Son-in-law who killed Fort Worth veterinarian pleads guilty to murder: court records
A man who killed his father-in-law, a Fort Worth veterinarian, has pleaded guilty to murder, according to court records.
John Birdwell signed a plea offer last week and is scheduled to be sentenced at a hearing on Friday morning, Jan. 31, by Judge Julie Lugo in Tarrant County 372nd District Court. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of 23 years in prison, according to court documents.
A well-known veterinarian in Tarrant County, Dr. Robert Bearden was killed by Birdwell in August 2022, police have said. Bearden and his son-in-law had an argument at Woody’s Tavern in Fort Worth about Birdwell not signing divorce papers for the doctor’s daughter, according to an arrest warrant affidavit previously obtained by the Star-Telegram.
According to the warrant, during their argument as Bearden stood with his hands to his side while talking to his son-in-law, Birdwell grabbed Bearden by the head and head-butted him three times.
Birdwell moved to get on top of the unconscious veterinarian and tried to hit him again, when several bar patrons moved quickly and pulled Birdwell off, the affidavit stated.
The assault was captured in an 18-second surveillance video from Woody’s Tavern.
Birdwell started to leave the bar before Fort Worth police officers arrived, and a witness tried to stop him, police wrote in the warrant. Birdwell bit the witness on the chest and left the scene, the affidavit stated.
When officers arrived at Woody’s Tavern, at 4744 Bryant Irvin Road, they found Bearden, who was bleeding from his head. He was disoriented and confused, police said.
Bearden was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, where he later died. His cause of death was blunt head trauma and it was ruled a homicide by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Dr. Bob was a dedicated caregiver who made a significant impact on the colleagues who worked with him, the pets he cared for, and the clients he counseled,” his family wrote in his obituary. He worked at VCA Mercedes Place Animal Hospital in Benbrook.
Birdwell was indicted on charges of murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault and injury to an elderly person. The charges other than murder will be waived as part of the plea agreement, documents show.