MAN FACES ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE OVER DEAD OPOSSUM VIDEO.
A 34-year-old Tennessee man was arrested after allegedly livestreaming himself torturing and killing a wild opossum because he allegedly claimed the animal had been killing his chickens. Brandon Terry Honea was charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with the video, which prompted numerous calls and messages to local police.
According to Dexerto, the TikTok footage showed Honea grabbing the opossum by its tail and repeatedly slamming it against a porch. A woman could be heard in the background pleading with him to stop. The opossum’s remains could not be recovered by investigators, as the footage showed it had already been killed.
The incident drew intense local backlash after circulating online. For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue, which said the video was livestreamed to a Fayetteville resident’s social media page, described the footage as showing “extreme torture” of a young female opossum. The 17th District Attorney General’s Office also reviewed the video, calling it “disturbing.”
After community members reported the video to authorities, the Fayetteville Police Department began looking into the incident. The department then referred the case to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, explaining that opossums are legally classified as “Class 2 wildlife.” The TWRA took over as the lead investigating agency, conducting a joint investigation alongside Fayetteville Police and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
In a public update following the arrest, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office stated, “The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office takes reports of animal cruelty seriously and remains committed to protecting our community.” Fayetteville Police also thanked the residents who brought the footage to their attention, according to a report by Rocket City Now.
Honea was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on the evening of November 11, 2026. WHNT reports that he appeared in court for his arraignment on November 12, 2026. Following the hearing, he was released from jail on a $7,000 bond.
