TEQUESTA (CBSMiami) — Investigators are trying to find out what caused a college student to gruesomely attack and kill a Martin County couple – even biting off bits of the husband’s face.
“We are going to continue pursuing the blood work, hoping that it does reveal something,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder on Tuesday. “The blood work at the hospital did tests for normal street drugs if I could use that term, cocaine, marijuana, opioids. There was nothing present in his blood at that time.”
On Monday night, the sheriff’s office received a call from a person who said he was stabbed while trying to help a neighbor.
When a deputy arrived she found a man, 19-year-old Austin Harrouff, lying on top of another man in the driveway of a home at 19009 Kokomo Lane.
“She immediately closed the gap between herself and that fight and deployed her Taser. When she got there she realized that the offender was actually biting the victim in the face and causing what turned out to be substantial trauma to his face,” said Snyder earlier on Tuesday.
The deputy shot him again with her Taser to no avail. She then tried to physically pull Harrouff off his victim.
“She took a hold of him and tried to pull him off but he was exhibiting abnormal levels of strength, he’s fairly muscular,” said Snyder.
Synder added that Harrouff was a wrestler and in top physical shape.
The sheriff said his deputies did not try to shoot Harrouff because the angles were too close and they were afraid of hitting his victim.
It took several deputies and a K9 to overpower Harrouff and take him into custody.
The victim on the ground, 59-year-old John Stevens III, died in the driveway. His wife, 53-year-old Michelle Stevens, was found dead inside the home’s garage.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the autopsy was completed on Stevens.
“The male victim died of multiple, serious stab wounds and blunt trauma,” said Snyder. “He had serious stab wounds to his head and neck and chest.”
The autopsy on his wife is expected to be completed Wednesday.
As for the neighbor who called 911, he was airlifted to St. Mary’s Trauma Center. Snyder said he underwent surgery on Tuesday and is not in life-threatening conditions.
Steve Fisher, the father of the neighbor who tried to break up the fight, said his son is lucky to be alive.
“Twice here – once here – once in the stab wound in the back and large cut. Thank God Jeff had enough sense to get back into the house,” said Fisher.
Harrouff was also taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center. As of Tuesday afternoon, his condition had deteriorated significantly since the morning and he was in life-threatening conditions.
“Whether he will ultimately survive is just not known at this time,” said Snyder.
Harrouff’s family is torn apart.
“They are overcome with grief and are dealing with the fact of what their son did and now they dealing with the fact that they may lose their son entirely,” Snyder said.
Snyder said when he got to the hospital Monday night, he was making “animal-like sounds and was somewhat incoherent.” Snyder said if he does survive, he will be taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.
