The Disturbed Case of Austin Harrouff

In the quiet town of Jupiter, Florida, an event happened that would send shockwaves across the country. Austin Harrouff was regular frat boy, but over the summer of 2016, his fitness video's on KZbin took a stranger turn, he began to act differently. And when he stormed out of a family restaurant one night, no could could imagine what would happen next to a quiet, lovely couple.
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[@PassTheMarmalade1957]

Holy shit, a neighbour who heard screaming and actually *did something.* Thumbs up for Jeff.

[@christopherhammond5142]

It's disturbing how often the police check with the neighbours the next day and they heard all the screaming and gunshots and shit but didn't do a damn thing.

[@truthseekeralways7050]

Lady Marmalade Exactly

[@truthseekeralways7050]

@@christopherhammond5142 Disturbing indeed I was Called Brown Noser for calling for Help I don't care

[@christopherhammond5142]

@@truthseekeralways7050 One of my housemates once gave me a hard time for 'getting involved' when the next door neighbour was beating the shit out of his wife. It's just such a garbage attitude to have.

[@jupeter24]

@@christopherhammond5142 Good for you!

[@rightpa]

His parents must have been in denial for years. There is no way him jumping on the car and saying that stuff that day was their first sign.

[@TheDramacist]

Some parents just can't deal with the reality of a mentally unwell child. They become unwell adults. Then they get...eaten.

[@jillgarlick2122]

I’d like to give them both a kick up the backside and hold them both accountable to a degree for just not taking enough interest in what was happening with their son.

[@turnermd1302]

@@TheDramacist The two who got eaten weren't his parents my dude

[@TheDramacist]

@@turnermd1302 I'm well aware, thanks. I was trying to stay on theme.

[@drugreen123]

I hope the victim's family goes after them in a civil court. They enabled this and now that POS father wants to "pull something off" to get him out? SUE THEM.

[@annjepsen1621]

This is one of the rare times where I feel *horrible* for the killer. When he woke up and was told what he did, he begged the ppl around him to kill him. The parents had tons of warning signs that they either ignored or straight up mocked. They hold a lot of blame for what happened.

[@TPWK216]

Yes its sad! He will live with it for the rest of his life. His parents betrayed him 😢

[@TPWK216]

@@elainewat2607 im not sure what "demons" your talking about. But if you think he is posessed of a demon rather than suffer from a desiece maybe you should go back to school. To go back to the matter, the mother called the cops when he for the third time disaperd from the restaurant. Both her and the father had multiple chances to take him to hospital before then.

[@betsyj59]

You know, it's interesting how Austin kept talking, in his videos, about how you could train yourself, that trainers knew their own bodies, but not yours/his and so forth. He also texted something similar to his girlfriend about making himself better. In retrospect, after listening to those parents of his, those comments resonate at a very different level. It's like he realized that he had only himself to rely on with regard to dealing with his mental unraveling. Truly, truly sad.

[@001Khy]

Why are you using so many commas 😂😂

[@PickIeweasel]

Anyone gonna appreciate Jeff? Heard a scream and WENT TO CHECK. Managed to get away from this "Superman Cannibal" AND called the cops.

[@joehooker7522]

Much better than the not my problem attitude. I mind my own business but hearing a scream typically something's wrong

[@one.2622]

@@joehooker7522 should have just called the cops and he would have stayed safe and the cops would have been there sooner

[@dreambean.]

The poor guy must be absolutely traumatized as well. I hope he was able to move to a new home at some point,I imagine continuing to live there would be incredibly difficult to live with.

[@RichardRitenour0522]

Glad to see this hero put his safety second to help others and very glad he survived, we need about 7 billion more just like him in this world.

[@FussyPickles]

Jeff's hardcore but I don't believe the reports by cops for a minute lol. They've gunned down people WITH random bystanders for way less. There's no way it transpired the way they said. My guess is they got there and didn't save the guy in time so they came up with excuses. None of em got stabbed or hurt after all.

[@Toria1982]

His dad saying 'oh I'm glad you didn't say anything' and austin basically begging to have a therapist. Dad just like oh well we will but we are gonna pull something off. The kid needs help but dad doesn't seem to be prioritising that?

[@spasticfurchild]

Right?! The dad saying “I plan on it…soon…” about getting him a therapist was RIDICULOUS.

[@angiehemenway243]

100% this is why it got to this point. I have a feeling they've been ignoring his cries for help his whole life sadly.

[@lily.218]

It's infuriating!!! You could hear the fear in his voice. Hopefully the system steps in and gives him the care he needs ...

[@girthbrooks6414]

A lot of parents refuse to get help for their kids because they’re afraid of being judged or shamed, it’s pretty pathetic. America needs to talk about mental health and take it much more seriously, our citizens are very sick.

[@Toria1982]

@@lily.218 yes, I felt so sad hearing him talk. Seeing him cry when talking to Dr Phil, he is truly destroyed by what's happened. We don't see that a lot in these videos. I have so much sympathy for the people he killed and their families but this time I feel it for him too. It's rare these get me like that.

[@AlabasterHarleqinne]

It's so frustrating how this story repeats itself. Parents, friends, just ignoring someone as they get sicker and sicker or laughing about it, or outright denying there's an issue. When just helping them to get real professional help could save their lives, and sometimes the lives of others.

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Professionals aren't professional. If they were, you wouldn't see these problems. It's like cancer and heart disease. Professionals could cut the death rate from those illnesses by 90%. That's why they need the government service of keeping real professionals out of the profession.

[@marcelladillard3556]

Amen! They failed him.

[@Zanza05]

You not gonna acknowledge that he did HEAVY drugs all throughout his life? Nah that definitely has absolutely nothing to do with his mental illness, only his family

[@bigpimpun666]

My brother suffers from delusions and is schizophrenic. Sadly the healthcare system can not help anyone unless they are willing or commit a horrible crime. I live with this brother and it's terrifying because he doesn't want help. My mother doesn't care and neither does the healthcare

[@exwaifupillow]

That’s Florida people’s mental health awareness for ya

[@Shestheman013]

Honestly this case is tough. I feel bad for the family of the victims because you lost someone you cared about in a HORRIFIC way, but for them to be so cold to someone who is CLEARLY mentally unwell, like everyone could clearly see it, is upsetting. On top of seeing Austin slowly get down this rabbit hole of psychotic (sorry if this seems insensitive just I have no other way for wording it) IS beyond heart breaking. Him begging his dad for a shrink and just wanting to talk to his mom (who seemed like she was dodging him). And then looking at his Google searches and seeing him trying to figure out what's wrong. It just hurts all around. Like there will be no justice in this case for anyone. Not for the victims family and not for Austin and his family. This case sucks man

[@victoryv9575]

Agreed. Utterly tragic

[@mollydeb]

Finally i see a comment saying what i was thinking during the whole victim impact statements!!! The victims family spat so much vitriol and hate and treated Austin like he was literally Ted Bundy. I completely understand the anger from the victims families, but they were so tactless and you could tell they give zero fucks about mental illness. From day 1 the victims family denied he was mentally ill, so before a professional evaluated him, and then refused to accept any evidence to the contrary. When the one sister was reading all of his texts, the majority were about drinking, using stimulants (very common study drugs at all colleges) and marijuana, which isnt great but not abnormal for kids that age. I was so annoyed becuse it didnt show an evil person at all, it showed someone losing their grip and desperately trying to cope with substances. They equate partying with murder, demonize addiction and paint people who drink in college as bad people. The vast majority of severly mentally ill people at some point turn to substances to self-medicate. The family lost my respect when they tried to convince a mentally ill man to off himself (among so many other ignorant, hateful comments). And when they equated a struggling, mentally ill kid (im talking about before the murder) with an evil monster and saying some text messages are enough for the death penatly. I understand the anger the families feel but they took it way too far. Those cops who responded that night are probably so traumatized and the family is calling them cowards for not murdering him on the spot?! Evil thing to say. Also, dont even get me started on the prosceutor after the trial saying he wants to change the insanity law so “psychologists (said with distain) shouldnt be given the key to the jail”. I thought we evolved past the time where “shrinks” were scary and psychology wasnt real. Psychologists have no clue what they are doing, but dont worry some butthurt prosecutor is the one who will solve mental illness once and for all!😂 lets go back to locking them all up right? Awesome display of ignorance from him. (Okay im done now, ive been obsessed/hyperfocused on this case for 2 days and had to let my thoughts out)

[@Leanbeeean]

Just learning about this case tonight & I 100% agree with you.

