The suspect was biting and removing pieces of the victims face with his teeth, said WPTV. CBS 12 said authorities are testing Harrouff for bath salts and Flakka but added that he has tested negative in the first few tests. The Miami Herald said Harrouff was a Florida State University sophomore studying pre-exercise science and said he was eating dinner at Duffys, a sports pub down the block, with his parents when he got mad from possibly about slow service and stormed out. Some experts have also raised steroid rage as a possibility. Eventually, after another fight with his father, he leaves and finds himself wandering the streets near Southeast Kokomo Lane. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Everybody is shocked, said Stevens. I'm not trying to excuse what happened. South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. "My hope is that one day, when I think of them, I can veer my focus off the brutality of their murders and have happy memories instead," she said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post, the first she has given since their deaths. The New York Daily News says the neighbor who intervened was expected to recover but suffered substantial injuries. On Monday night about 9:20 p.m., John Stevens and his wife, Michelle Mishcon, died after an attack. That theory is later debunked by toxicology reports. Police in Florida say that a college student killed two people before trying to eat one the victim's faces. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. God bless her loved ones and family in this horrible time., Here's a photo of John Joseph Stevens III & Michelle Karen Mishcon who were killed last night, via @MartinFLSheriff. Stevens died from multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma, and he had serious stab wounds to his head, neck and chest, Snyder said an autopsy shows. She described him as extremely remorseful for the pain he caused the families, and she said that he was sincerely open to treatment. Investigators say they are still trying to determine what drove Harrouff to allegedly kill John Stevens III, 59, and his 53-year-old wife, Michelle Mishcon. He wrote in 2011, This is my son John IV, a marine who will be exiting the Marines in March after having served in Iraq. "It's like a nightmare. You didn't answer 'yes,'" Mishcon said. Austin Harrouff: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Someone said to me, Wow, you hear about things like this one the news and you think, wow thats crazy. But when you actually know the person it just makes you think about your own mortality.. We have two people middle-age people sitting on their couch enjoying the night and out of nowhere for reasons we may never know, they are attacked by a man with a knife who overcomes them both and kills them, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said after the killings in 2016. Phil interview. This is what wakes me up in the middle of the night as I lay in bed for hours picturing the way that they died, she said. Funeral services are held for John Stevens and Michelle Mishcon, the victims of an alleged attack by Austin Harrouff in Tequesta. If we need to be the punching bag, thats fine, he told Law&Crime on the phone. Provided by People Austin Harrouff, Michelle Mishcon, John Joseph Stevens III A 25-year-old Fla. man accused of murdering a random couple and attempting to eat one of the victims'. Not only did defense experts refute this theory, but the State sent evidence specimens to two different drug testing facilities on three different occasions only to have negative results tendered each time, according to King. ProsecutorBrandon Whitevoiced sympathy for the families. That was news to me. Michelle Mishcon Stevens and John Stevens are the Jupiter, Florida couple killed in a face-eating attack allegedly by fraternity member Austin Harrouff. It is in that garage and their driveway that Harrouff killed the couple. The Miami Herald said deputies found the 19-year-old suspect crouched over the bleeding body of the man, biting chunks of his face off.. Austin was a 19-year-old college student at FSU with good grades, a gentle demeanor, a penchant for working out, and no prior criminal record. Harrouff also will be charged with attempted first-degree murder in the stabbing of Fisher, according to a statement from Trisha Kukuvka, a spokeswoman for Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. You are the reason I no longer have a father and a second mother. The crime was particularly horrific because the suspect, Florida State University student Austin Harrouff, is accused of trying to bite off the face of John Stevens, 59. His petition to the U.S. Congress resulted in the Patent Law of 1790, the foundation of the present U.S. patent system. Michelle Mishcon Stevens and John Stevens III were attacked and killed in 2016. Martin County Sheriffs officials say Harrouff will be charged with multiple counts, including first degree murder for the deaths of both Mishcon and Stevens, once he is released. Austin murdered Joseph John Stevens III and his better