A FATHER in Texas has beat a man to death after allegedly catching him molesting his four-year-old daughter in a barn.

The man - whose name has not been released to protect his daughter - allegedly beat the attacker over the head when he pulled him off his child after discovering them in a barn in Lavaca County, Texas.

Sheriff Micah Harmon said the victim, a 47-year-old Gonzales man, died at the scene. His name will not been released until next-of-kin are notified.

The father and daughter were said to be at the barn with a number of other people tending to horses, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The 47-year-old arrived with several others. It is not known if the father or daughter knew him.

The girl was then heard screaming a short time later and when her father went to see what was wrong, he saw the man sexually assault her.

When he pulled him off her, he allegedly hit him several times over the head.

No arrests have been made in the case. A grand jury will determine what, if any charges will be filed.

The girl was taken to DeTar hospital in Victoria to be evaluated.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to perform an autopsy on the victim to determine the cause of his death/

Residents of the small Lavaca County town were largely in support of the father, saying the victim deserved it.

Sonny Jaehne, a Shiner native, told the Victoria Advocate: "He got what he deserved, big time."

Friend Mark Harabis said: "I agree with him totally. I would probably do worse.

"The family will have to deal with that the rest of their lives, no matter what happens to the father. Even if they let him go, he and his child will have to deal with that the rest of their lives."