[@erindwan4030]

I can’t imagine the absolute terror and isolation he would have felt while experiencing his first complete disconnect from reality in an environment that severely underplayed and enabled the escalation into acute psychosis which otherwise has a relatively positive prognosis with early intervention - all of which are a quick google search away. Even Austin mid prodromal psychosis tried a google search or two

[@erindwan4030]

@@mollydebright?? It felt fairly tone deaf. Of course, they have every right to grieve and express their hurt, I feel disappointed with the “drug-induced, selfish, irresponsible frat boy” narrative. Many college students experiment with recreational drugs - most don’t develop an acute psychotic break (especially considering Austin seemed relatively conservative on the spectrum of recreational drug experimentation). Even if his drug use did precipitate an underlying pathological disposition to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with psychotic features, I still believe he deserves the same treatment irrespective of the cause. It may appear that mental health symptoms sprung from the drug use, but what actually might be occurring is that untreated symptoms of an underlying mental health condition were exacerbated by the substance misuse but not caused by it.

[@scorpionheart]

Sounds like a manic episode to a T. Him not sleeping, being delusional, behaving erratically, having a history of depression. He's at the perfect age of onset for bipolar or schizophrenia

[@yyikes9950]

exactly what i was thinking. especially with the drugs he did. (not saying it was his fault, but drugs like those definitely can push someone into a psychotic break like that)

[@TheDramacist]

Sad that it was textbook and still no one stopped this preventable tragedy

[@timespaceperspective701]

very sad , alot of times its hard to get them help too, its all very short term, cant be forced to take meds etc.. in and out of jail, in hosp for a day or two then back on the streets..... rinse , repeat.

[@jackiep1225]

was thinking the same thing. my sister had her first manic episode a couple of months into her freshman year of college due to stress-no doubt the drugs this guy was taking contributed to the onset of an episode.

[@nonaeubinis4934]

That was just what I was thinking. People need to be more aware of things that can go wrong with the human mind. Sounds like people were ignoring his symptoms. A fucking shame

[@oscarbaseball376]

finally a neighbor that called the police when they heard screaming.

[@philliam111]

After trying to help even better

[@NannupTiger]

But he was stabbed 17 times and nearly gutted, he nearly lost his own life, he didn't/couldn't stop the murders, he should have just stayed home and called the cops, instead of wading into the massacre 😕

[@lynsey4224]

@@NannupTiger yeah I'm not sure it was a good thing in this case. In fact it's a prime example of why people usually mind their own business. The guy was brave for sure but I wouldn't judge him for staying away from a crazed person wielding a knife and eating people's faces. Glad he's okay but no doubt he'll be haunted by that day for the rest of his life.

[@pitbull82]

People could witness an execution and my neighborhood and they still wouldn't get involved by calling the police

[@xixxxxix5084]

Exactly my thought!

[@tripnfall3531]

Man seeing Austin cry like that after realizing what he had done really broke my heart. You can tell he genuinely feels remorseful for the horrible crime that he committed. He clearly was having some kind of psychotic break and wasn’t in control of his own actions. He needs serious mental help, and now it’s unlikely that he will ever get it.

[@therealJamieJoy]

He was committed to a max security hospital indefinitely.

[@alexjosephwalker8605]

This is why the whole "can't help people who don't help themselves" is iffy. Like sure, set boundaries with coworkers and casual friends, but if these people are literally your brother, sister, daughter, son. It IS your responsibility to help them if they can't help themselves. Even if it's not convenient for you

[@joywagner979]

Yeah, I think immediate family should definitely get outside support in order to do something, when immediate family members exhibit concerning behaviors like this. If it ends up being a misunderstanding, then certified professionals making the intervention (meaning mental health evaluation) will almost definitely figure it out. At that point, it can only help everyone. If there does indeed appear to be fire where there is smoke, like the person really truly is suffering from something serious, then professional and possibly also legal intervention can even save lives. Many people hold back on doing anything because they don't think their own social support systems will understand. And in many cases, they're right: other people, even other family members, will tell them they "should never do something like that to a family member." Source: trying to deal with a family member with serious issues, other family members are divided on what to do about it and will actively undermine anyone who tries to intervene. If your family's opinions are important to you, then that's a serious emotional problem that many people can't reconcile and can leave someone feeling like they can't win for losing.

[@death2poptarts]

He litterally told his dad he needed a therapist like, now, and his dad just talked over him. So upsetting.

[@primesspct2]

. His parents really dropped the ball. With everything that happened with his Dad that day; I would have had him forcefully put in psychiatric care for 72 hours ; if he wasn’t losing his mind , sure he would be mad ; but he wouldn’t be facing murder charges either. I suppose I shouldn’t judge his parents , I wasn’t there. And I’m quite sure they see their errors in hindsight, and are heart broken . My heart honestly goes out to this kid, he was really suffering . He must not have talked much to his parents , should we be wondering why his own friends, and girlfriend didn’t contact his parents or authorities ? Could he have just really gone over the edge from lack of sleep , like in fight club ? So sad , he doesn’t belong in prison but I would think places for the criminally insane could be worse. Could he lead a normal life with proper treatment ? Mike is right , he was a victim as well, they were all victims, of severe mental illness. And there can’t be justice in this case , not as we think of it. He did not go out with intent to harm. Prayers for proper treatment and recovery for him. Prayers to the victims family as well, just tragic all around.

[@CovidConQuitTheCensorship]

Exactly. And there lies the problem or the consequence of bad parenting

[@kaymarie4851]

I had to get help after I moved out for college. My family just didnt care or understand. Now years later I still have my mom calling my meds my "crazy pills" :) You can literally only just hope and pray that someone helps you while you feel your own sanity slipping away lol

[@kingcosworth2643]

@@primesspct2 I'll guarantee hid father wasn't thinking that Austin would be eating somebodies face that night. I think they sound caring, but didn't know what to do. Also, Austin appeared unpredictable, trashing the garage and car one second making normal sounding videos a day or two before. He's at the age where schizophrenia kicks in, so he would of been mostly normal all his life and then suddenly fuses start to blow, you could see Austin himself was confused, 'am I going crazy', all in all a horrible situation for absolutely everybody involved, the victims, Austin, his family. You never hear of something like this happening, nobody saw it coming.

[@probablymykidcommenting2711]

That part hurt my heart

[@illbeburningstar1]

This is sad man the parents just wanted to pretend this kid was ok you can't just ignore shit like this

[@Cool-Aid5564]

It can be years to get them diagnosed.

[@cianbroderick4145]

Something the dad strikes me as a man that maybe promoted this alpha like behaviour

[@deerick3109]

Even if his parents new he was %100 bat s crazy there isn't much they could do for him. The laws are set up in the United States where you have the right to be crazy. You cannot force someone to take their medication or commit them unless they hurt someone or themselves. The laws really are screwed up here.

[@louniece1650]

@@deerick3109 So true.

[@maebandy]

You can't just ignore kids period healthy or not. Even if you're divorcing or losing your job, your kid uses you to calibrate themselves and if you ignore them then they're reading the input of the world at large a little more off with each hit they take.

[@zelejeffrey248]

He sounds sounds so Brocken ‘am I going to be ok’ ‘are you getting me a theropist’ I feel awful for the victims but poor Austin too

[@Ford17x]

He was a jackass had all kinds of money, he needs to rot in prison....

[@catcherinthesky4106]

@@Ford17x He was, and is, insane. He is clearly a victim himself. I feel sorry for you if you don't have intellectual capacity to understand that distinction. If so, i guees you're a victim yourself.

[@Ford17x]

@@catcherinthesky4106 that's not a excuse, Hitler was insane, I guess he's a victim by your thinking...

[@pofuno]

@@catcherinthesky4106calm down bro your autism is showing 😂😂😂

[@pofuno]

@@catcherinthesky4106your clearly a victim of being stuck up your own ass 😂😂😂

[@mickyminnickys]

God his texts look EXACTLY like something I would’ve sent off in a manic-psychotic episode. I’m bipolar 1 and schizophrenic, thankfully medicated now. It’s so fucking sad hearing him ask if he’s going to be okay. I’ve been there. It IS a nightmare.

[@nyanbinary1717]

Serious mental illness often manifests in early adulthood, and that manifestation can be exacerbated by drug use. What an awful, awful way for everyone to find out.

[@ronniewhitedx]

@@jimmym3352 I mean I smoke it and I'm not a loser... I think your personal experiences with your dad created a negative bias toward the drug.

[@mikehunt8375]

@@ronniewhitedx YOU dont think you're a loser but thats not saying much. JS I bet many people do. Now back to your playstation controller....

[@darrenhooper3828]

@@jimmym3352 You think drinking is OK?

