Girl installs cameras to catch father physically abusing her

Girl, 14, who ‘tried to report her abusive resort-owning father for years’ installed secret cameras to catch him headbutting her and threatening to cut her dog’s throat

  • Damon Becnel, 47, was charged in Destin, Florida on January 2 with child and animal cruelty 
  • His 14-year-old daughter gave authorities two videos that showed him physically abusing her
  • The girl secretly installed the surveillance cameras to film the abuse
  • Her mother, who doesn’t have custody of the girl, claims the teen had tried to report the abuse for several years 

A 14-year-old girl who said she tried to report her father’s physical abuse for years installed secret cameras to record him headbutting her and threatening to cut her dog’s throat.

Damon Becnel, 47, was charged on January 2 with child and animal cruelty after his daughter gave authorities the video evidence of the abuse that occurred in the Destin, Florida home. 

Police said the footage the teen handed over showed Becnel in a bedroom with his daughter and two dogs.

He could be heard screaming about one of the dogs not obeying him as the girl sat on a chair on the other side of the room. 

Damon Becnel, 47, was charged on January 2 with child and animal cruelty after his daughter gave authorities the video evidence of the abuse that occurred in the Destin, Florida home

Becnel was filmed striking the dog before pulling out what police said was a knife and threatening to slit the animal’s throat. 

Becnol has been charged with one count of child abuse and one count of animal cruelty. Becnol, who was released on bond, is scheduled to face court on February 4

Becnol has been charged with one count of child abuse and one count of animal cruelty. Becnol, who was released on bond, is scheduled to face court on February 4

‘I will cut this f***ing dog’s eyeballs out, I’ll f***king do it,’ he yelled. 

The teen screamed and lunged at Becnel when he suddenly grabbed the dog by the neck and threw it to the ground. 

Becnel is accused of then grabbing the teen by the hair. 

The footage later showed Becnel screaming into the girl’s face as she was backed up against a wall trying to shield the two dogs.

He was filmed headbutting the teen, causing her to strike her head against the wall with a loud thud. 

‘I know more than you do. Stop thinking you know everything,’ he yelled as he headbutted her. 

The teen screamed back: ‘Why are so you abusive to me?’

The girl’s mother, who does not have custody of the teenager, said her daughter had been trying to report the physical abuse for several years but authorities didn’t believe her. 

Police said the footage the teen handed over showed Becnel in a bedroom with his daughter and two dogs. He could be heard screaming at her before pulling her hair and headbutting her

Police said the footage the teen handed over showed Becnel in a bedroom with his daughter and two dogs. He could be heard screaming at her before pulling her hair and headbutting her

The footage later showed Becnel screaming into the girl's face as she was backed up against a wall trying to shield the two dogs

The footage later showed Becnel screaming into the girl’s face as she was backed up against a wall trying to shield the two dogs

‘Nothing was done. Nothing has ever been done to help my daughter,’ her mother told NBC15.

‘She absolutely knew that something bad was going to happen and nobody would believe her unless she had that on film.’ 

It is not clear why the mother does not have custody of the girl. 

The mother said the girl came up with the plan to install the cameras so she would have video evidence. 

‘She is one strong and one smart little girl and I couldn’t be more proud of her,’ the mother said. 

Becnol is said to be a prominent local business owner. His last business was listed as ABC Resorts in Destin.  

He has been charged with one count of child abuse and one count of animal cruelty. 

Becnol, who was released on bond, is scheduled to face court on February 4.  

The girl's mother, who does not have custody of the teenager, said her daughter had been trying to report the physical abuse for several years but authorities didn't believe her

The girl’s mother, who does not have custody of the teenager, said her daughter had been trying to report the physical abuse for several years but authorities didn’t believe her

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk