A 25-year-old Florida man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing and killing a couple in a garage in 2016.
Florida man stabbed and killed a couple. (Photo: WFLA)
Florida Man Arrested the Florida Man
Deputies from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 19000 block of SE Kokomo Lane on August 15, 2016, in reference to a double homicide. The victims were named John Stevens and Michelle Mishcon by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office as well as the suspect, Austin Harrouff, who was 19 at the time. Jeffrey Fisher, a neighbor, reportedly suffered injuries as well while attempting to stop the assault on Stevens and Mishcon.
Harrouff went to supper with his parents the night Stevens and Mishcon were slain but was impatient since the meal was taking so long to arrive. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office’s surveillance video shows Harrouff leaving the eatery. A short while later, the phone calls relating to the murder on Kokomo Lane arrived, according to a report in TRUE CRIME DAILY.
Mishcon and Stevens frequently chatted with a passerby while sitting in their garage with the door open. According to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, the first responding deputy discovered that the suspect was really biting the victim in the face, leaving bite scars that caused significant harm to the victim’s face.
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Deputy Used Taser On the Suspect
Harrouff was allegedly shocked with a Taser by the deputy, but he was unfazed. Snyder said, “She tried pulling him off Stevens’ body but couldn’t. Other deputies arrived shortly along with a dog and it took all of them to subdue Harrouff. Snyder said they didn’t shoot, fearing their bullets would strike the victim.”
Snyder referred to Harrouff as “abnormally strong,” but drug tests conducted following his hospitalization revealed that he was drug-free. Cindy Mishcon, Mishcon’s sister, stated in her victim impact statement at the court on Monday, Nov.28, “Is it really so hard for you to understand that you are a cold-blooded murderer and not a victim?”
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