[@Liquidglitch]

I have bipolar which I left untreated for 15 yrs. I know work with folks with mental illness- inpatient and out- and I've yet to meet anyone with homicidal tendencies or a violent nature anywhere near this degree. During my manic episodes I achieved a 'god complex' delusion in more than one occasion but was always able to ground myself. It wasn't until I started using meth and other heavy drugs that I started to lose control of myself. While I believe Austin had developed a mental illness, unbeknownst it unrecognized by those close to him, I don't believe mental illness alone is the cause of this tragedy. His drug use almost certainty contributed to the exacerbation of his symptoms. Almost every case of drug or alcohol misuse I've been witness to is accompanied by a co-occuring mental disorder. We need to continue to educate future generations about mental illness and cast away misconceptions and stigma towards them. People like us can experience reality differently than most others but, that does not make us inherently violent. However when we make bad decisions and don't treat ourselves or begin using drugs, it gets very hard to use rationale and logic. To anyone who badmouths someone with mental illness, on the comments section or otherwise, consider the fact that your reality is subjective but that doesn't mean you can't harm another's through your words or actions. Think about what you would say to someone if you were standing face-to-face with them.

[@Liquidglitch]

@@ronniewhitedx every individual is different. If it works for you and you feel healthy and safe, power to you. Thanks for taking care

[@bollerboi8645]

This sounds like a long terrifying history with schizophrenia, and then he had full on psychosis. It's truly sad for all parties involved

[@MadMontyMN]

It sounded a bit like mania too. Poor kid.

[@Williamb612]

reminds me of the MyPillow guy

[@Williamb612]

@Grace Asher MyPillow guy during his crack phase was bad to the bone

[@byreasonofinsanity3759]

It sounds more like bipolar 1 to me. I'm bipolar and he was exhibiting every symptom of a manic episode.

[@skyvision7363]

@@byreasonofinsanity3759 Was the first thing I thought of too. I'm bipolar 2, but a friend is 1 and she had an episode I never forget. In a delusional paranoia, she called the police and thought she had detected someone planting bombs on the cars in the street, and it was the end of the world. She was so frustrated when nobody else seemed to be as worried as her. She was 5150 that day and is now on Lamictal, the same as me. I don't wish this on anyone. It can be and has been a crippling illness.

[@medotorg2720]

Late teens is when many schizophrenics began showing symptoms. What is disturbing about Austin is how rapidly the illness went from manic grandiosity to paranoid delusions. Unfortunately, as a body builder he had enormous amounts of physical strength to fight his perceived demons and witches.

[@Andrea-xw4hb]

These parents should be put on trial, too. His dad got himself treatment for depression. So, it wasn't lack of knowledge. Rather terribly egoistic. How dare the kid disturb his parents life by being complicated.

[@babayaga4320]

My neighbor wouldn't piss on me if I was on fire, and this dude rushed over and risked his life vs a Superman cannibal.

[@littlemisseatscrispsforbre5353]

Yeah I know what you mean. Mine waited until I left the house to pull up all my plants. I forgot my phone came around the corner and caught him. Mad eejit.

[@Kennedy4OurCountry]

Lololol!!! Yeah I know the feelin!

[@MITCH_61]

Fitness?…lolol,skinny little punk

[@FalconEye-sm2up]

time to move, those arent good neighbors.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

@@littlemisseatscrispsforbre5353 wtf, was he stealing them?? Or was he just not a fan of your plants? But either way, wtf.

[@catharinepizzarello4784]

He was quelling his symptoms with illicit drugs. Self medicating. When he stopped the drugs, his illness took over. So terribly sad and scary.

[@frankie1012]

Yep

[@lilbean5955]

he prolly was withdrawling too

[@nataliemartinez7957]

The parents have lied about the kid for ages. Even back in high schools teachers were telling them that something was wrong with him.

[@leandroxbl1]

Hope he rots in prison.

[@frankie1012]

@@lilbean5955 he was actually substance free for some time prior to this nightmare. Undiagnosed and untreated Schizophrenia. He was psychotic and hallucinating for days leading up to that evening. I understand those that are angry with him, but mental illness, and not Austin himself is to blame.

[@Dee.Murphy]

Mike, I just have to say that the compassion you showed throughout the telling of this entire story shone through. I could see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice. Like never before! Thank you

[@jimmckay2337]

We all need a neighbor like Jeff, but do we deserve him?

[@kittykatwuvsyou2]

This one was just so sad all around. Hearing Austin’s defeated plea to his dad to get a therapist for him soon after his dad brushes him off the first time he asks is really telling

[@capealio]

How is saying "I plan to" brushing him off

[@ydaani]

@@capealio right? The snap, absolute judgements that get thrown around based on such limited info is wild.

[@HistoryFromAScot]

@@ydaani It's not wild, it's the KZbin comments section! Expecting people to behave anyother way...now that's wild!

[@julielevinge266]

My daughter had very weird episode at 18 I had no choice but to have her committed, thankfully she made a full recovery. Though wouldn’t talk to me for a year. Now years later we’re really close, she has much more understanding of what happened. Why is father saying he’s gonna get a therapist???? Maybe if he’d done that months ago, maybe this need not have happened???

[@julielevinge266]

@@capealio Because he should have done something about it long before it got this bad!!!

[@Areniapixie]

“We used to tease my brother about possibly being schizophrenic” well, that explains a lot. Why mental health isn’t taken seriously ill never understand 🤯

[@fdoghan]

Yeah right? Teasing him? That says a lot about the mLfunction of getting their son help... :(

[@Kristen.The.Girl_]

I had the same reaction. That was such an ignorant thing for her to say.

[@sgsggsgsshshs8900]

Nothing more than a spoiled junkie

[@kelligray1848]

I have a paranoid schizophrenic sibling who also has Dissociative Identity Disorder- ya.... sometimes scary, because they are an adult we’ve not had access to the full truth about her conditions and couldn’t get anyone to take us seriously during her youth. The couple killed like such nice people. God Bless that neighbor.

[@npknhdfrvr]

And how the dad immediately changed the subject when he asked his dad to hurry with finding a therapist… obviously mental health isn’t taken seriously in his family. Oh and how the dad wouldn’t give him the car keys unless he took a Xanax? 1. Not even his script. 2. Extremely dangerous driving on benzos..

[@cdcalkin]

My heart just broke for him when he was talking to Dr. Phil, said he was sorry and started sobbing. That is one of the truly heartfelt apologies I think I have heard. You could almost hear in his voice the anger at himself, confusion and not comprehending how or why something like that could happen.

[@buckshort9282]

Looked like bad acting to me

[@evil63]

@@buckshort9282 cause he cry differently than you? Ok

[@darkhorse7460]

@@buckshort9282 Exactly. In between feeling REALLY remorseful I always make time to fit in a Dr. Phil interview, too.

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@darkhorse7460 Just make sure to eat someones face, that will get you an interview.. I am sure that was the while reason the kid did it, to get on tv, and pretend to cry. Unless ofc, you are too busy being in jail or prison, to find any spare time, Ive heard that it it really is a 24/7 kinda thing that..

[@jennifermaddy2442]

Imagine when he came out of the phycosis to realise what he had actually done

[@rachelbluth4088]

You know what I think is nice? How you often say "coz I love ya" at the end of your videos. I had a bad day yesterday and even though I have lots of people who love me and I them, you mads me feel less terrible and that it was going to be okay. Thanks, Mike. I also like the way you say "third". 😊

[@SisterWomen]

His tone when he asked his dad for a therapist broke my heart. Hard to imagine a more tragic story.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

Yes. At least he really wants help 💔

[@mariebee3146]

I agree. His tone sounded helpless and lost.

[@dragonsember]

It's a shame he didn't get psychiatric help sooner.

[@bevoss7573]

Yea, I feel he's been let down all along the way. It's just tragic across the board.

[@pilgrim9542]

Not only that, but how his Dad kind of shrugged it off and said he was "working on it" before asking if Austin called his mom. His grasp on reality was spinning out of control but it seems like those closest to him didn't want to acknowledge it.

[@tebsa76]

He was at the perfect age for Schizophrenia to kick in - how could family and friends have missed this??? It's very sad because it's a torturous condition to suffer through without support. Even though Schizophrenics can be hard to support, it's worth the fight if you love them.

[@nacho_ncam]

Exactly! The ages of 19-23 are critical.

[@sassynfree884]

Not everyone is aware of the potential age for schizophrenia to kick in. I worked with some schizophrenics years ago. Twin men who had been engineers graduated from MIT. Thy were twins. Horrible disease!

[@JET7C0]

Honestly a lot of people diagnosed with Schizophrenia can lead fairly normal, functional lives, with the right treatment, and in that sense, not be particularly hard to support at all, though I do know what you're saying - it isn't always that way depending on the course/severity of the disease and the treatment. That's what makes this particularly sad, though: if he'd gotten treatment before his _clear_ psychotic break turned horrifically violent, he could've had a decent, normal life.

[@chrishandsome6542]

@@JET7C0 sad but true. oh well.

[@FultonRecovery]

not to stereotype but wealthy kids and schizonphrenics/psycopaths can be hard to tell apart. especially when surrounded with eachoter.

