(Local10) – A former college student who randomly killed a Florida couple in their garage 6 years ago & then chewed on 1 victim’s face goes on trial Monday, with a judge deciding whether he goes to prison for life or to a mental hospital.
Austin Harrouff, 25, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 2 counts of first-degree murder & other charges for his 2016 slayings of John Stevens, 59, & his 53-year-old wife, Michelle Mishcon Stevens.
If convicted, Harrouff will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. If Harrouff is ruled insane, Bauer will commit him to a mental hospital until doctors & a judge agree that he is no longer dangerous.
2 mental health experts, 1 hired by prosecutors & 1 by the defense, examined Harrouff & found that he suffered an acute psychotic episode during the attack. They also found that he couldn't distinguish between right & wrong.
Prosecutors then hired a 2nd expert who said Harrouff was sane, but withdrew due to health issues. They now have a third expert who believes Harrouff was on a drug that didn't appear in post-arrest tests.
Harrouff told his dad that he was escaping a demon.
Harrouff did not know the victims. He was a 19-year-old with no criminal record. He stripped nearly naked & 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 took several officers, an electric stun gun & a police dog to subdue Harrouff. Officers didn't shoot him because they feared hitting Stevens.
Harrouff nearly died from chemicals he drank in the garage, which burned his digestive system.
Investigators found he purchased some hallucinogenic mushrooms a few days before the attack, but friends said he destroyed them & no trace was found in his blood.
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