Face-biting suspect believed he was "half-man, half-dog" when he killed couple, doctor says

Stuart, Fla. -- A forensic psychologist says a former college student believed he was "half-dog, half-man" when he fatally attacked a man and woman at their home and was found biting one of their faces. The Palm Beach Post reports Dr. Phillip Resnick made the conclusion in a 38-page mental-health report released this week by the Martin County State Attorney's Office.

Investigators say they found Austin Harrouff, now 22, biting John Stevens' face while making growling noises on Aug. 15, 2016.

Resnick's report says the fact that Harrouff persisted in biting Stevens "in the presence of police officers, in spite of threats of being shot, being tased and receiving multiple kicks to the head, suggests that Mr. Harrouff was actively psychotic."

Harrouff's attorneys are preparing an insanity defense for the Nov. 4 trial.

In a 2017 interview with Phillip "Dr. Phil" McGraw, Harrouff said he "never planned it" and "didn't want to do it."

Harrouff, hospital bed interview, told Dr. Phil he couldn't explain the attack. "I don't know," Harrouff said. "If I did, I would tell you."

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