[@desrewilliamson4752]

His parents let him down big time

[@grahamWhent]

Mr ballen covered this story with a deeper look at how truly badly his folks failed him . Ex. His folks locked their bedroom door while austin hourly protected their house from demons ; as opposed to ..ummm this may be a sign that your sons glue is coming undone . That chapter is still my fav though.!

[@Nanno00]

How anyone can say he doesn’t meet the criteria for insane at the time of the murders is beyond me. I do think he probably needs locked up but in a mental facility, not a prison.

[@karenamyx2205]

Yeah, but.. you realize mental facilities are far far worse then prisons. For a guy so close to normal functioning mentality like him, itll be hell..

[@leinonibishop9480]

Both doctors said he was insane at the time of the crime. His insanity defense was successful.

[@kellietaylor9913]

we don't do that anymore since they got rid of asylum my gf works at a prison most are mentally challenged alot are mentally ill..it's disgusting how the system deals w them

[@hadesisbaby]

Mental facilities can be worse than prison tbh.

[@andrew5222]

yeah fun fact, mental facilities are prisons. dont kid yourself. we do a great job these days putting a bow on mental health care, but the whole system is as archaic, savage, and ineffective as ever. we think we're so "advanced" with our medical world... lmfao. we're not. at all. we're children poking at things we don't understand and mostly making things worse.

[@Sarah_b_curiouser]

That phone call with his dad "are you getting me a therapist?" Yeah, gonna try to "can you do it soon" *cutting him off* did you talk to your mom? Makes me think that he probably DID tell his parents he was having issues and that he may have even ASKED for help and got continually brushed off.

[@Xxxxxx19-p1c]

That made me so angry to hear that!

[@Sarah_b_curiouser]

@@Xxxxxx19-p1c same!

[@moni2624]

No I just think he doesn't know about time

[@archlich4489]

Ok in fairness we don't know for sure. But you might be right.

[@blumusdu]

I'm betting based on his texts to his gf and his desperate google search history he's said something to multiple people multiple times

[@J3tr0cks]

The mother commenting how her family used to joke about her brother having schizophrenia, the father dodging Austin’s request to get him a therapist ASAP and then Austin not being able to contact his mom… It makes me think that maybe he did show signs of mental distress and they just didn’t want to acknowledge it. I don’t think they did it out of malice, but them not taking the proper steps to get their son the help he needs when he obviously needed it makes me think that they didn’t have the best attitude towards mental illness.

[@sgili586]

I think the same. Someone had to notice he wasn't right. But nobody did a thing. I have had 2 friends who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and there are a whole lot of signs that they should have seen. His videos omg red flags all over them. How could nobody, not one person say something?

[@jailynlomas]

he showed EVERY sign .. did you not watch the video ?? your son tells you he believes he is a God & numerous other entities AND using drugs. also they DEFINITELY knew how mad it was because how did they get the Xanax that the dad gave him?

[@teesmyth5665]

He was definitely ignored

[@gigimokri6476]

Unfortunately many many families do.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

Mental illness is still badly stigmatized. Trouble is, most people are ignorant about mental illness, and they feel deep shame if anyone in their family has even a mild mental illness. In a lot of families, you don't even talk about the subject. That led to me not knowing one of my aunts existed, until I was a teenager. Even then, they claimed she'd had whooping cough, and that's why she was that way. Like the truth wasn't in her face.

[@piperlauderdale3673]

BiPolar Disorder is generally diagnosed in late teens early 20's and it can appear very rapidly in someone with no previous mental health issues. It is a horrific thing to experience, watching this happen to someone you love. My late husband was textbook BP1D and he would go a couple of years with perfectly normal (sweet wonderful loving funny happy) behavior and then within a week he would be in the middle of a full-on manic episode, completely broken with reality, maxing out credit cards, breaking into people's homes, screaming about computers in the walls, knocking his own teeth out, and getting lost downtown for weeks at a time with no money and no shoes and no real concept of who he was or where he belonged. These episodes would be months long and would (hopefully) end with an involuntary 30-60 day commitment or an inpatient drug rehab. The warning signs were so brief and when you don't know what to look for (every case is different) it might just appear like someone is just being goofy or maybe high or anxious or whatever. My husband used to use the word "immaculate" a lot when he would be gearing up for an episode. That word still makes me nervous. I divorced him in 2012 after I (and our two daughters) went through 4 separate episodes with him, each longer and stronger and more difficult to come back from than the one before it. He passed away in June of 2020. I hope he finally has peace and healing and serenity and light. He was a wonderful and talented man and he did not deserve this monster of an illness.

[@grish1233]

You failed him and ran, you are not a good human being.

[@therealJamieJoy]

I am also a widow of bipolar disorder with mixed manic episodes. I divorced in 2004. Four years later he had passed on; not sure if overdose was purposeful or not I am so very sorry to hear about your troubles. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. No one deserves this miserable illness. It can turn extraordinary people into monsters.

[@willissudweeks1050]

Yes but eating peoples faces is not generally a symptom of bi polar.

[@ronalda1000]

@willissudweeks1050 It's been also said that he is schizophrenic Besides even if he didn't have drugs trace in his blood but the damage was already done by drugs, alcohol and psychedelics Ppl with bipolar have like sensitive and disordered neurotransmitters

[@ronalda1000]

I hope he found peace In case you noticed any minor symptoms on your daughters I suggest Valerian Roots It's natural and helped me a lot and it differ from brand to another or when it's pure natural tea I have bipolar type 2 I wish you peace love compassion and prosperity 🌻

[@lrla8657]

He is the exact same age as my son. They say young men that age are more likely to suffer a mental breakdown. You could tell there was something off about him from way before.

[@melissarivard7238]

This has to be one of the craziest cases covered. And it’s just so fucking sad for everyone involved. Damn

[@willfried9551]

I never thought I would feel bad for that Kid in a million years . After deep thought I do but not enough not pursue Life in Prison

[@JET7C0]

I feel bad for the family of the victims, and I can _100%_ understand their anger, but given the evidence, this is seriously one of the clearest cut cases of not guilty by reason of insanity I've ever seen. My sympathy lies equally with the victims and Austin, knowing how psychosis, and especially first time psychotic breaks work on a neurological level. If anyone in the victim's families could experience what a psychotic break is like, I think their judgments about Austin would crumble pretty quickly.

[@BigBrianStormer]

@@JET7C0 Well said, and I agree completely

[@charlesrobinson5709]

@@JET7C0 Would you feel the same way if it was your Mom and Dad?

[@numero1qw]

@@JET7C0 I totally agree with you, i'm bipolar too and i had a psychosis, i can say as a fact from my own experience that during pyschosis you have zero control over your actions and toughts, lucky for me my parents realized the same day and took me to a mental hospital (that's when i got diagnosted), psychosis is horrible.

[@arwenhardy1995]

Rarely, if ever, do I feel empathy for a perpetrator; however, this poor young man is seriously sick. His family failed him.

[@TheLikenessOfNormal]

Same here brother. Would be something terrible to come to after a fugue state and find out you did that shit. Hes never gonna forgive himself.

[@ecb1979]

Agreed. This case was very unusual in that I felt a great sadness for this young man.

[@nunpho]

I can't imagine the mental torment.

[@chloecamp8714]

Well....the other issue is that he was a full adult, I highly doubt there weren't people around him mentioning things. If he himself didn't see, or feel that something was wrong with the episodes, he wouldn't have gotten help. It's very possible that he had never been violent at all, so they may have figured he was doing the college kid thing & maybe was on something. I haven't watched the full video yet, but if it was only the first few episodes, I can see them thinking it might be drugs. Still sad though, being in the position of not knowing what to do, or handle the situation to figure out what is going on I imagine would be tough too. If it'd been going on for years it'd be a completely different story

[@sharoneriksarmy9589]

@Nash78 I thought that. 😤 This has been going on for a long time. They should of sorted one long before now. You can tell his mentally unwell. I feel bad for him.

[@Bizones16]

Being a retired Criminal Defense Attorney, I've had numerous cases where I truly believed my client had mental issues. BUT, the mental competency laws in the United States concerning criminal defendants are Ssooo lopsided in favor of the prosecution that it would be better if we had none at all. Thanks for this Mike !

[@Obsessed_With_Corgis]

I really hope the 2 victims’ family members come to see this tragedy for what it truly is, and redirect their blame/anger at the people who actually deserve it: His Parents. They did NOTHING to get their son help when the warning signs were brightly flashing in neon letters! If he had gotten the help he needed- I doubt that lovely couple would have been killed. His parents deserve *far* more blame than him.

