Fla. man indicted for attempted murder in face chewing
STUART, Fla. -- A Florida college student accused of killing a couple and chewing on the dead man’s face has been indicted on first-degree murder charges.
A Martin County grand jury formally charged Austin Harrouff, 19, on Tuesday with two murder counts, attempted murder and burglary.
Harrouff was initially charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 15 attack on 59-year-old John Stevens, and his wife, 53-year-old Michelle Mishcon, outside their Tequesta home. The indictment enables prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Harrouff.
Deputies say they found the former high school football player and wrestler in his underwear, making animal noises and biting Stevens’ face as he pinned his victim’s body to the driveway. Authorities say Harrouff also stabbed a neighbor, 47-year-old Jeff Fisher, who tried to help the couple.
The FBI has turned over the blood test results of Harrouff, a Florida State University student accused in the face-biting murder near Tequesta, Florida, CBS affiliate WPEC reports.
According to WPEC, the results have been handed over to the State Attorney’s office, however, the results were not released and probably won’t be released until after a grand jury probe.
Harrouff is facing two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the August attack that left 59-year-old John Stevens III and 53-year-old Michelle Mishcon dead outside their home Jupiter. Their neighbor, Jeff Fisher, who tried to intervene in the attack before calling 911 was also injured.
The first deputy on scene found Harrouff biting the face of Stevens.
Investigators at the time said Harrouff was not on cocaine, pot or opiates during the attack but have not ruled out other drugs.