Paul Befanis, M.D., a Melbourne Ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) was arrested (August 13, 2006) by Brevard County police on charges of two counts of cruelty towards children, abuse without great harm and domestic violence against his wife (now Ex-wife). The police report states that Befanis’ daughter phones the police dispatcher to report that she and her mother were locked in a room in the house and to “please help.” According to the report, Dr. Befanis had entered his daughter’s room and attacked his daughter by repeatedly striking her about the head and arms. Respondent then reportedly grabbed his wife around the throat and struck her in the face then grabbed and pulled her right ear forcefully. Befanis’s wife was later observed by police to have a small bleeding cut on the bridge of her nose.
Dr. Befanis’ son, according to the police report, witnesses the attack on his mother, climbed out his bedroom window and ran from the house after seeing his father brandishing a knife and threatening to kill his mother.