[@despicabledavidshort3806]

It would prob have tarnished his dad's imagine. When I was young and in trouble all the time my mom would say "what will the neighbors think"? Idgaf what the neighbors thought. If she had bothered to care she might have found out my stepfather had been molesting me since I was 9 months old til I was a teenager. When I was in my 20s and they divorced I told her. She asked him and he admitted it, saying it started at 9 mos, that's how I know. What did she do? She remarried him. Fml

[@erinlynn115]

@@despicabledavidshort3806 That's.. unthinkable! How awful. I'm sitting here trying to think of what I can say to add comfort to my statement, but really there is none.. I hope you've found peace 💖

[@davesvens8697]

I don't think his parents are as bad as people think, they just didn't understand from what it seems. I think the guy needed to ask for help and understand himself that he wasn't about to be shamed by the people who mattered if he was to get help.

[@nickywh1t3]

“It was 2016” “I remember it like it was just 5 years ago” the dad jokes are strong in this one.

[@verukasault9065]

I commented on last Friday's vid that I loved his dad jokes and he deleted my comment! 😬😂🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Simbabe54]

I love Mike.

[@anitarichardson2836]

@@verukasault9065 sometimes KZbin deletes comments or moves them to a spam section for the uploader to accept, maybe that was what happened? 🤷‍♀️ Mike seems like he can take a joke but who knows lol

[@MasterOfViewership]

That's like saying "I remember it like something I'll never forget"

[@AnaMariaCratib]

That Jeff guy did more with that one call than his parents did in their whole parenting lives.

[@Falconifan]

Facts!

[@Ladund]

Facts? How would you know? Watching a video on yt doesn't mean you know everything about a person.

[@brakorinspaceo81]

Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[@Stonktradomus]

Wow!!!

[@emiliyah8890]

@@Ladund pipe down Chochi what is it your period this week ? Some of us like to keep our minds positive you know. And if you actually understood it, you'd realize it was merely a suggestion. And someone confirmed it by saying facts. Don't be so critical!

[@Catillia85]

I've been the teenager who asked for help and my parents did nothing. It almost cost me my life, literally. It did cost me my life in many other ways. Now I'm the parent who's kid is asking for help. I get it. It's hard as a parent but for the love of God, what could happen if you do nothing? Find your kid hanging in a closet? Find out your child hurt someone? Or hurt a whole bunch of people? You don't get to avoid the tough things as a parent. Its your purpose, you owe not only your child, but everyone that may be effected by your inaction. In my eyes it's the most selfish, cruel and inept thing a parent can do. Its hard to ask for help. Be proud that your child recognizes when they need help and HELP THEM.

[@brckmsn]

I hear ya barkin big dawg. Boy was mental. It's a shame, such a young life wasted. RIP to the 2 victims.

[@nicholamc2629]

“Are you trying to get me a therapist dad?” This should’ve been the first priority. That phone call broke my heart.

[@FreedomFox1]

Yeah, I felt bad for him as well. It’s hard to fathom how he wasn’t immediately given psychological treatment... for the safety of those around him, if nothing else.

[@MsSwitchblade13]

EXACTLY. Like why is he "PLANNING" on it?? 1. Get an attorney✔️ 2. get a psychiatrist ✔️

[@delainedelta5854]

Same here. I got the feeling his parents knew that he needed psychological help but chose to ignore it.

[@lissabelecz2527]

Right!? I remember ending up in jail once...called my mom and asked if she would call the drug rehab facility I was on a wait list for. She said"sure, I'll give them a call next week" . I was supposed to call daily to keep my place on the wait list.... I had to learn the hard way that nobody cares a few times......but this is even more heart breaking... when he asked if his family was scared 😢 you could tell HE was scared.truly....i really hope he gets some help, and a proper diagnosis so he gets the correct treatment!

[@juliedawson8027]

I agree, the saddest true crime case I have heard in a long time. Hearing that childlike voice asking his dad "Am I going to be okay?" just finished me. That kid was obsessed with his physical health and no one was paying any attention to his mental deterioration. So wrong.

[@charmolettafranquestafiestayam]

austin: "did you get me a therapist yet?" dad: *immediately changes the subject gee how'd we get into this mess

[@joachimvonribbentrop1956]

You do realize Austin was in jail when this phone call took place, right? The comments for this video are unbelievable.

[@tari8134]

@@joachimvonribbentrop1956 What does that have to do with anything?

[@evanmcc99]

@@tari8134 it means that they are paying quite a bit for the phone call and the call itself was cut. It isn’t their full conversation

[@evanmcc99]

His dad didn’t immediately change the subject he said that he’s working on getting one and then their conversation was either cut to a different point.

[@looking4therealrepairmanjack]

@@evanmcc99 It was so obvious to me, and most others, that his dad had NOT been thinking about, or working on getting him one because of the pause before answering and his tone of voice when he did answer him. Idk how you and a couple of other people could've missed that. If you go back and listen again with all this in mind, I wonder if you'd change your mind about it.

[@rckkeller9437]

Schizophrenia often comes on when people are college age. They might have symptoms earlier but will self medicate to put them at bay. If he took any fitness drugs he would definitely go over the edge.

[@martinkhairullah9224]

He was deemed not guilty by reason of insanity and will be held in a mental facility until a judge seems he is not a danger to others.

[@natfast5382]

Jeff, can we just appreciate his courage. This is so different from other videos with neighbours hearing chilling screams for hours and doing nothing.

[@moserfugger6363]

Yeah, but would you be that neighbour that has the same courage Jeff had? It nearly cost him his life. That's probably why women mostly send their men when they hear disturbing noises. ;-)

[@ThisIsSparta300]

@@moserfugger6363 shut up 😂 🤡

[@therealaintain]

@@moserfugger6363 yeah not like men are typically larger and stronger than women or anything, no way

[@moserfugger6363]

@@therealaintain So feminists are lying?

[@moserfugger6363]

@@ThisIsSparta300 Nope. You as a 12 year old should accept that. 😇

[@stickysweet1084]

Man this one was a crazy one. This guy needed more help than he received.

[@TheRealNativeSun]

I’m usually hard on cases like this but I feel pain in my heart for the victims and Austin. You could see the mental decline and it’s heartbreaking. This could happen to anyone of us. Prayers go out to all of them.

[@lexiaaforever437]

The parents were in complete denial. They chose to ignore the red flags 🚩. There is no way just one day he started acting crazy . He had been building up to that point for sometime . They did absolutely nothing to get him any type of counseling or therapy or even a psychiatrist. That just baffles me .

[@curtislindsey1736]

And there's Dr. Phil once again just exploiting someone's mental health for viewership. What a knob. This was heartbreaking for those who were attacked and for this kid who had a horrible psychotic episode.

[@villixeb]

So true...Dr. Phil Sucks

[@AviationNut]

I agree i hate that about Dr Phil, why can't he do it without broadcasting this kid to the world, he exploits people whenever he can and as much as he can. I would maybe have some respect for Dr Phil if he helped this kid with out filming a tv show about him but we all know that would never happen, he just uses people for views and to make big money while the kid keeps suffering. There have been a lot of complaint's and even law suits against dr Phil for bringing people on his show saying he will help them and after the episode is done filming he completely ignored the person and didn't get them any help like he promised. I sometimes wonder how the hell does he keep getting away with exploiting people for so many years, his show should have been cancelled years ago for exploitation but instead it just gets more popular.

[@masunrise7471]

He really is an ahole

[@lfcynwa9655]

Very well said, and we wonder why there is such a stigma around mental health when he portrays poor people like Austin

[@joshuavautour3349]

Dr. Phil is literally the worst

[@loulou36894]

Jeff's the man ....we all need a neighbour just like Jeff 🏅

[@gabriellahedarv1782]

Yes!! Jeff is the hero of this case. 🙏🏼❤️

[@Scratchingforcash]

“Austy Frosty” tells me everything I pretty much need to know about him.

[@user-ps5zj7wk5x]

He was alright.

[@gazXspace]

This is incredibly sad - all round- i feel for Austin as well as the victims

[@doclewis8927]

Jeff's a damn good neighbor. He tried. I can only imagine the PTSD that he must have suffered from that incident. I hope he's doing all right.

[@kelligray1848]

This kid obviously needed help long before this attack. Did the parents not have eyeballs and ears? Wow.😳

[@_mnejing]

Denial is a hell of a drug in and of itself.

[@SamTheRubberMan]

Mental illness was something nobody even wanted to talk about until recently. A lot of people got a lot of catching up to do.

[@colinhunter1954]

In my day, and this is no joke, his behavior prior to the attack would have earned him anywhere from a lobotomy to electroshock therapy ! But we are more "civilized and understanding" now, which may or may not be a good thing. My worst fear of dying used to start "being eaten by wild animals whilst still cognizant. Think I might have to upgrade that now !!

[@dianesaienni5466]

I totally agree. A clear case of mom and dad not paying attention and FACEING that their son had mental problems!!

[@luke3807]

The dad offered him xanax, so he knew.

