Murder In America – EP. 221 – FLORIDA: The "Zombie" Murders

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of "Murder in America," hosted by Courtney Shannon and Colin Browen, deeply investigates the infamous "zombie" murders in Tequesta, Florida, highlighting the shocking case of Austin Harrouff. In August 2016, Harrouff, a 19-year-old college student, murdered two beloved local residents, John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon, in an attack so violent and bizarre it garnered national attention for its cannibalistic and seemingly supernatural elements. The hosts meticulously explore the backgrounds of the perpetrator and victims, the progression of Harrouff's psychosis, the brutal crime itself, and the ensuing legal and ethical debates surrounding mental health, drug use, and justice.

Episode Structure & Key Segments

• Setting the Scene: Introduction to the Tequesta community and victims
• Austin Harrouff: Upbringing, college life, and decline
• The Descent into Psychosis: Video evidence and personal writings
• The Night of the Murders: Timeline and firsthand accounts
• The Police Response and Aftermath
• Court Proceedings: Mental health evaluations, family impact, and verdict
• Reflections: Victims’ families, justice, and the legacy of the crime

Detailed Breakdown

1. A Safe Community Shattered

[07:59 – 09:47]

• Tequesta is depicted as an “idyllic, family-friendly” small town, emphasized by clean neighborhoods, neighborly bonds, and a low crime rate.
• The murders on August 15, 2016, “served as a chilling reminder that even the quaintest communities are not immune to tragedy.” (Colin Brown, 09:47)

2. Austin Harrouff: Promising Beginnings and Early Red Flags

[09:47 – 13:37]

• Austin grows up in affluence with high parental expectations; reports reflect love but also strictness.
• Despite social difficulties in youth, Austin excels academically and athletically; teachers describe him as “polite, quiet and well mannered.” (Colin Brown, 11:29)
• Parents divorce in 2010, with subsequent family legal and disciplinary struggles. Still, family ties remain close, possibly keeping Austin’s challenges below the surface.

3. College Years and Mental Decline

[16:43 – 18:56]

• At Florida State, Austin initially thrives, but underlying family mental health issues become more apparent (father’s bipolar disorder, grandparents’ and aunts’ diagnoses).
• Substance abuse becomes routine; Austin admits to “blacking out about three times a week” (Courtney Brown, 18:56). Drug use escalates his mental instability.

4. Signs of Psychosis and Disturbing Online Behavior

[18:56 – 29:07]

• Austin’s online persona grows increasingly erratic: he posts rapping, bodybuilding, and advice videos, cycling through different personas and foreign accents. (Clips, 20:12–28:08)
• Colleagues and friends observe “a distinct shift in his personality.” (Courtney Brown, 21:55)
• Google searches and journal entries grow increasingly paranoid and bizarre—reference to demonic possession, hearing voices, and a desire to be remembered or be great.
• Notable Quote: “I know that one day my day will come. God will tell me when that is—not Lucifer. ... I don’t want to be worshipped, but I know that I will be.” (Austin’s journal, 35:56)

5. Escalating Delusions and Family Alarm

[37:39 – 45:59]

• Austin’s latching on to religious mania and fearing the “devil’s” presence in his life becomes pronounced.
• He isolates, speaks of being “half man, half dog,” claims immortality, and displays grandiose and persecutory delusions.
• Family attempts intervention: “...the entire family had sat down and suggested a 72 hour mental health hold under Florida's Baker Act. But unfortunately, this would never happen.” (Courtney Brown, 41:05)

6. The Murders: Minute-by-Minute

[54:35 – 86:41]

• After several bizarre incidents during a family dinner and at his mother’s home, Austin leaves, walking back to his father’s house.
• He diverts onto the street where John and Michelle reside, undresses, and claims to see a “demon.” In a state of delusional panic, he attacks Michelle in her garage.
• Neighbor Jeffrey Fisher intervenes, sustaining severe injuries after being warned, “You want no part of this.” (73:44)
• Police arrive to find Austin biting John’s flesh, growling, and resisting arrest. Attempts to subdue him with tasers, physical force, and even a police dog initially fail.

