11/26/2022
Florida – A former Florida State University student who randomly killed a Florida couple in their garage six years ago and then chewed on the male victim’s face goes on trial Monday
A judge will decide whether the murderer goes to prison for life or to a mental hospital.
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 his parent’s neighbors, John Stevens, a 59-year-old landscaper, and his 53-year-old wife, Michelle Mishcon Stevens, who had retired after working in finance.
Harrouff, 25, has waived a jury trial, meaning Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer will decide whether Harrouff was insane when he killed the couple, and seriously injured the neighbor who came to their aid.
The trial has been delayed by the pandemic and Harrouff’s recovery from critical injuries suffered while drinking a chemical during the attack.
The hearing will be in Stuart, Florida, an hour’s drive north of West Palm Beach, and last about three weeks.
Harrouff’s attack made national headlines because of its brutality and randomness; he did not know the victims. He was a 19-year-old with no criminal record — a former high school football player and wrestler who was studying exercise science.
He stripped nearly naked and attacked the couple in their open garage with tools that he found there. When police arrived, Harrouff was biting chunks off John Stevens’ face.
It took several officers, an electric stun gun, and a police dog to subdue Harrouff. Officers didn’t shoot him because they feared hitting Stevens.
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