Laurie K. Blandford and Will Greenlee

The (Stuart, Fla.) News

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — It could happen to anyone.

That's why the seemingly random and unprovoked fatal stabbing attack on a husband and wife in the garage of their southern Martin County home Monday night has captured the attention of the nation, Sheriff William Snyder said Wednesday.

Austin Harrouff, 19, is accused of killing John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane.

"Two people sitting on their couch enjoying a summer night in an upper-class neighborhood on a dead-end street meet the most gruesome death imaginable for doing absolutely nothing," Snyder said. "That's what has people so disturbed."

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People kill people for many reasons, such as jealousy, a robbery or a drug deal, Snyder said. If people don't participate in risky behavior, such as soliciting a prostitute or just being in a bad neighborhood late at night, they think they're safe.

"But everybody sits at home — everybody enjoys life in their house or they sit outside," Snyder said. "So, there's no mental escape from the potential that this could happen to you."

Not only are residents having trouble processing the randomness of the case, it's affected people beyond Florida, Snyder said. He's conducted interviews with national news outlets curious about the case.

Locally, he's talked to neighbors, and he's seen the shocked looks on their faces.

"It seems like a neighborhood that was stunned, almost into silence," Snyder said. "They don't know what to say."

Residents in the quiet, neatly manicured community that's between Interstate 95 and Tequesta and just north of Jupiter are still trying to make sense of the attack.

Kyle Larsen, a 20-year-old Jupiter native, said people live in a neighborhood like his because they don't expect things like this to happen there.

"This is a beautiful community with an upper-class neighborhood (and) upper-class people, and you surround yourself with those people hoping that you can make each other better and make the community better," Larsen said. "Things like this happen even in a place like this where you think everything's safe."

Harrouff remained at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach on Wednesday. He was expected to survive and was in stable condition, said Sheriff’s spokeswoman Trisha Kukuvka. He was conscious but unable to speak because of a breathing tube.

He had surgery on his hand Wednesday because of an injury he sustained while attacking Stevens and Mishcon, Snyder said.

“His finger was almost severed by his own knife,” Snyder said. “As he was stabbing them, it looks like he almost cut his thumb off.”

Harrouff hasn’t been charged with a crime for financial and tactical reasons, Snyder said. Taxpayers aren’t responsible for his medical expenses unless he’s charged.

A sheriff’s deputy has been watching Harrouff around the clock, Snyder said.

“Right now, there’s no hurry,” Snyder said. “Time is on our side. He’s not going anywhere.”

New details

Less than an hour before the Monday night attack, Harrouff was having dinner with his parents at Duffy’s Sports Grill in Jupiter, according to a Jupiter police report.

His mother, Mina, said Harrouff got into an argument with his father, Wade, and abruptly left the restaurant about 8:30 p.m. ET, according to the report. It looked like he walked north from the restaurant.

Mina Harrouff said her son had been “acting strange” in the past week or so and “would say things like he had superpowers; he was here to protect people and other such odd remarks,” according to the police report.

His mother called everyone Austin Harrouff would have been going to see, but no one had seen him that night, according to the report. She called Jupiter police about 11:45 p.m., not knowing about the attack reported about 9:20 p.m.

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His mother told police her son didn’t have any history of mental problems and wasn’t a heavy drug user. She also said her son had never talked about hurting himself, and he was courteous and respectful toward law enforcement officers.

Jupiter police officers searched the area for Austin Harrouff, but couldn’t find him. It wasn’t until 2:30 a.m. Tuesday that they learned Harrouff was in the custody of Martin County Sheriff’s officials.

Blood, hair and DNA samples were taken Tuesday from Harrouff in the hospital, and officials sent them to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to test for the chemicals found in Flakka, a synthetic stimulant, Snyder said.

Those results typically take one to three weeks, Snyder said, but he asked to expedite them “because of the intense public scrutiny.”

“The big questions are answered,” Snyder said. “We just don’t know why.

“What is it that triggered this homicidal episode?”

Neighbor recovering

A medical examiner ruled Tuesday the manner of death for Stevens and Mishcon was homicide, Snyder said. Full autopsy reports weren't available Wednesday.

Stevens' cause of death was multiple trauma, which included stab wounds, lacerations and blunt trauma, Snyder said. Mishcon's cause of death was blunt force trauma, but she also had multiple stab wounds.

On Wednesday, Jeffrey Fisher — the neighbor across the street from the couple who tried to stop the attack, got stabbed and called 911 — was in good condition at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

Mike Conner, of Stuart, said Fisher is his wife's brother-in-law. He said Fisher sustained some superficial wounds and is doing OK.

"Jeff's a very conscientious man and neighbor that just came to the aid of a neighbor," Conner said.

As of Wednesday, flowers had been placed in front of the single-story, beige home with a Spanish tile roof where the attack occurred.

Jim McNamara, who said he owns Heritage Builders and built the couple's home, said he had known Stevens and Mishcon for about 18 years.

"They were both just the nicest people you ever want to meet," McNamara said. "They were great people."

Follow Laurie K. Blandford and Will Greenlee on Twitter: @TCPalmLaurie and @OffTheBeatTweet

