The 19-year-old teenager accused of killing a Florida couple and biting off piece of one victim’s face has regained consciousness after 11 days in the hospital.
Austin Harrouff was conscious when he was taken to a West Palm Beach hospital, where he underwent surgery for undisclosed injuries. He was listed in critical but stable condition while he was on a breathing tube and unconscious.
Despite his consciousness, deputies said, Mr Harrouff is still unable to give police a statement about the night of the alleged attack. It remains unclear whether or not he is still intubated.
Martin County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Mr Harrouff on 15 August in Jupiter, Florida. He allegedly beat 53-year-old Michelle Mischon to death before stabbing and killing her husband, 59-year-old John Stevens II – who face he is accused of mauling.
Sheriff William Snyder speculated that the suspect was high on hallucinogenic drugs “bath salts” or “flakka”. Investigators are still waiting for results from further drug tests to confirm.
Investigators still have yet to determine a motive for the killings.
Mr Harrouff’s parents say their son, a student at Florida State University, was having dinner with them at a restaurant four miles from the scene.
According to his father, Wade Harrouff, the suspect had left the restaurant and attempted to drink cooking oil at his mother’s home nearby. Mina, the mother, brought him back from her house to the restaurant before an argument ensued and Mr Harrouff stormed out once more.
In an upcoming appearance on Dr Phil, the elder Mr Harrouff doubted that his son’s behaviour may have had more to do with undiagnosed mental illness rather than drugs.
“I know it’s not flakka-induced,” he said in the interview, set to air 7 September. “The weird behaviour is coming from schizophrenia in my family.”
He added: “This is the biggest nightmare I could ever dream of. I’m deeply sorry for what my son did to those people.”