[@whydidmyhandlechangefromAlice]

In November 2022 he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The victim‘s family were outraged and didn’t believe he was insane. I get their suffering and wanting justice, but it still seems to me like one of the clearest cases of not criminally responsible.

[@bluebelle8823]

Update for any interested. He is up for a non-jury trial in November 2022. There is now a third psychologist in ply who concluded that Austin doesn't meet the standards for legal insanity, his examination was done in 2021. As is the norm is most cases the victims family want something akin to vengeance and that is their perogative. But to me justice in this case is getting Austin Harrouff the help he needs. And slapping those parents until they see the light.

[@freakshowfilmfestival3591]

Austy Frosty is when his dad should have interveined.

[@justinmartin4662]

Yeah, a good old fashioned stoning..

[@gabrielgrimes8297]

I think Vladimir Frostikov was the real turning point

[@averytucker3314]

I totally agree!! when complete changes in their personality starts happening at least have them talk to a mental health professional to be safe. Sadly seems like the parents failed him for not getting any kind of help :(

[@liztowers2058]

Hahahahahaahhahahahahahaha

[@MontanaDior]

LMAOOOO… I hate myself for laughing at this 😂😂😩

[@autonomousfree-man1058]

That’s the first one where the person is actually crazy. I feel sorry for everything in this one, except Mike’s new special effects.

[@seth5143]

Far from the first one. That Uber killer dude was nuts as hell.

[@TobyIKanoby]

I think most people in his videos are crazy in some degree, the biggest difference here is that, I believe, he really didn't know what he was doing.

[@zoebarrett1883]

I know what you mean, man...

[@marysupernova7780]

His crying broke my heart 😢

[@xfallenxlostx3254]

Not at all the first, but one of the most brutal.

[@smorgensterin4990]

This kind of story horrifies me and makes me worry for my kids but then I remember that I listen to my kids and I would be very happy to get them help if they wanted it.

[@rose_lotus831]

That is one of the most tragic stories i5ve heard Mike tell thus far. Austin was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a secured mental health facility (didn't say possible length of time). Its really rare for that type of verdict to feel like justice, but this young man was clearly not mentally well. His parents/family are the ones that should have been held accountable.

[@Itried20takennames]

“No real history of mental illness...”. This is actually very common for psychotic episodes - they often occur in previously “normal” people and usually late teens/early 20s for onset. Things can go wrong with our brains, just like our other organs.

[@DoggyHateFire]

Exactly, I work in mental health and psychotic disorders developing around that age are very common. It's tragic because someone is at the beginning of their adult life with so much to look forward to and they develop such a catastrophic disorder .

[@1000wastedwords]

This.

[@customsongmaker]

It's nothing like other organs, since the problem can't be detected by looking at the organ. There's also no blood test for psychotic episodes.

[@thenewkhan4781]

yes, first episodes are usually more violent too.

[@justnoted2995]

he had a poly-drug use history; in many psychotic episodes, drug use is a contributing factor

[@srahhh]

True remorse is hard to watch. It's why it's so obvious and infuriating when the majority of high profile criminals fake it.

[@lissabelecz2527]

Facts

[@Marcomanexists]

These types of stories are the most upsetting to me. When someone’s battling severe mental illness and everyone around them ignores it… it’s bound to lead to something horrible. This is way more extreme than most cases but still, if he got the help he needed it could’ve turned out differently

[@candigurl4687]

There is a non-jury trial set for Austin Harrouff to begin on November 28, 2022.

[@melissasmith8348]

The call with his Dad just kills me. The Dad is not listening to his Son’s cry for help…probably just more of what Austin had experienced. The Dad totally failed to act. This loss of 2 beautiful people’s lives could hav been so prevented.

[@apriljk6557]

Yes. It's so sad. He's asking for a therapist ffs 😢

[@aboyd1988]

And he still seems to be failing to act. I had the same reaction to that call. Dad seems to be a giant piece of shite himself.

[@charliefox9424]

What call? Timestamp?

[@happyhappyjoyjoy6563]

well 3 lives lost really

[@Trash-mouth]

"Are you getting me a therapist or anything?" "Yeah... I plan on it." "Can you do it soon--" "So have you talked to your mama yet?" It's kinda heartbreaking... asking his dad if he's gonna be alright and that he's scared and needs psychological help but his dad is really just brushing it off and talking about "pulling something off", which I assume means getting him the not guilty by insanity verdict. What he did was abhorrent, but I can't help but feel bad for this kid that was terrified and deteriorating into psychosis and no one noticed/did anything until it was too late...

[@endervatta9907]

Yeah that pushed me over, I wept hearing the exchange. Ugh

[@Solonneysa]

Mike didn't cover it, but the dad also ignored multiple signs and tried to give his son prescription drugs, rather than take him to a hospital or get him help. Austin's mom at least tried, but Austin didn't live with his mother.

[@Trash-mouth]

@@Solonneysa that's awful 😔

[@truecrimefacts4786]

Listen, I’m all about people taking responsibility for tgere actions!! But… this kid is truly messed up. He is not in his right mind. This is what insanity plea was made for in the first place.

[@Vampirita447]

He's gonna have a rude awakening. Those hospitals are not somewhere you want to be.

[@shazcon71]

The mind is such a fragile thing and if you don’t feel like you know where to get help, and all those around you seem oblivious it is so easy to spiral into your own thoughts and in his case his mental illness was such that without treatment he was a danger to himself. Eventually, others. A tragedy all round. The victims, their families and Austin himself. I do hope it didn’t involve the death penalty, because he will have been let down again. Such a tragic story told and empathised with so well Mike ❤️♥️

[@kylel2988]

21:45 - Dude looks like he's smiling and tries to hide it in the most fake cry ever.

[@ask_why000]

The glance at "it's like a nightmare" smacks of fraud. Tears for me and not for thee: 22:56

[@kaemincha]

So sad hearing him beg his dad for a therapist. If only his family actually cared and had intervened sooner. Hope he can get the help he needs.

[@SmartStart24]

He definitely needed mental help as soon as they saw him having up and down mood swings as a kid. Even the way his mom spoke to the 911 dispatch. Very lackadaisical. Not judging but you can just see they sort of downplayed his issues.

[@lewis5341]

same here, its so obvious that he desperately needed help but no one seemed to care

[@PoeInTheDitch]

The way the dad cut him off and didn't listen to him pleading for mental help is rough. This whole thing is so utterly awful.

[@LuvsTruth]

I agree he should of had care much sooner. But, I don’t think his parents didn’t care for him. Most people do not recognize the signs of mental illness. Probably, early on his behaviors were written off as typical teenage moodiness. Perhaps, there needs to be a world wide campaign to teach the general public about mental illness and its warning signs. That would most likely help tremendously.

[@troyprice7407]

@@LuvsTruth parents should also be responsible. This is your child and if you can't see what is going on with him and you don't get him the care he needs and he goes and does something horrible like this, accountability.

[@morenalover1894]

I'm a grown man with my own mental health issues, but I always felt that people who do stupid stuff and blame it on mental health were bullshitting, but watching this video made me rethink things and really made me cry Cuz I've been blind for so long. Thank you for the video

[@GareWorks]

A lot of people _are_ bullshitting. If it's really something caused by mental health, those people usually _don't_ blame mental health because they tend to be too messed up in the head to figure that much out. Most people just use it as an excuse or for attention (just look at Twitter, for example), which is a shame because it diminishes the real cases such as this one.

[@riodemark9999]

I'm proof. I've almost snapped a couple of times and fighting the fights within my mind was tough and well afterwards I'd be mentally exhausted. I didn't have voices in my head it was just this thought there that told me to do bad shit. Horrible shit. I've never done it of course, but I did try to isolate myself which wasn't a good idea. It was so hard to deal with this, but I had a family I had everything and didn't want to lose it all or have others lose a family member because of me. It's fucking harsh.

[@JohnPedder]

Glad you’re not blind to the reality and truth of it all.

[@madalice5134]

I felt the same way at one point, hit eventually I realized it was projection on my part because I was so harsh with myself for having mental health issues and blamed myself for having a medical issue and it influenced how I perceived others and how they should be treated. I don't use my diagnosis as an excuse, but I also try my best not to tear into myself over it either and have empathy for others and their struggles too. It's a hard thing when society stigmatizes mental health so much. Hope you're doing well. Be kind to yourself.

[@shaddowgolden1054]

Most people who are actually mentally ill won’t be claiming an insanity defense of their own free will because they don’t believe there is anything wrong with them. The guy I more like this thinks everyone is lying to him and that we can really see the delusions that he’s seeing. Thinks the government threatened us into pretending so he’d feel crazy. It’s insane. Poor guy.

[@meldavis8888]

This made me cry. I feel such desperation for him, along with horror & disgust BUT he was/is so very sick. I have such a lump in my throat. Tragedy for all. However, daddy saying 'I think we can pull something off for you'. Didn't care for that.

