'I ate ... humans,' says Florida teen accused in face-biting, killings

STUART, Fla. — Austin Harrouff was aware he bit a person from what he told Florida deputies the night he’s accused of killing a local couple, according to court documents.

The 19-year-old Florida State University student and Jupiter, Fla., resident hasn’t talked to sheriff’s officials since Aug. 15, when he’s accused of killing John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, in the garage of their home.

However, according to the paperwork requesting a search warrant of the couple’s home, Harrouff did speak to deputies at the scene that night.

While he was being taken into custody, deputies heard Harrouff say, “Help me, I ate something bad.” When asked what he ate, Harrouff said, “Humans.”

According to court documents:

A deputy arrived and found Harrouff on top of Stevens, who was lying on his back in the driveway. Harrouff tried to bite Stevens on the chest. The deputy saw Harrouff actually biting Stevens several times and spitting out his flesh.

The deputy noticed Stevens and Mischon had cuts consistent with injuries from a bladed or edged weapon.

Another deputy arrived and saw Harrouff chewing on the side of Stevens’s face.

Harrouff didn’t respond to commands to stop, so deputies had to use force to subdue him. Harrouff then was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.

While at the hospital, a sheriff’s detective saw Harrouff spit out what appeared to be human flesh, which crime-scene investigators recovered. The detective also saw Harrouff had human hair in his mouth.

Harrouff’s lawyer, Bob Watson, wrote a note for his client that stated Harrouff was exercising his right to remain silent and was represented by legal counsel, said Lt. Michael Dougherty, a Martin County sheriff’s detective.

Harrouff carried the note with him in his pocket and showed it when asked any questions, Dougherty said.

Harrouff remained hospitalized until his Oct. 3 arrest. He faces four charges: two counts of second-degree murder with a weapon, attempted felony murder with a weapon and burglary of a dwelling with an assault or battery while armed.

Two other charges, burglary of a dwelling while armed and resisting an officer without violence, were dropped Tuesday. Assistant State Attorney Nita Denton said the burglary charge was dropped because the state filed the higher burglary charge.

The state is expected to seek two counts of first-degree murder against Harrouff, if he is indicted by a grand jury. A grand jury is expected to hear the case by the end of the year.

Sheriff's officials continue to wait for toxicology results from the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va., to find out whether Harrouff had flakka or bath salts in his system at the time of the attack. Hospital testing already ruled out marijuana, cocaine and opioids.

Follow Laurie K. Blandford on Twitter: @TCPalmLaurie