Father of Accused FSU Face-Biter Breaks Down in Sobs on Dr. Phil: 'This is the Biggest Nightmare'

The father of a Florida State University student accused of stabbing a married couple to death last week, before allegedly attempting to bite chunks off of one of their faces, is speaking out in an emotional sit-down with Dr. Phil McGraw.

In a newly released clip from the upcoming interview, Dr. Wade Harrouff says he was with his son, Austin Harrouff, at dinner on Aug. 15 just before Austin allegedly attacked John Stevens III and wife Michelle Mishcon. Police said the couple was killed as they sat in their open garage in Tequesta, Florida.

The couple's neighbor Jeff Fisher was also injured in the incident when he attempted to aide them, police said.

In the Dr. Phil interview, Wade details the lead up to the attack, describing Austin's so-called "manic behavior" at dinner that evening.



Further, Wade claims that his son's personality dramatically changed just two weeks before the fatal attack on Stevens and Mishcon.

Addressing the late couples' families directly, during his sit-down, Wade says, "This is the worst thing I could think of, this is the biggest nightmare I could ever dream of ... what's happened."

Breaking down into sobs, Wade continues, "I'm deeply sorry for what my son did to those people, and I'm apologizing for him because my son would have never knowingly done anything like that."

"He's such a good person," Wade says of Austin. "He never would knowingly do something like that and I'm truly sorry to those people."

Related Video: FSU Student Accused of Fatally Stabbing Couple Seen Calming Leaving Restaurant

Dr. Phil: 'This is the Biggest Nightmare'" data-ad-channel="Brightcove" data-ad-subchannel="" data-auto-play="no">

Police have speculated that Austin may have been under the influence of the synthetic drug flakka at the time of the alleged attack.

He tested negative for common street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. More extensive testing is being performed by the FBI to determine whether Austin was under the influence of bath salts or flakka, but it will take up to three weeks.

Wade previously told the Palm Beach Post, however, that schizophrenia runs in his family and that he doesn't think Austin was on flakka.

Austin has been hospitalized at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach since his arrest, the Martin Country Sheriff's Office has told PEOPLE. Wade previously told PEOPLE that his son's liver is failing, his lungs are filling with fluid and he is experiencing esophageal bleeding.

(If and when Austin recovers and is released, he will be charged in the attack, police said.)

Wade also told PEOPLE that his son's current medical condition likely resulted from his alleged ingestion of hazardous materials – unspecified chemicals that police allege Austin consumed in the couple's garage after the killings.

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

In an earlier statement obtained by PEOPLE, Austin's family expressed condolences to the victims.

"There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss," the statement said. "There are no words we can offer that we can make up for the injury sustained by Jeff Fisher who is doing what we would want all good neighbors to do which was to try to help innocent people from being hurt or killed."

Wade's sit-down with Dr. Phil airs Wednesday, Sept. 7.