[@davidmartin2442]

The judge accepted his insanity plea. There won't be a trial.

[@gregoryenste3883]

That call between Austin and his father in jail was heartbreaking. This father trying to be upbeat while his son it’s falling apart. Asking is that if he can get a therapist soon. This is a horrendous story, nobody wins .

[@buffoonustroglodytus4688]

Nobody ever wins in murder cases

[@AugustAPC]

@@buffoonustroglodytus4688 Tell that to Casey Anthony and OJ.

[@hadyningram6619]

This is the first time I’ve ever watched and felt sorry for the offender as well as the victims. His voice in the call to his dad….

[@sportallyo]

NOBODY AT ALL FUCKING WINS.

[@sumireravenclaw8034]

@@AugustAPC I mean technically OJ went bankrupt and then tried to steal some of his merchandise back from a store. so

[@James-oo1yq]

Mom to the police "he wasn't on any medication ever" Dad "take a Xanax and I'll give you the car keys". Mental illness has such a stigma attached, it's so unfair to those who are ill.

[@bethanypuleo]

So true. 😔

[@KQuinn672]

I hear ya! Stupid bipolar but I take meds!

[@ginafrancis1585]

I wondered about the meds thing too. Did Dad say take a Xanax as in chill out. Or take YOUR Xanax?

[@yakacm]

Kind of unfair to the 2 ppl he killed too.

[@James-oo1yq]

@@yakacm That goes without saying obviously, but the whole horrible episode could have been avoided if his parents had got him the medication he obviously needed. They knew...but did nothing

[@malibu405]

Oh geez, this is horrifically sad, all the way around 😢

[@jessicamilestone4026]

Sending hugs Mike.

[@mariamarin608]

Finally! A neighbor who calls the police when they hear a scream.

[@1958dillinger]

Amen!!!

[@Buckwild_Soza]

Last two or three neighbors haven’t. Mile had me worried

[@kylieroberts1128]

I know! Pleasant surprise there.

[@V1124az]

EXACTLY!!

[@RowanWhite1980]

Seriously, circle the date!

[@drnogueiras8783]

This is tragic. The dad is concerned about “pulling something off” while his son is clearly terrified of the nightmare he’s living in and begging for help. Smh.

[@numero1qw]

I blame the parents for what happend. The first time i heard about this case it truly broke my heart because i'm bipolar and had a psychosis myself, i can't imagine being in that mental state for that long plus mania and depression. But my heart breaks for the couple that died in such a tragic way too. But during psychosis you literally have zero control over what you think and do. I was lucky because the same day my psychosis started i was taken to the mental hospital, they started giving me medication 3 days later but the psychosis lasted for 2 weeks since medication takes time to start really working, now i'm stable and so happy.

[@bluedeemster3259]

@@numero1qw so is it your parents fault that you have bipolar and dementia.The parents tried to get him help. This just goes to show some people always need/want to blame someone for everything

[@Prawnsacrifice]

@@numero1qw yeah sorry I blame the guy who ate people 😅😅👍

[@numero1qw]

@@bluedeemster3259 Well my mom is bipolar so yeah i did get it from her but it doesn't mean it's her fault. I don't have dementia u dumbass 😭🤣 And yeah it's the parents fault because he was showing clear signs of mental illnes (for years) and guess what the parents didn't do shit because it could "ruin their image" Look up the whole case and then talk to me.

[@numero1qw]

@@Prawnsacrifice Yeah bc u don't undestand what a psychosis is 🙃 And the parents never helped sooo

[@Abongiler]

This one made me so sad for the accused. I also have mental health issues and I sometimes have bad thoughts and fear that one day I will snap . It’s not easy he’s really just just sick and needs help. He sounds like he wants help and not just some sicko who wants to continue acting out these horrible thoughts.

[@eumesma4725]

Poor kid. I cried with this one

[@alanmctaggart4371]

The part where he's cry and says "It's like a nightmare" probably the saddest thing I've heard. This kid needed some serious help and never even came close to getting it.

[@reganmcnary9864]

Crocodile tears. Ironically, when he 'cried' there were no tears. It was like watching a child pretend to cry. He showed little remorse and his crying... well... ive seen better acting from my 5 year old niece

[@nicksaveka5078]

hes only crying cause hes realised hes fkd up big time, not cause hes sorry

[@timewyrmrevelations7700]

Ignore the ignorant comments mental health is a complicated situation and when you’ve not been given any help it’s even worse. Just because a person doesn’t shed actual tears it doesn’t mean that they aren’t feeling the actual emotions.

[@challengerbrant]

@@reganmcnary9864 Agreed.

[@B0risTheBlade]

@@timewyrmrevelations7700 agreed

[@patrickhinh]

His family home is 5 minutes from my house . I still remembered this. It’s was wild. It’s very sad when he asked his dad “Am I gonna be ok?” 😢

[@embadly]

i’m glad to see the comments having some sense. austin needed help. he needed a crazy amount of help and the parents…? phew. those parents SHOULD feel bad. they failed austin, they did. that boy wanted help so badly. he WANTED it and KNEW he NEEDED it. this case always made me so sad. poor austin, as well as John & Michelle. i feel so deeply for all of them. austin knew he was not well and had no control over it. also, bless Jeff’s heart. also, a 2023 update asof Jan 31st: after being acquitted of his charges in November is 22, was transferred to a mental health institute indefinitely, even after “doing well for some time” in jail.

[@cynr6406]

UPDATE: Not guilty by reason of insanity. I pray to god he's getting the mental health he deserves.

[@KristylikeKrisT]

It’s crazy how even after everything that happened when he asked his dad to get him a therapist it was still brushed off

[@angelagak399]

Yes! I noticed that. Major denial going on there. It's like the dad didn't even hear him. 'So, have you talked to your mother?' WTF?! Everyone failed this kid.

[@zoe9632]

Totally brushed off.

[@jmpet7134]

He is in jail awaiting trial. His dad cannot do anything for him at this point regarding therapists. It's probably not good to tell your mentally unstable kid that you cannot do anything for him cause he's in jail and he is never getting out. You just try to be positive. They can hope he gets found guilty but criminally insane which would mean he would be sent to a high security mental institution. But that's actually worse than prison for those with out illness and he probably would never get released from that place either. They also know all calls are recorded and anything said in the call can be used against you at trial. So best not to say anything accept to your lawyer. Only your lawyer can talk privately with you.

[@missvagnere]

Right? Bat boop crazy! Kid just full psycho and dad's like:"Planning on it?" What else needs to happen, before you stop planning and start some doing?

[@zoe9632]

@@jmpet7134 I agree with the defense side of things but the son needs someone in the interim.

[@reunreid7237]

So the family ignored his psychosis. Then he takes off delusional and hallucinating yet they don't even think to call the police until the late evening? Where is the logic in that 🤔

[@secondact7151]

They only called to cover their liability.

[@rapa2894]

@@secondact7151 They have no liability regardless.

[@thesehandsart]

@@rapa2894 they most certainly could face liability if sued by the victims family for their negligence and apparently providing their son with psych meds that weren't prescribed to him not to mention their continued negligence to get him psychological help despite his many episodes and requests for help.

[@lasmujeresnotienenpollAs]

This is why we need parental licensing

[@yosh6278]

@@lasmujeresnotienenpollAs aka eugenecis? who maeks the license?

[@kaylakappel7687]

This case is so heartbreaking. Obviously Austin will have to (and should) face the consequences for what he has done but I truly believe he had no control over himself. I feel awful for him and the couple as well as the hero neighbor. I believe Austin has been living a nightmare for a long time. His parents definitely should have some of the blame. He was clearly crying out for help all over the place and no one ever did a thing. Truly heartbreaking 💔

[@punkeyman7563]

His ability to defy human strength is why I know something wasn’t processing in his head sanely. His arm muscles were torn apart by police dogs and it never fazed him. He was acting psychotic prior to this incident and his family knew. That particular day many signs were present and not addressed. Who drinks vegetable oil and eat parm cheese and who’s mum thinks it’s ok enough to have him change clothes, then drive back to restaurant with dad, his gf, sister and best friend? He thought there were demons inside house and family locked their doors to avoid him waking them up, yeah ummm sure ok. He slept in garage to keep demons away from them. Eating the inside of a face after stretching it out far enough to expose that area, requires super strength. He was grunting and making weird animalistic noises and getting taser didn’t faze him, getting kicked in face by cop several times didn’t faze him EVEN K9 dogs biting his arm did nothing to faze him. He tore away his arm shredding muscles in the process without any resistance. He just kept going back to eating the guy. No drugs found in his system that would explain super human strength and what happened at restaurant and mums AFTER the bizarre incident at beach where he left his sister and friends only to return in a long sleeve shirt and heavy pants with dark sunglasses and two watches abd everyone was confused. He felt super human and his parents surely knew he was off his rocker. His mum stopped him from drinking vegetable oil and just figured returning him to restaurant was a swell solution. He has some sort of psychosis nothing explains his super strength that even cops and K9’s could stop proves somethings not right. It’s set for a judge trial and I really think that the two psychosis specialists stated he wasn’t mentally sane, one said he wasn’t but he’s retracted a lot of what he claimed and it’s really sad for everyone who is involved. I think he’ll get off as insane and this time I really think it will stick and he will get the psychiatric help he deserves and needs. Those around him KNEW he wasn’t ok mentally he reached out for help to no avail and being INSANE I cannot imagine what that is like at all. He’s in permanent prison whether found sane or insane.

