge of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon for attacking and injuring the couple's neighbor, Jeffrey Fisher. Defense attorney Robert Watson told Bauer once the materials are reviewed, they would seek to exclude Gamache as a witness and questioned the validity of his conclusions. ", That night, Harrouff was out to dinner with his father where "he felt as if time was standing still and like he was the 'grim reaper.'. A 38-page report by forensic psychologist Dr. Phillip Resnick says Austin Harrouff believed he was "half-dog, half-man". The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Okay, he said. ("Austin) must have some psychological break. He could be anyones son, brother, neighbor, friend. You are the reason I think life is disposable and can be taken away in an instant. 0. A full report detailing the days before the attack was released and says that Harrouff felt "as if God was talking to him" and "dog spirits were part of him". Aug. 23, 2016: Austin Harrouff's father, Wade, tells The Palm Beach Post his son remains in the hospital and his organs are failing. Just amazing that you can kill two people and get treated this way by the justice system as long as youre a white kid, Stevens said via text. This story has been shared 103,543 times. His lawyer Robert Watson, on Tuesday said Florida State Hospital, with a range of treatments available, is the place that is best for him.. The case is yet to be tried, with Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer indicating the trial could be months away according to TCPalm. At the scene, a bloody knife and a pair of scissors were found, according to crime-scene photos. It does not seem like anyone cares that Michelle and John are dead. Where was the advocate then?. 0:00. MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. The criminal case for Austin Harrouff has closed, but the state attorney's office isn't putting it in the past yet. released 22 minutes of unedited video of Austin Harrouff's interview with Dr. Phil McGraw. Austin Harrouff, now 22, of Jupiter, is set to go on trial in November on a number of charges, including first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. A judge ruled Monday that Harrouff was not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered him to be admitted into a secure mental health facility. Generally speaking, loved ones criticized not only Harrouff but sometimes even prosecutors. View our online Press Pack. He also believed he was half dog, half-person. This case was always about mental illness, she said. Austin Harrouff has made headlines after a judge ruled that he was the one who randomly killed a Florida couple in their garage six years ago. agrees to let prosecutors audio-record a psychological examination with Austin Harrouff. In ruling Harrouff was legally insane at the time, Bauer found he didn't know what he was doing, or didnt know it was wrong, and couldnt appreciate the consequences of his actions. The reason I think someone is going to murder my children. schedules a Nov. 4 trial date for Austin Harrouff. But, the mind is a powerful thing. In Florida, White said only a "not guilty by reason of insanity" conviction is handed down. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the Martin County Sheriff's Office asking that the teen be put on a vegan diet while in jail. He's going to be in a secure facility for an indefinite period of time, Watson said. Judge rules:Judge rules Austin Harrouff not guilty by reason of insanity in murder of Tequesta couple, Troubled signs:Austin Harrouffs parents noticed odd behavior in son before Martin couples fatal stabbing | Photos, video. Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers, and is writer and co-host of Uncertain Terms, a true crime podcast. I didnt know that.. Prosecutors declined to comment. Austin was a 19-year-old college student at FSU with good grades, a gentle demeanor, a penchant for working out, and no prior criminal record. ", He said he would see hallucinations of "demonic things" and could also hear God's voice. Harrouff, then 19-years-old, was having dinner with his family when he stormed off in an agitated state, officials said at the time. ProsecutorBrandon Whitevoiced sympathy for the families. Harrouffs family, including his dentist father Wade Harrouff, insisted that the former Florida State fraternity brother suffered from acute mental illness at the time of the slayings and had acted strangely in the preceding weeks. There's absolutely no reason why this case should have taken this long so far.. November 2016: After news of Austin Harrouff saying he ate humans made international headlines, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the Martin County Sheriff's Office asking that the teen be put on a vegan diet while in jail. Aug. 2, 2019: Bauer agrees to let prosecutors audio-record a psychological examination with Austin Harrouff. Dr Landrum's findings said: "He recalls having a machete in his hand and stabbing her 'and it was like she was covered in darkness'. Citing jailhouse phone calls, Michelles sister Cindy Mishconasserted that he did not care about committing the murders. This is what wakes me up in the middle of the night as I lay in bed for hours picturing the way that they died, she said. a toxicology report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation says no designer drugs were found in Austin Harrouff's system. If you ever have the courage to do something, your bravest act will be to kill yourself. Family members giving victim impact statements after