A Florida State University student is accused of fatally stabbing a married couple in their home and partially chewing off the husband’s face.
Martin County police arrested Austin Harrouff, 19, Monday in Tequesta after a husband and wife were killed in their garage. A neighbor who tried to save them before calling 911 was treated for injuries.
“There was an enormous amount of violence in that garage,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters Tuesday, the Miami Herald reported.
Officers said the suspect was “grunting and growling” as they attempted to pull him off of John Stevens, 59, who was killed along with his 53-year-old wife, Michelle Mishcon Stevens.
Sheriff Snyder said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if tests from a full toxicology report eventual reveal Flakka (known as alpha-PVP) was in Mr. Harrouff’s system. It took three to four officers to pry the man off Mr. Stevens’ body — after stun guns and a dog failed to do the job.
The suspect was eating dinner with his parents at a local restaurant shortly before the “completely unprovoked and random attack,” authorities said.
Mr. Harrouff was sedated and taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Palm Beach County.
Deputies said the Stevens’ surviving daughter, Ivy, who was originally thought to be with the suspect, did not know Mr. Harrouff, the Herald reported.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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