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Dog the Bounty Hunter Reveals Shocking News About His Abusive Father

On Monday, May 3, Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman is joining The Dr. Oz Show where he’s opening up about his traumatic past.

The reality TV star and his fiancée Francie Frane made a virtual appearance to speak with Dr. Oz. The upcoming episode dives deep into Chapman’s past, where he talks about his father, Wesley Chapman. He says the abuse he faced from his dad growing up hit him even harder last year when a lifelong secret was revealed. At 67 years old, Dog the Bounty Hunter found out that his father has never been his biological parent.

“My little sister was a couple of years younger than me and she had a very bad infection,” Chapman said in a clip of the interview shared by PEOPLE. “She was a nurse and she knew that she was not going to make it. So just before she passed away, she said, ‘Oh, by the way, I want to tell you that Dad is not your father. He is Paula’s, Mike’s and mine. But he’s not really yours and maybe that’s some of the reason he beat you more.’”

Chapman expanded on the physical abuse he received from his late father. He used to get spanked so hard he’d be embarrassed to undress around others because of the bruising.

“Well, my father, who I just found out last year was not my blood daddy, was in the Navy back in the day,” Chapman explained. “My father would spank me so hard with a belt or a piece of board, and he’d pull my pants down. Number one, that was humiliating. I lean over a couch and just go to wailing. I couldn’t even shower at school because I was so embarrassed of the bruises.”

Dog the Bounty Hunter Says His Father Beat Him ‘Daily’

In another clip of the Dr. Oz interview, Dog the Bounty Hunter revealed that his dad beat him “daily.” He never understood the violence or where it stemmed from. But Chapman says the revelation of his true lineage helped paint a clearer picture as to why it may have happened.

“When I found out that he wasn’t my dad, a lot of things that he used to say, [like] ‘I gave you your name,’ ‘I’ll beat the savage out of you,’ [made sense]. Come to find out, a lot of things started coming full circle. Oh, no wonder,” Chapman said of the abuse.

Finding out about his father changed Chapman’s outlook on fugitives as well. The bounty hunter says he has a clearer understanding of criminals he’s arrested in the past. Especially ones who blame their lack of a father figure for their illegal behavior.

“I used to arrest people, I’d say, ‘Why do you do this, man?’ [They would reply,] ‘Well, I don’t know who my dad is, Dog,’ and I used to feel so bad. And I don’t know who my dad is either. But I still love my daddy,” Chapman said. “If there wouldn’t be how he raised me, I wouldn’t be the man I was today. So, I kind of get over those excuses that my people have. ‘Oh, I don’t know my dad, and you don’t understand.’ Yeah, big deal.”

Chapman may have had a hurtful and traumatic childhood. However, he still claims Wesley Chapman as his father. In fact, he has no desire to find his biological parent. It sounds like Dog is at peace with his family secret.

“Do I want to find my dad? No. Do I have a dad? Yes, and his name is Wesley Chapman,” he explained.