Glen Byrd (Clay County Jail).
A man from Florida is facing serious accusations after allegedly making children beat their family pig to death with a hammer and using a detached dryer cable to hit a girl who spilled chips on the kitchen counter.
Glen Byrd, 35, has been charged with child abuse and animal cruelty, according to court documents. The investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office began after receiving a tip about the abuse towards the girl, who Byrd allegedly struck with a dryer cable on November 23.
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The girl also stated that Byrd poured juice on her and her siblings and destroyed a glass table with a hammer. Upon reviewing photos of the girl’s injuries, deputies described them as severe and beyond what could be considered reasonable physical discipline.
Investigators interviewed the children in the home, including Byrd’s 17-year-old stepson, and uncovered additional alleged crimes. In October, Byrd wanted to get rid of the family teacup (mini) pig and had the children kill it, the affidavit reportedly said. He allegedly made the kids “strike the family’s pet pig, with a hammer, until it stopped moving.” Byrd then had the stepson throw the pig’s body in the neighborhood retention pond, the affidavit reportedly said.
Much of the publicly available affidavit is redacted, citing public records exemptions in identifying victims of child abuse. The affidavit did say cops interviewed Byrd’s live-in girlfriend. Cops reportedly noted that she “lacked confidence” in many of her responses to their questions and many of her answers “contradicted themselves.”
Cops arrested Byrd on Feb. 15 and he posted the $100,000 bond on Feb. 26. His next court date is scheduled for March 24. Byrd’s attorney declined to comment when reached by Law&Crime.
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