An Alleged Murderer Believed Himself A Werewolf

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The former Florida State University (FSU) student accused of killing a married couple and biting the husband's face believed he was a werewolf when he starred in the terrible assault, according to a recently revealed psychiatric study.

The 38-page document obtained by People ensures that the university student Austin Harrouff suffered from a “serious mental illness” when he allegedly murdered John Stevens, 59, and his wife Michelle Mischon, 53, at the door of their home in Tequesta, FL, in April 2016.

The author of the report, psychologist Phillip Resnick, points out in the report that the 22-year-old student suffered from bipolarity and severe manic episodes with psychotic characteristics. Thus, when he carried out his attacks, he suffered from a “lycanthrope delusion”, in relation to a mental illness that leads the affected person to believe that he is a werewolf.

The doctor says that the defendant explained to him in an interview that he believed he could run "super fast" because he was "half a man, half a dog" and that when he heard dogs bark, he felt like they were calling him to help them.

According to authorities, when officers arrived at the couple's home on August 15, 2016, they found Harrouff crouched over Stevens' body, who was biting his face. The policemen tried unsuccessfully to get the young man out of his victim, even kicking him in the head. The attacker responded with barking, according to authorities.

"The fact that Mr. Harrouff persisted in biting the male in the presence of the police officers, despite the warnings that he was going to be shot, the shocks with the electric pistol and the multiple potatoes to the head, suggest that Mr. Harrouff was in a psychotic moment, "says the study.

The student faces two counts of murder, in addition to one of attempted murder for assaulting a neighbor who intervened. The case is scheduled to go to trial on November 4 and the defense has indicated that the defense will allege mental illness to request the acquittal of the accused.