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A California father faces life in prison after he was found guilty of killing five of his own children and hiding a 1-month-old baby’s body in a cooler.
Paul Allen Perez, 63, who is already behind bars for unrelated past crimes, was convicted on four counts of murder and one count of assault on a child under 8 years old resulting in death on Tuesday, January 6.
“These children are dead, and they’re dead because Paul Perez killed them. One time is an accident; five times is intentional, ladies and gentlemen,” Deputy District Attorney David Robbins told the court during the trial. “There was no remorse, there was no regret, there was no acknowledgment they were his children. That’s the mindset of a killer.”
All five of the murders are believed to have occurred over a roughly 10-year period, between 1992 and 2001, in multiple locations across northern and central California. Perez was eventually connected to the gruesome crimes after an infant’s body was found in 2007. The deceased child was dressed only in a diaper and covered in a blanket. Despite the body’s discovery, it wasn’t until 2019 when the baby was finally identified as Nikko Lee Perez, who was born in 1996. The deceased infant was eventually confirmed to be Perez’s child through DNA testing.
All of the deceased children — some of which shared the same names — were all born to a woman named Yolanda Perez.
Paul was arrested on January 27, 2020, in connection with the 2007 cold case.
“While I am proud of the efforts of my investigators and coroner’s office, this is not a day that will bring joy to any one of us,” Sheriff Tom Lopez said in a statement at the time, reported by WGXA. “In my 40 years in law enforcement, I cannot think of a case more disturbing than this one. There can be no victim more vulnerable and innocent than an infant, and unfortunately this case involves five.”
During Paul’s trial for the first-degree murder charges, Yolanda additionally alleged that she’d suffered significant amount of abuse and threats of rape over the years.
“These crimes involved pure evil. The defendant should die in prison,” district attorney Jeff Reisig said in reaction to the verdict, according to a press release published earlier this month by the DA’s office. “May the souls of his murdered children rest in peace.”
Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 6.
Californian authorities have accused a father and his wife of allegedly abusing his 14-month-old daughter to death over the course of several months, officials confirmed to Us Weekly. Alfredo Muñoz Jr., 40, and Kelly Anelalani Muñoz, 34, have each been charged with single counts of murder, torture and assault on a child causing death stemming […]
On Friday, January 9, California Attorney General Rob Bonta also issued a statement commending the Bureau of Forensic Services for the work they put into solving decades-long cases, providing a “pathway to justice.”
“With this conviction, justice was served for these horrific crimes. This case is a powerful example of how innovative scientific techniques provide a voice for victims of crime,” he said at the time. “I’m also grateful to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners for their dedication to finding justice for these children.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
