Son of victim wants death penalty for face-biting murder suspect

TEQUESTA, Fla. – The son of a Florida man who authorities say was stabbed by a 19-year-old Florida State University student wants prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

John Stevens IV tells the SunSentinel that he doesn't need to know exactly what led the student to kill his father and step-mother outside their house north of Jupiter on Monday night. But he wants prosecutors to seek the death penalty against the  attacker, who investigators say also was biting the dead man's face when deputies arrived at the scene.

Austin Harrouff, who remains in a hospital where he's conscious but heavily sedated, faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder, officials said.

Investigators say it took several deputies and a police dog to subdue Harrouff. He tested negative for street drugs. It takes longer to test for less common hallucinogenic drugs, such as flakka or bath salts.

The younger Stevens says knowing the attacker's mindset is not "super important" to him. He just wants him to "pay for what he did."