Memorable Quotes:

• “He had his fingers like a fish hook in his mouth, trying to pull his cheek apart. He was growling.” – Officer at the scene, [78:14]
• “I kicked him in the head. His head came off for a second, and then he went right back and took a deeper grapple hold.” – Deputy Trochan, [82:14]
• Austin, restrained and en route to the hospital: “Kill me. I’m eating people. Kill me. Fucking kill me. Shoot me now. I deserve to die.” (83:09)

7. Victims’ Lives Remembered

[54:35 – 60:53]

• John Stevens III and Michelle Mishcon are described as generous, community-oriented, and deeply in love—a true “heart of their neighborhood.”
• Their lifestyle and affection are emphasized: “Each year with you gets better and better. Each time I turn onto Kokomo Lane, I smile, thinking I’m going to see you. You are my everything.” (Michelle’s note, 54:35)

8. Investigation & Legal Proceedings

[95:16 – 119:20]

• Despite the “zombie” narrative, toxicology reveals no bath salts, flakka, or major hallucinogens in Austin’s system—only elevated alcohol and traces of marijuana.
• Forensic psychiatrists determine Austin was legally insane, with severe bipolar disorder and acute psychotic features—“He believed he was invincible and godlike, compared himself to Jesus and had superpowers.” (Dr. Resnik’s report, 95:16)
• Both defense and prosecution experts agree Austin was unable to distinguish right from wrong.

9. The Verdict and Family Outrage

[112:48 – 119:20]

• Judge accepts plea of not guilty by reason of insanity; Austin is indefinitely committed to a secure mental health facility.
• Families express outrage and heartbreak, calling the result “White rich boy justice.” (Cindy Mishkan, 121:37)
• Victim impact statements are harrowing: “Is it really so hard for you to understand that you are just a cold-blooded murderer, not a victim, and certainly not a POW, Holocaust survivor, or slave?” (Cindy Mishkan, 113:14)
• The trauma of the crime extends far beyond the immediate victims—families lament a lack of closure, and the community’s sense of safety is destroyed.

Notable Quotes & Emotional Highlights

• “[Austin] turned and looked at me and said, ‘You want no part of this. You want no part of me.’” – Jeffrey Fisher, [73:44]
• “I know that before I die, I must have children. I must leave my mark. I know that they won’t be perfect—no one is.” – Austin’s journal, [35:56]
• “He had his legs intertwined, his arms wrapped around him. He had his fingers like a fish hook in his mouth…he was growling.” – Deputy Trochan, [78:14]
• “For hours, the court listened to victim impact statements…The Haruf family sat in silence with their heads down. Ultimately, the judge accepted the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.” (Courtney Brown, 118:55)

Important Timestamps

• 04:00–06:52: Introduction to the night of the murders, immediate horror in the garage.
• 11:29–13:37: Austin’s academic and athletic high school achievements.
• 18:56–29:07: Escalation of substance use and online behavioral evidence of mental decline.
• 41:05–45:59: Family’s attempts at intervention, rising alarm.
• 54:35–60:53: Humanizing the victims—their histories, character, and place in the community.
• 70:35–74:57: The attack as relived by the neighbor, night of the murders.
• 78:14: Police describe finding Austin attacking John in the garage.
• 95:16: Toxicology results and forensic evaluations.
• 112:48–124:19: Victims’ families’ victim impact statements and the final verdict.

Tone & Language

The narrative is somber, empathic, and often impassioned, alternating between factual exposition and emotional testimonials. The hosts maintain a respectful, investigative tone, while family members and victims’ survivors express raw grief, frustration, and anger—particularly as the legal system’s verdict leaves them feeling betrayed.

Conclusion & Legacy

The Madison Harrouff “zombie” murders remain one of Florida’s most shocking crimes. The episode serves both as a “true crime anatomy”—exploring the nuanced interplay of mental health, substance use, family, and systemic failings—and as a tribute to the lives so violently cut short. It confronts listeners with uncomfortable truths about justice, the unpredictability of psychosis, and the ways in which even the safest communities are vulnerable.

The episode closes with a call to mental health advocacy and remembrance for the victims—not as murder victims defined by their gruesome end, but as the generous, loving people they were in life.

Resources & Further Reading

• If listeners want to honor John and Michelle or take action, the show donates to the Jed Foundation, focusing on youth mental health and college student wellbeing.

Suggested Listening Flow for Those New to the Case

• Start at [04:00] for the night of the murders.
• For insight on Austin’s unraveling mental health, listen between [16:43–29:07].
• To understand the victims and the impact, focus on [54:35–60:53] and [112:48–124:19].
• For legal and ethical discussion, listen from [95:16] onward.

Further Notables

The episode's depth, emotional honesty, and thorough documentation make it an authoritative account of a tragedy that resonates far beyond true crime enthusiasts—raising pressing questions about accountability, mental illness, intervention, and how communities and families cope with irreversible loss.