Cannibal Austin Harrouff was ‘insane when he killed a couple and chewed man’s face off’ and could dodge jail
FRAT boy Austin Harrouff may have been legally insane when he killed a couple and chewed man’s face off, a psychologist says.
The 23-year-old college student, who was accused of randomly attacking a man and woman in their Florida garage in 2016, claimed to see demonic hallucinations and felt god-like when he committed the gruesome murders.
State-hired psychologist Dr. Gregory Landrum said Harrouff was legally insane when he killed John Stevens and his wife, Michelle Mishcon, in August 2016, according to .
The 12-page psychological report details the chaotic episode of events leading up to, and what happened when, Harrouff murdered Stevens, a 59-year-old landscaper, and his wife, 53-year-old Michelle Mishcon.
Dr. Landrum said that due to the “absent evidence of drug usage” and observations made by first responders, “it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Harrouff was experiencing a decompensated mental state associated with an emerging mood and/or thought disorder resulting from an acute psychotic episode.”
He added: “As a result of this condition, it is opined that Mr. Harrouff was unable to distinguish right from wrong.”
When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the murder scene, they found Harrouff on top of Stevens, chewing his face.
It took numerous deputies, jolts from an electric stun gun and bites from a police dog to pull him off.
Prior to the attack, Harrouff recalled feeling invincible after putting on a Michael Vick jersey after “dog spirits told” him to put it on, the document explains.
He also visited a restaurant with his father, on the day of the killing, and stated that he “felt as if time was standing still and like he was the ‘grim reaper.'”
Harrouff said he heard voices in his head that said: “I am sin… I am in control.”
He remembered holding a machete and stabbing a woman and a man before blacking out and waking up in the hospital, according to the document.
FBI lab results found no evidence of illicit drugs in Harrouff’s system, except for THC.
: “It is recommended that if the Court finds that Mr. Harroff meets the criteria for legal insanity at the time of the offence, consideration should be given to his involuntary commitment to a secure forensic State hospital as he as a mental illness.
“And, because of the illness, is manifestly dangerous to himself or others.”
In a 22-minute interview, released last week by prosecutors, the former Florida State University student, said he lost his wits as he walked back to his father’s home after storming out of a restaurant where they had an argument.
He said he doesn’t remember why or how he killed the couple.
Harrouff said: “It’s like it happened but I wasn’t aware of it at the time. I don’t know, I don’t know. If I knew, I would tell you.”
He also denied ever using steroids – “never, never tried it once” – or hallucinogenic drugs such as flakka or bath salts.
Gruesome images were released after court documents revealed Harrouff spat a chunk of flesh out of his mouth when speaking to officers – which he then admitted was “human”.
If the court rules him insane, doctors recommended Harrouff to be involuntarily admitted to a mental hospital.
His double murder trial was originally scheduled for May, but a Thursday hearing prompted Martin County Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer to postpone the trial, reported.
He faces two counts of first-degree murder, burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery while armed, and one count of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon.
Harrouff is currently being treated for schizophrenia at the Martin County Jail.
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