Texas father kills man who tried to molest his 4-year-old daughter, says sheriff

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

CBS/iStock Images

SHINER, Texas (AP) - Authorities say a father used his hands to beat to death a man who allegedly tried to sexually assault his 4-year-old daughter on their farm.

Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said Monday he doesn't anticipate arresting the father, who told police he heard the girl screaming. Harmon said nothing so far suggests the beating death happened for "any reason other than what he told us."

"In the course of trying to get her away from him, and protect her, he struck the subject several times in the head and the subject died," Harmon said.

The victim was only identified as a 47-year-old man from Gonzales, Texas. Harmon said the man appeared to have no prior criminal history and that he went to the property Saturday to help care for some horses.

Harmon said the father's name is being withheld because of the ongoing investigation. He said a grand jury will decide what, if any, charges the father will face.

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by johnyreb83 June 18, 2012 5:37 PM EDT: Man this dude deserves to be the father of the year for sure assuming this is what actually happens.
I am guessing a lot of you on here have never lived on or probably even been on a farm or in a farming situation. As a guy who has grown up on a farm I will let you know that everyone in the family has their own job to due even the kids. It is not unusual at all for a child to be doing their own thing under extremely limited supervision while at home on the farm. It is normally a very safe place. Now if this had happened at Wal-mart I would be with you 100% every tom dick and harry lets their kids run wild unattended or supervised there it is a wonder more don't get kidnapped or molested from those public stores.; Reply to this comment


by justicegeerl1 June 17, 2012 9:47 AM EDT: I certainly do NOT condone murder. I'm not supporting the alleged rapist or the father's actions (entirely). Yes, I'm glad he hit the man but i'm a little irritated that the child endured this trauma to begin with.

1) Why was a 5 year old able to go off unattended by the mother and father in this instance. That would have prevented both a death and a huge childhood trauma.

2) Why are people so quick to support murder? Let's take a moment and understand that from a legal point of view in America there are two sides in court, the accused in this case has no chance to defend himself. How do we know 100% beyond a reasonable doubt the dead man in this instance wasn't coming to the aid of the child and the father beat him to death in fear of being outted as a pedophile to the family????

3) If the man did in fact attempt to rape the child then I'm 100% in support of the father. However, my support is that he should not recieve a murder charge, but something like unintentional man slaughter, (murder has to be premeditated) and also receive full extend of the law charges for not supervising his own child.

Had he been watching and the mother too in this instance ALL OF THIS could have been avoided.

Lesson america, watch YOUR CHILDREN ALWAYS.; Reply to this comment


by bogey2511 June 14, 2012 11:25 PM EDT: FATHER of the YEAR! Kill all child predators.; Reply to this comment

by pdchapin June 14, 2012 2:01 PM EDT

I'm amazed at people's ability to draw firm moral conclusions from a short news story. Let the police and prosecutors do their job and decide whether there is a chargeable offense here or not. I suspect not, but we don't have all the details.

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by justicegeerl1 June 17, 2012 9:53 AM EDT: Thank you pdchapin. This story is very sad. Had the child been being watched first of all none of this would have happened.

I think people are to quick to assume that the "alleged" child molester is in fact a molester. He's dead, we weren't there how can we know that he was in fact doing what the father claimed?

Statistically speaking a child is more likely to be molested by a family member than a stranger. I'm not certain right now if I could in good conscience defend a man of killing another unless I knew ALL the facts.


by ge556 June 14, 2012 11:01 AM EDT: It's amazing that so many will turn against the police, who are doing their job, when all you have to go on is the killer's word.; Reply to this comment

by angelofurnightmare June 14, 2012 10:21 AM EDT

This man deserves an award for saving his daughter and so many others who would have been hurt afterwards...our system lets these monsters back out into the world to destroy children...GO DAD! As a mother I applaud him and would surely have done the same thing to protect my children...as a parent we have an obligation to protect our children!

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by justicegeerl1 June 17, 2012 9:58 AM EDT: No excuse for any of this-had the parents just been watching their little girl and protecting her. We weren't there we do not know what happened, but in my humble opinion we should be angry at BOTH the girl's parents for not watching her.

The dead man is dead. Whatever happened, the truth died with him and if he did attempt to rape her/molest her he met his fate. Protection begins with PREVENTION angel......

more for any parent that lets there child run off with grown up people at a party. (so-called-parent) this would never happened if they were better parents.


by dresia June 14, 2012 8:07 AM EDT: The father shouldn't be charged. What would the police have done? handcuffed him, keep him in jail for a couple of hours, then release him to try and molest her all over again? No, the father did what he had to do. I know killing is wrong, but that's one less child molester off the streets. Hurrayyyyyyyyyy to the father.; Reply to this comment


by morris2196 June 13, 2012 11:59 AM EDT: This is an effective method of preventing a person from reoffending.; Reply to this comment


by JohnGMcD June 13, 2012 12:02 AM EDT: Seriously CBS?!? How can you describe this man as a victim!?! The victims are primarily the 4 year old little girl and the poor father who was put in this situation all by the actions of the 'accused' molester. He is no victim and I find it very offensive that you described him as such. CBS - you owe a HUGE apology to the family of the 4 year old girl!; Reply to this comment