half, Michelle Mishcon Stevens, on August 15, 2016, before eating Joseph's face. There were lacerations, stab wounds and blunt trauma,, Michelle Mishcon Stevens & John Stevens III: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Discover; Podcasts; The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories; Michelle Mishcon Stevens and her husband John Stevens. Michelle Mishcon and John Stevens III were murdered at their Florida home on Monday. Mishcon read numerous bizarre conversations Harrouff had via text message leading up to the killings,. Andersen held back tears as she spoke about the couple who took her elderly, widowed father under their wing until the day he died. Snyder has said Harrouff left in apparent anger after an argument with his father at their table. The families of John Stevens IIIandMichelle Mishconvoiced disgust and anger on Monday, as a judge accepted the insanity plea from defendantAustin Harrouff, 25. This case was always about mental illness, she said. Harrouff, 25, fatally stabbed John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, in a vicious and random attack that included injuring their neighbor Jeffrey Fisher, who tried to help the. The company went dormant Sept. 28, 2012. November 2016: After news of Austin Harrouff saying he ate humans made international headlines, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to the Martin County Sheriff's Office asking that the teen be put on a vegan diet while in jail. Neighbors described the husband and wife as great neighbors who were always having fun and were kind to everybody. Phil.'. Harrouff was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the killings of John Stevens, 59, and his wife Michelle Mishcon Stevens, 53, according to his attorney Nellie L. King. He has claimed he was fleeing a demon when the attack happened. It was almost like happy hour in somebodys garage and they cooked all these lobster tails for everybody. Mishcon Stevens sister, Cindy Mishcon, was the first to address Harrouff in court, according to WPLG. Austin Harrouff, the 25-year-old accused of stabbing a Florida couple to death and biting the face of the male victim in 2016, will be sent to a mental hospital instead of prison, according to court documents. "The Harrouff family loves Austin as they know the Stevens and Mishcon families loved John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon," the statement reads. Join the New Times community and help support His parents had set up an appointment for him to be evaluated, but the attack occurred first. Now, on the third anniversary of the deaths of Stevens and Mishcon, there is a trial scheduled for Nov. 4, but it remains unclear whether Harrouff, his attorneys and prosecutors will put on their case for a jury before the end of the year. Catch up on old episodes of Episode 149 - Stranger In The Night - The Case Of John Stevens & Michelle Mishcon. A neighbor heard screams and ran out to help, but was stabbed as well. RIP never forget xoxo.. First published on November 28, 2022 / 5:29 PM. Michelle Mishcon Stevens & J. Stevens loved life like no other couple I know! White maintained that prosecutors did everything possible to prove the case, but the facts were not there. Okay, he said. Michelle Mishcon Stevens and John Joseph Stevens III are the married couple murdered in a horrific face-eating attack by a Florida college fraternity student, police say. The retired couple were enjoying what seemed to be another perfect Florida night togther, sitting in their "garage ma hall". Aug. 23, 2016: Austin Harrouff's father, Wade, tells The Palm Beach Post his son remains in the hospital and his organs are failing. A neighbor, Jeff Fisher, tried to intervene when he heard the commotion outside, but he was also attacked by Harrouff. Though he was conscious when he arrived at the hospital, the sheriff's office said Harrouff was in critical condition and put under sedation. Snyder said that Harrouff allegedly used many objects in the garage as weapons and wrestled with Stevens until both men were in the driveway. Wednesday, Johns son, John Stevens IV, spoke about his loving parents and his anger about their murders. As far as Stevens and Mishcons families are concerned, thats not justice. Inside the garage of the home on Southeast Kokomo Lane, just north of the Palm Beach County line, deputies found 53-year-old Michelle Mishcon, beaten, bloodied and unresponsive. Phil interview. The agreement worked out between the defense and prosecution avoided a trial that had been scheduled to start Monday before Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer and had been expected to last three weeks. She added that she was devastated when she learned what had happened to her friends. Harrouff was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing John Stevens III, 59 and Michelle Mishcon, 53, during a brutal attack Aug. 15, 2016 at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane in . Thank you, she said, sardonically. In August of 2016, 19 year old FSU student Austin Harrouff attacked, cannibalized, and murdered