Texas Father Kills Man Caught Trying to Molest his Daughter

[desflood]

A Texas father has not been arrested and is unlikely to face charges after he beat a man to death for trying to molest his 4-year-old daughter at their rural ranch, authorities said Monday.

Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said the father, whose name has not been released, said no evidence so far has led investigators to doubt his story.

"There doesn't appear to be any reason other than what he told us," Harmon said.

Harmon described the man as "very remorseful" after the Saturday killing.

"I don't think it was his intent for the man to die," Harmon told the Victoria Advocate. The man's grandfather also said his son was "sorry" and the killing was an "accident."

Harmon said the victim was a 47-year-old man from Gonazles with no apparent prior criminal history. His name continued to be withheld Monday because authorities still hadn't tracked down any of his family.

The victim was an "acquaintance" of the father who had come to help care for some horses, Harmon said. He did not know how long the two men may have known each other. The girl was taken to a hospital to be examined and has since been released, Harmon said.

The father called police late Saturday afternoon and told them he attacked a man caught trying to sexually assault his daughter, Harmon said. The alleged attack happened near a barn where some horses were being kept.

"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.

Harmon said a grand jury will decide what, if any, charges the father will face. No charges have yet been filed.

The victim's body was sent to the Travis County medical examiner for an autopsy.

The ranch near Shiner is about 130 miles east of Houston. Killings are rare in rural Lavaca County: Harmon said his office has only investigated six since in his eight years as sheriff.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/11...#ixzz1xXhzXSId


I do love a happy ending.

[DesignatedT]

good for him.

[Frenzy]

Sounds about right.

[Fabbs]

Can we send money for his legal defense if it comes to that?

[mavs>spurs]

yeah that's what im thinking no way should he be prosecuted. i'd have done the same damn thing without blinking an eye.

[Avante]

That's how things should be.

[ALVAREZ6]

I'm not sure I'd jump to conclusions, could have been set up, could've brought a man he wanted to kill there and purposely bring his daughter along to create that story.


But yeah, obviously if he really was trying to molest the girl then there is nothing more to see/hear.

[JoeChalupa]

I'd do it. Justifiable homicide.

[100%duncan]

That's how things should be.

[CosmicCowboy]

Sweet. Hope the little girl gets over it without long term psycho problems. Glad the SOB is dead.

[GoodOdor]

Tbh seems fishy.......

[DeadlyDynasty]

lynchmob is out

[Ditty]

Lefty just got lost

[DMC]

Tbh seems fishy.......

Nah, she was too young for that.

[GoodOdor]

Nah, she was too young for that.

Ok, I set up the joke like you asked, can I get my $5 now?

[I. Hustle]

Booyaa, I'd buy that dude a beer.

[Leetonidas]

As long as his story holds up, this man is a hero

[DarkReign]

How can you prove his story wrong? What evidence supports his story?

Seems odd. Dont get me wrong, if you walked in on some dude perving your daughter, death is imminent.

But in the eyes of the law, there are only two people who know what happened and dead men dont talk.

[Oh, Gee!!]

the perfect crime?

[thispego]

4 year olds talk too and i'm pretty sure she'll give them the evidence they need

[Wild Cobra Kai]

How can you prove his story wrong? What evidence supports his story?

Seems odd. Dont get me wrong, if you walked in on some dude perving your daughter, death is imminent.

But in the eyes of the law, there are only two people who know what happened and dead men dont talk.

I can see a whole bunch of these now, since guys know they won't even be arrested and questioned. It's the new "shot while trying to escape", tbh,

[The Reckoning]

How can you prove his story wrong? What evidence supports his story?

Seems odd. Dont get me wrong, if you walked in on some dude perving your daughter, death is imminent.

But in the eyes of the law, there are only two people who know what happened and dead men dont talk.

it says they took the girl to a hospital for examination.

[thispego]

a physical examination probably wont return anything but 99% of 4-year-olds will be able to tell/show exactly what happened

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Assuming there was something shady at play, how much control does a parent have over the access police would have to the child for questioning? They are allowed to be present right?

I could believe that a parent could coerce their kid into lying to police to cover them. Their presence in the room with the child might be enough to make the child stick to the story. I just wouldn't pin my hopes of freedom on a pre-schooler being able to lie convincingly and keep the story perfectly straight through multiple police interviews.

[thispego]

Assuming there was something shady at play, how much control does a parent have over the access police would have to the child for questioning? They are allowed to be present right?

I could believe that a parent could coerce their kid into lying to police to cover them. Their presence in the room with the child might be enough to make the child stick to the story. I just wouldn't pin my hopes of freedom on a pre-schooler being able to lie convincingly and keep the story perfectly straight through multiple police interviews.

young kids are sometimes the best witnesses because they don't know how to lie or don't know how important it is (to the perpetrator) to hide the truth. If the cops wanted to interview her alone in a child advocacy center then they could do that if they felt the dad was hiding something. If dad isn't hiding anything then he should have no problem with it.

[Augie]

a physical examination probably wont return anything but 99% of 4-year-olds will be able to tell/show exactly what happened

This isn't necessarily true. I'm assuming the 99% is an exaggeration. But in any event, the incident may not have yet got to the point that the 4 year old had any clue of anything. The dad may have recognized the attack before it really got serious.

[thispego]

no, it's not an exaggeration. forensic interviewers are very skilled in talking to children and getting the appropriate information on sexual assault cases. normally functioning 4 year olds will be able to tell you exactly what happened if you ask the right questions. if the child indicates that they she was innapropriately touched in any way then this case will be open and shut.

[Augie]

no, it's not an exaggeration. forensic interviewers are very skilled in talking to children and getting the appropriate information on sexual assault cases. normally functioning 4 year olds will be able to tell you exactly what happened if you ask the right questions. if the child indicates that they she was innapropriately touched in any way then this case will be open and shut.

Sorry, I still disagree with your statistics. Can you provide some backup to the 99%? What is your definition of "normally functioning"? You're changing the argument here.

[resistanze]

no, it's not an exaggeration. forensic interviewers are very skilled in talking to children and getting the appropriate information on sexual assault cases. normally functioning 4 year olds will be able to tell you exactly what happened if you ask the right questions. if the child indicates that they she was innapropriately touched in any way then this case will be open and shut.

Well, I'm sure it can go both ways. you can possiblyto guide children to give false testimony if you ask the "right questions" in cases of child molestation.

I actually remember watching a Dateline (or 20/20?) special where they showed a video of investigators interrogating a small child about possibly being molested. They brought a doll and lead her on with questions that eventually led the child to say she was touched, even though it wasn't. ThiI wouldn't rely on the testimony of a child that small to get a definitive answer on what happened. We'll probably never really know.

[thispego]

Sorry, I still disagree with your statistics. Can you provide some backup to the 99%? What is your definition of "normally functioning"? You're changing the argument here.

well first off it's part of my job, I have experience with it. second of all, I am not changing the argument, I'm just bringing my professional experience into the thread. If I can find any study's or statistical proof to back up my claim i'll post it. By "normally functioning" I mean "developementally on-target" for that age.

Well, I'm sure it can go both ways. you can possiblyto guide children to give false testimony if you ask the "right questions" in cases of child molestation.

I actually remember watching a Dateline (or 20/20?) special where they showed a video of investigators interrogating a small child about possibly being molested. They brought a doll and lead her on with questions that eventually led the child to say she was touched, even though it wasn't. ThiI wouldn't rely on the testimony of a child that small to get a definitive answer on what happened. We'll probably never really know.

I know the interview you are talking about and it is from a while ago, it is now used as an example of how NOT to conduct a child interview. no leading questions, no closed ended questions.