[@lj0727]

I have looked into this case pretty extensively, and yeah this is one of the very rare cases I actually believe the insanity plea. Super horrible for everyone.

[@BeRightBack131]

​@@lj0727I agree with you. I always scoff at people using the insanity plea, but this one time, and one time only (so far) I think is a legitimate insanity plea. I do not believe for one minute that Austin knew what he was doing, and especially didn't have any ideas of right or wrong. For once, I truly believe that schizophrenia or something like that kicked into high gear and sent him over the edge. From everything I've ever heard or read, I think schizophrenia comes on very suddenly, at about the age that Austin was when this happened. I can't even imagine his terror, too, that day. The poor deceased victims were terrorized, but I think Austin was, too. I believe he really did see things that scared him to death, and he was basically trying to protect himself. What he didn't understand was those visions weren't real, and that he was killing real people. What a tragedy, all the way around.

[@blub_655]

"Authorities did not test for psilocybin, the hallucinogenic substance from mushrooms, because the FBI does not have a validated method to test for the substance. The FBI also noted in its report that psilocybin can leave a user's system in about 12 hours. Because of search warrant procedures, the sample used in the toxicology test was taken about 24 hours after the attack." - I saw a police body cam where a 16 year old kid was on LSD or psilocybin and he was armed w a knife and had attacked his family, about 5 soft pellets deployed and atleast 2 tasers and a canine attack later and he still hadn't dropped the knife nor showed signs of being slowed or neutralised, they were forced to shoot him unfortunately, they were super close to him as well as their being about 6 cops squatting him outside @ that point. Could tell they didn't want to but had no choice. Point is I do believe this was drug induced psychosis/schizophrenia, and that him being on psilocybin could contribute to super strength etc. They looked thru his phone records and he bought shrooms a few days before the attack.

[@punkeyman7563]

@@blub_655 it’s shocking his parents are so ignorant that their son is eerrmm behaving WONKY! It’s disgusting that the only one to care was his friend. His attire and behaviour with his sister should’ve been RED FLAG numero uno. If my child was doing that I’d be calling police if I was unable to get control of her behaviour. When he was telling police to kill him as he’s literally eating people I find that significant as the job of police is to protect VICTIMS. Had her shot him soon after arriving he’d have not kept eating the man and granted we don’t know everything, but that man might have survived. Do you know if it’s gone to trial or if a verdict was issued yet. I always forget to following up. If not for your response I would have gone in without a second thought. I wish I was ‘put together’ and tech savvy but I do not posses such abilities 😂 scatterbrained that’s me to a T.

[@blub_655]

@@punkeyman7563 it's a common misconnection but granted that mushrooms are consumable and are stored in the body differently everyone just assumes no drugs! A verdict was passed, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and the family are not happy at all, I think I read something about him being able to get out if deemed sane in 1 year but honestly I don't think it will be that easy he's obviously had untreated mental issues and now the effects of whatever drugs he's doing etc. If they let him out in a year there's too high a chance of relapse to cope with the reality of eating 2 people to death.. it's very gawing but it's not a common reaction with shrooms but given the right circumstances and if this guy was regularly overly dosing (impossible to od but very possible to easily lose the driver's seat/be in the passenger seat unable to control your delusional thinking/actions). I've said it before that I would say a bad trip is the closest a non schizophrenic person could get to being schizophrenic, now imagine a schizophrenic. It's too hard to prove insanity at the time of the crime which is why it's so rare but I do believe that this guy is better off in a mental health facility than a police cell. In some instances when deemed sane they do a retrial or something but I think it depends where you're from.

[@Holktube]

Just tragic all around. When I see a lot of these cases where the perpetrator tries to claim they didn't mean for it to happen, or that they're remorseful, I often don't believe them. I really do believe that this guy is remorseful and would not have done this if he didn't have psychological problems.

[@Jabarri74]

There was a recent JCS video covering the topic you described where normal people feign being mentally ill in the hope they can get a reduced sentence. Well worth a watch

[@eldenfindley186]

Yeah this dude was legit at the peak of a crazy manic episode.

[@SilvesterBathroomStallone]

@@Jabarri74 Nah this guy was legit losing his sanity.

[@hyder-0]

@@SilvesterBathroomStallone They didn't say anything about this case. They were recommending "JCS - Criminal Psychology" because the OP mentioned something that relates to their most recent video.

[@rapa2894]

@@eldenfindley186 Not mania, psychosis. If you're going to talk about something, maybe look into it a bit.

[@blumusdu]

I don't think anyone can deny his genuine crazy factor of biting someone's face off. The parents did nothing to prevent these 2 deaths. More about the seriousness of mental health needs to become mainstream knowledge.

[@scottishgirl2226]

What were the parents supposed to do?!

[@michaelwhite9915]

Its a difficult issue. We used to lock people away for merely acting weird. They lost all civil rights. People fought for their freedom Now they gave the freedom and some don't take medication they need. I think a solution is beyond our grasp.

[@mariagalluzzi69]

@@scottishgirl2226 if you think your son or daughter or any relative is mentally you should definitely get them help. If you live in the United States a 5150 hold will do the trick even against their will.

[@rapa2894]

@@michaelwhite9915 Wrong. The biggest issue is that police don't take mental health check calls seriously, most of the time they either shoot the mentally ill person or just let them walk away after a conversation. The second issue is that the majority of mental health facilities were closed in the 80s which makes getting into one difficult as they are often full. And that's if you can afford it in the first place. State run facilities are almost always at 95% or higher capacity. Long story short, republicans and untrained, uncompassionate, uneducated officers are really to blame and that's the simple truth. I'm a nurse in a psychiatric facility, with almost 15 years experience, so I don't want to hear any BS or excuses because I know these are the facts of the matter.

[@rapa2894]

@@mariagalluzzi69 If you can get one, it's small miracle.

[@Rizlack]

Well done man. This was a quality generally understanding and respectful video. I dig how you worked that out

[@ShapeupShiptout]

I dated Ivy Steven's in high school I couldn't believe this happened to her parents. This was insane.

[@RadPokeDad]

This one is seriously heartbreaking. I can’t imagine the fear and pain those two people endured but when Austin broke down while apologizing that was really rough. What a shitty situation all around. Please pay attention to your loved ones, look out for signs of mental illness and if your feeling unwell yourself seek out help or just talk to someone.

[@TroenderTass]

Broke down while apologizing? Lol, he wasn't even sligthly convinsing. Fake

[@jacobradske9354]

Skyll that seemed like weeping to me. I literally sound just like that when I sob.

[@TheWonkster]

@@TroenderTass so he faked it all well enough to fool two psychologicists, one of which was trying to prove he was faking it?

[@zoebarrett1883]

It's very sad. I believe he was not in control of his actions, had asked for help. Believe what you will, this person was not in control.

[@TheGruffchickJournal]

His "sorrow" is a coached act on the part of his father, who was standing just out of camera range.

[@marthasalter405]

His mom calling 911 to say “he’s a little bit delusional” is like telling your boyfriend you’re a “little bit pregnant”

[@yashasohtun1523]

lol😂😂

[@ivacukic]

At least she called as soon as she learned about the incident, which is more than the father did. A lot more.

[@andrewcrenshaw2459]

and finally calling 1-2 hours later

[@wetdroidedition2549]

At least she try to do something. Dad and Mom knew that Austin was crazy

[@epizzle9232]

I wonder if she called to try to give her son a defense... like oh there’s something very wrong with my son lately and I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing, please help him” when really she probably already knew what happened and was trying to give him a good case for insanity.

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

*This story, from both perspectives, is horrifying, on every level!!* You’re either enjoying a mild evening with a loved one-only to be brutally killed and eaten or… The typical, relatively stable part of your mind basically “goes to sleep” -and the next thing you know, you’re waking up cuffed to a hospital bed and learned that you just brutally killed and ATE 2 innocent people (and nearly killed a third!). Holy heII. This is unbelievably tragic and heartbreaking. 🥺😔

[@erinlynn115]

Go neighbor Jeff.. you're a rockstar! And to Austin's parents.. shame on you. Mike.. thanks for keeping us updated and in the loop on these cases, and all of these chapters..