John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon. Where was the advocate then?. Ivy Stevens spoke with The Post about learning to cope with the loss. Toxicology results are still pending, though officials have said there has been no confirmation of Flakka in his system as of yet. Judge Bauer in court defended the Harrouffs team, prosecutors, and the expert witnesses from criticism voiced in court. Ivy Stevens, who is Johns daughter and Michelles stepdaughter, described in detail the absence and trauma Harrouff created. He also seriously injured a neighbor who tried to help them. Friends and family of the two people killed by a. Harrouff had gone to his hometown with fraternity brothers from Alpha Delta Phi, said The Miami Herald. Although the result of the "case fails to bring comfort to the families of the victims, this finding brings this matter to its right and lawful end," said King. Harrouff was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing John Stevens III, 59 and Michelle Mishcon, 53, during a brutal attack Aug. 15, 2016 at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane. Aug. 7, 2018 Michelle Mischon's family files a wrongful-death lawsuit against Austin Harrouff. Harrouff is conscious at St. Mary's Medical Center, but remains in the hospital for several more weeks as he recovers. Please enter valid email address to continue. Aug. 15, 2018: Two years after her father and stepmother's deaths, Ivy Stevens spoke with The Post about learning to cope with the loss. Married 19 years, they were lovers of deep-sea fishing near their affluent Florida community. Austin started to mentally decompensate in the weeks, days, and moments leading up to the incident. The Herald said toxicology tests for more unique synthetic drugs are still pending and Harrouff is hospitalized. Overview. John Stevens posted on Facebook about fatherhood. Who'd Once Dated Victim's Wife, N.Y. Authorities said they even found Harrouff biting Stevens face. A neighbor tried in vain to help the couple. In the hours and days after the fatal attacks, law-enforcement officers said they believed a reaction to a designer drug such as bath salts or flakka prompted the attacks. During the same hearing, Bauer canceled a September status check without setting a new date, calling into question whether the Nov. 4 trial date will remain in place. The couple often rode around the neighborhood in their golf cart with their dog. If the trial had gone forward, Harrouff could have faced life in prison. Harrouff purchased hallucinogenic mushrooms a few days before the attack, investigators have said, but they found no traces of the drug in his blood that night, according to CNN affiliate WPLG. Friends and family later tell The Post that John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon spent most of the time in their garage, entertaining guests and relaxing. Harrouff at no criminal record and was a good student at Florida State University, friends said. The victims' families did not buy that Harrouff was insane when he beat and stabbed their loved ones to death on Aug. 15, 2016. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. In July, Michelle wrote of John on Facebook, Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary John Stevens. Austin Harrouff, the 25-year-old accused of stabbing a Florida couple to death and biting the face of the male victim in 2016, will be sent to a mental hospital instead of prison. Harrouff, who did not know the couple, stabbed the them to death while they were watching TV in their open garage. Harrouff can only be released on a court order, he said. "But here we are, opening the prison doors for a double murderer. Sadly, their lives would be cut short in a bizarre rampage where there were more . Mishcon read numerous bizarre conversations Harrouff had via text message leading up to the killings, directing them at Harrouff in court, WPLG reported. "Sure, he looked sad and disheveled. Citing jailhouse phone calls, Michelles sister Cindy Mishconasserted that he did not care about committing the murders. That's because he's accused of entering private property to initiate the attack. All Rights Reserved. His father identified the neighbor as Jeff Fisher, 47, said WPTV. Download on the App Store GET IT ON Google Play. Harrouff took off some of this clothes during the attack, The Palm Beach Post said. All rights reserved. And she says that if she could ask Harrouff one question, it would be, Why?. schedules a Nov. 4 trial date for Austin Harrouff. He sentenced Harrouff to treatment in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services because it was determined that the defendant was danger to himself and others. In a statement sent to Law&Crime, Harrouff attorney Nellie L. Kingmaintained Harrouffs actions that day were completely out of character and stemmed from mental illness. Not the defense, the county, the state. Michelle Mishcon Stevens and John Joseph Stevens III are the married couple murdered in a horrific face-eating attack by a Florida college fraternity student, police say. One speaker, who identified