not guilty by reason of insanity plea was accepted today in FL v. #AustinHarrouff pic.twitter.com/DY25mVpunZ, Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) November 28, 2022. He fatally stabbed a couple, Michelle Mishcon and John Stevens, on the 16th of August 2016. South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. Its now up to the courts to determine how long Harrouff must be involuntarily committed to receive treatment, Watson said, based on his progress and results of periodic psychological evaluations that must be filed with the court. Now prosecutors have released startling images which show the 19-year-old student being handcuffed and taken away by police and with his mouth agape, The Sun reports. White said he wants to look at two specific laws in light of the verdict. The direction he went in with his opinion was that this was a psychosis caused by either acute or chronic withdrawal from controlled substances, Watson said. Thanks for contacting us. The reason I think someone is waiting inside my house to stab me to death when I get home every day. Landscaper John, was found with Harrouff pinning him to the floor, chewing his face in the driveway. "It's like a nightmare. In reviewing his mental condition at the time of the attack Landrum concluded the now 23-year-old Harrouff suffered "an acute psychotic episode" and that he . And that's basically it.. Harrouff had a known and documented drug habit, but toxicology tests did not pick up on any drugs in his system at the time of the crime. Not only did defense experts refute this theory, but the State sent evidence specimens to two different drug testing facilities on three different occasions only to have negative results tendered each time, according to King. It was only when he was bitten by a police dog that he could be overpowered. The move came after Martin County Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer on Nov. 28 ruled that Harrouff was not guilty by reason of insanity after finding two psychologists concluded he was suffering an acute psychotic episode on Aug. 15, 2016 when he fatally stabbed John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, at their home in southern Martin County during an unprovoked attack. Austin Harrouff, 25, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of first-degree murder and other charges for the 2016 slayings of John Stevens, 59, and his wife, Michelle Mishcon . Former Florida State University fraternity member Austin Harrouff,. Involuntary custody:What's next for killer Austin Harrouff after being found not guilty by reason of insanity? The families of John Stevens IIIandMichelle Mishconvoiced disgust and anger on Monday, as a judge accepted the insanity plea from defendantAustin Harrouff, 25. It should be a very smooth transition for him and for the facility. Harrouff ""had the delusion that he could run 'super fast' because he was 'half-man, half dog.' . Florida State Hospital, records show, is one of four state-run forensic mental health centers that provide behavior stabilization for criminal defendants found incompetent to proceed or whove been acquitted by reason of insanity. Harrouffs defense attorneys said they intend to seek an order striking as a state witness Tampa neuropsychologist Michael Gamache, who last year concluded Harrouff did not meet the legal standard of insanity when he committed the homicides. Austin, now 25, is a former student at Florida State University. When the officers shouted at Harrouff to get off Stevens, he growled like a dog and had to be physically removed. 2023 www.tcpalm.com. The former Florida State University student, then 19, was found biting and chewing on Stevens III's face in the man's driveway. But he's not sad about what he did, he's sad that he's about to go to jail," John Stevens IV said of Harrouff. Discussing Bruces criticism of the advocate and of being kept in the dark about the lack of a potential death penalty, White said he could not speak to that because he was only on the case recently. But White noted that some drugs including newer synthetic varieties do not always show up on tests. "Shoot me now I deserve to . When asked what it was, he replied, Humans.. Are you ever going to tell us what that means, according to WPLG. You knew exactly what you were doing, Bruce said. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. We've received your submission. After being removed from the body, Harrouff was taken to hospital for two months, suffering from a burned oesophagus. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Harrouff, who grew up in the Jupiter area and attended Suncoast High School, was 19 at the time of their deaths, which took place at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane, just north of the Jupiter. HORRIFIC photos show the crime scene after a teenager allegedly killed a couple and chewed the mans face. We have two people middle-age people sitting on their couch enjoying the night and out of nowhere for reasons we may never know, they are attacked by a man with a knife who overcomes them both and kills them, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said after the killings in 2016. And if you ever have the courage to do something, your bravest act would be to kill yourself, and everyone would be better off because of it., I hope you never find happiness. "I'm so sorry and I never wanted this to happen," Austin Harrouff said in the interview. / CBS Miami. Their loved ones were experiencing a lot of pain and hurt. 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