FSU student accused in fatal stabbings speaks about bodybuilding in YouTube video

Austin Harrouff says he doesn't need steroids to become bodybuilder

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A Florida State University student accused of fatally stabbing a married couple in the garage of their Martin County home spoke about why he decided not to be a bodybuilder in a YouTube video posted four days before the violent attack.

Austin Harrouff, 19, is seen in the video speaking to the camera as he talks about his "realization" that he no longer wants to follow bodybuilders and instead follow himself.

"I know what's right for me. I don't need drugs," he said in the video posted Thursday. "I know that they can change me, but the thing is, that's not being healthy, you know? Being healthy is what's natural, you know, what comes natural to you. You think steroids are natural? Who knows, you know? Who knows? You think steroids would be beneficial? Who knows? But for me I know that I don't know, but I think that steroids really aren't for me, honestly."

His video confession came just days before Michelle Stevens, 53, and her husband, John Stevens, 59, were attacked in their garage late Monday night.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said deputies found Harrouff on top of the husband, biting and removing pieces of the victim's face with his teeth when they arrived.

Snyder said the first deputy who arrived tried to stop Harrouff with a Taser gun, but that didn't stop him. More deputies and a K-9 unit were called and eventually overpowered him.

A neighbor who tried to help, Jeff Fisher, 47, was also stabbed. He was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Harrouff was also taken to the hospital, where the sheriff said he was making "animal-like sounds" when he arrived. A spokeswoman for the Martin County Sheriff's Office said Harrouff was conscious but can't speak because of a breathing tube.

"I used to think that I needed steroids to be, to be a bodybuilder … all I need is really just to learn, learn from everything," Harrouff said in the video.

In another video posted on his YouTube channel, Harrouff speaks about why he doesn't do steroids.

 "I'm not saying steroids are bad," he said to the camera while driving his car. "If you want to do them, go right ahead, man. But I'm just saying this. Appreciate your fitness, your muscles. Stay at it, man. Stay at it."

According to a Jupiter police incident report, the suspect's mother, Mina Harrouff, told officers that her son abruptly left the Duffy's restaurant on Indiantown Road earlier that evening after he had gotten into an argument with his father while family and friends were present.

Harrouff's mother said he "was acting strange the last week or so." She said he mentioned having "super powers" and that he was "here to protect people," the report said.

File: Austin Harrouff Jupiter Police Incident Report

Police said Mina Harrouff did not believe that her son was a danger to himself or others and said that he did not have a history of mental illness.

When asked whether her son was a heavy-drug user, Mina Harrouff said, "No," the report said.

Harrouff tested negative for street drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin, but another round of testing will include chemicals found in flakka.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.