herself as Hailey, told Harrouff that his parents enabled him. November 28, 2022 / 5:29 PM WPTV said his parents called police because they were so worried and his fraternity brothers went looking for him. ("Austin) must have some psychological break. Austin Harrouff, 19, has been charged with killing Michelle Mishcon, 53, and her husband John Stevens, 59. The very garage that a Florida couple transformed into a neighborhood hangout for friends and family became the place theyd spend their last moments. Nov. 23, 2016: In hundreds of pages of court documents released by the 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, a toxicology report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation says no designer drugs were found in Austin Harrouff's system, only trace amounts of marijuana. John Joseph Stevens III, 59, was a retired owner of landscaping business Greensmart Lawn and . However, mixed in with their unimaginable heartbreak is outrage. appreciated. Mishcon Stevens' sister, Cindy Mishcon, was the first to address Harrouff in court, according to WPLG. Wade Harrouff appears on Dr. Phil McGraw's TV show. Harrouff was grunting and growling at the scene and making animal-like noises, police said, according to The New York Daily News. John Stevens with his son. Have a tip or story idea? Harrouff, then 19-years-old, was having dinner with his family when he stormed off in an agitated state, officials said at the time. A random, vicious attack killed Martin County couple John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon. Discussing Bruces criticism of the advocate and of being kept in the dark about the lack of a potential death penalty, White said he could not speak to that because he was only on the case recently. Investigators believe he drank something from inside the garage where the fatal attacks occurred, damaging his organs. 2023 www.tallahassee.com. On Monday, victim impact statements were read in the courtroom, a court manager told CNN. The judge said Harrouff will remain in the Martin County Jail until he is taken to a secure mental health facility monitored by the Florida Department of Children and Families. As Austin Harrouff stabilizes in a Palm Beach County hospital, the public may soon get answers as to why the 19-year-old allegedly murdered two strangers, stabbed another, and proceeded to eat the dead man's face as police repeatedly tasered him. Upon finding Mishcon Stevens and her husband, John Stevens III, 59, sitting in their garage with the door open, Harrouff allegedly attacked them, stabbing the pair with what cops believe. After killing the husband and wife, he stabbed a neighbor, 47-year-old Jeff Fisher, who had come over to help after hearing screams, investigators said. All rights reserved. Why my two beautiful boys will never have grandparents. Feb. 28, 2017: The 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office released 22 minutes of unedited video of Austin Harrouff's interview with Dr. Phil McGraw after weeks of court hearings battling over its release. Thank you for all you did for myself and everyone is an understatement May you rest peacefully. Craig Trocino, a University of Miami law professor, said that finding Harrouff not guilty by reason of insanity would effectively be a life sentence because "it's highly unlikely" that they would risk releasing a killer as notorious as Harrouff. Thats what they were doing when 19-year-old Austin Harrouff allegedly approached them on Monday and fatally stabbed then before trying to eat Stevens face what the local sheriff called a random and unprovoked attack on two people hed never met before. You knew exactly what you were doing, Bruce said. He could have been using the drugs bath salts or flakka (alpha-PVP), according to the police. According to his son, Michelle had worked for Stevens at Prudential Securities. Circuit Judge Sherwood Baueraccepted Harrouffs plea, however, on the day trial was set to begin. The text messages with his friends outlined the life of a student who was smoking marijuana, taking other drugs and abusing alcohol during the year before killing the couple. On Monday night, Harrouff allegedly stormed out of a restaurant, complaining of slow service, and inexplicably turned down the street where the couple lived about a 15-minute walk from the restaurant Martin County Sheriff William Snyder previously told PEOPLE. The prosecutor said, however, that the frustration voiced in court was misdirected. Thats when Johns dad was going to meet his new granddaughter. "And then I think about how I'm going to have to explain this to her one day.". He could be anyones son, brother, neighbor, friend. Stevens daughter, Ivy, had moved out of the house days before, said police, according to The Palm Beach Post. ", "There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss," the statement says. A Warner Bros. Open main menu. Police said Harrouff, 19, had no known connections to the victims and the attack was random and unprovoked, said CBS 12. Four words come to mind: white, rich boy justice," Mishcon said, according to WPLG.