Texas man accused of head-butting father-in-law to death during fight over signing divorce papers
08/22/2022 12:57 pm PDT
FORT WORTH, Texas (TCD) -- A 38-year-old man stands accused of killing his father-in-law by head-butting him during an alleged argument about divorcing his daughter.
According to KDFW-TV, the alleged attack happened on Friday, Aug. 12, at Woody’s Tavern on Bryant Irvin Road between John Birdwell and 66-year-old Dr. Robert Bearden. Birdwell and his father-in-law were reportedly discussing Birdwell’s marriage, and Bearden tried to convince his son-in-law to sign divorce papers.
Birdwell then allegedly grabbed his father-in-law and head-butted him multiple times, causing the two to fall onto the floor. Birdwell got on top of Bearden, who was unconscious at the time, but patrons pulled him off, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Before authorities arrived, Birdwell allegedly bit a witness on the chest when the witness tried to prevent him from leaving. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, authorities responded to the scene and found a disoriented and confused Bearden bleeding from the head.
Bearden, a veterinarian, was reportedly transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. An autopsy report obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said the victim died of blunt head trauma, and the death was ruled a homicide.
Birdwell, who was in the process of divorcing the victim’s daughter, was arrested and charged with injury to an elderly person with intent/serious bodily injury, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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