Austin Harrouff's exclusive interview before his arrest is set to air on Friday at 4 pm on WPEC-12, and this has surprised some police and families of the victims. None of them apparently knew he was interviewed.
The segment called "The frat boy dubbed 'cannibal killer' breaks his silence from his hospital bed," is one of the most awaited programs this week in the said local CBS affiliate.
The preview reads: "Harrouff speaks out for the first time from his hospital bed.. What does he say caused him to go from popular student to an accused killer?"
There was no video teaser or any photo on the preview and even on the show's website. It was just a blurb, but everyone seems to be curious, waiting for the interview until it is aired on Friday.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told The Post on Monday night that his department knew about the phone interview, which happened on Oct. 3. It was legal, he said.
John Stevens IV, the son of John Stevens, whom Harrouff is charged with killing and face-biting, said if the sheriff's office had arrested him sooner, there might have not even been the opportunity to give an interview. Stevens expressed his hard feelings towards Harrouff being treated like the victim, as all sympathy seems to get into the "teen cannibal."
"I've never seen a black or minority suspect with such an inherent sympathetic spin (as Harrouff is getting)," Stevens told Palm Beach Post. "They make him seem as sympathetic as possible because he's privileged and white, and it's really and really sad."
Harrouff is said to be a good student at Suncoast High School and Florida State. His dad also had a heart-melting interview at "Dr.Phil" some weeks ago that has driven some to sympathize with him and his son.
Harrouff is nonetheless formally facing charges now for brutally killing the Stevens couple and injuring one of their neighbors. The charges included two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, WPTV5 reported.
The so-called teen cannibal continues to be held without bail in the hospital ward of the local jail in Florida. Austin's family has also been fined with $200 on his commissary account of which so far he has spent $136.
Austin was reportedly under the influence of Flakka, also known as "zombie drug," when he did the crime. However, there is still no clear data saying that he was indeed a Flakka user. The blood tests are being run this week by the FBI in Quantico, Virginia. The local hospitals are also unable to test for new designer drugs on the other hand. The family of Harrouff says it was really possible that he was under a Psychotic attack or signs of mental failure.
The original charges have been altered so as the prosecutor could take the case to the grand jury with the hope of getting an indictment, says the Palm Beach Post.
