After a decade of unspeakable horror, California father Paul Allen Perez — who murdered 5 of his youngsters and hid his toddler’s physique in a cooler — has lastly confronted justice.
Perez, 63, recognized as a transient, was convicted Tuesday on 4 counts of homicide and one depend of assault on a toddler below 8 leading to demise, in line with the Yolo County District Legal professional’s workplace.
Perez is believed to have killed his youngsters at completely different places scattered throughout Northern and central California between 1992 and 2001. The grim thriller started to unravel when investigators found an toddler’s stays submerged in a canal and hid inside a cooler in 2007. DNA testing later revealed Perez because the youngster’s organic father.
“These crimes concerned pure evil. The defendant ought to die in jail. Could the souls of his murdered youngsters relaxation in peace,” mentioned District Legal professional Jeff Reisig after the decision.
A coroner’s report decided the kid — wearing a diaper and wrapped in a blanket — was roughly 1 month previous on the time of demise. The child’s id remained unknown for 12 years.
The California Division of Justice used DNA evaluation in 2019 to establish the kid as Nikko Lee Perez. They decided Nikko was born November 8, 1996 in Fresno.
Investigators subsequently found that Nikko was one in every of 5 siblings who had died. Among the deceased youngsters shared the very same names — Kato Allen Perez, Mika Alena Perez, Nikko Lee Perez and Kato Krow Perez. All had been born in Fresno or Merced to the identical mom, Yolanda Perez.
Paul, already serving time for unrelated offenses, was charged with 5 counts of first-degree homicide, together with particular circumstances for torture in 2020.
Throughout his trial, Yolanda recalled years of abuse and threats of rape. She mentioned the primary killing occurred in 1992, when she heard her husband hitting Kato Allen, as reported by Davis Enterprise.
Authorities allege Perez killed 4 extra of his youngsters simply months after they had been born, threatening Yolanda with violence if she went to police.
“He mentioned he’d snap my neck, as a result of he can,” Yolanda cried to the jury.
Yolanda Perez pleaded responsible to 5 counts of kid endangerment. The Yolo County District Legal professional’s workplace initially charged her with homicide, however these fees had been dropped in alternate for her testimony. She now faces as much as 10 years in jail.
The couple — who married at 17 and 25 — had six youngsters collectively. Brittany, the eldest, is the one surviving youngster.
The DA’s workplace prosecuted Perez on 5 counts of homicide, one for every youngster he was accused of killing.
“These youngsters are lifeless, they usually’re lifeless as a result of Paul Perez killed them. One time is an accident; 5 instances is intentional, girls and gents,” mentioned Deputy District Legal professional David Robbins through the trial’s closing arguments.
“There was no regret, there was no remorse, there was no acknowledgment they had been his youngsters. That’s the mindset of a killer,” he added.
In keeping with court docket data, the jury discovered Perez responsible of 1 depend of first-degree homicide and three counts of second-degree homicide, however discovered him not responsible of first-degree or second-degree homicide within the fifth case.
Court docket data present the jury couldn’t agree on the involuntary manslaughter cost, main Decide Daniel Wolk to declare a mistrial.
“The world is a safer place with Paul Perez in jail, and there are a number of victims, alive and deceased, who can attest. Whereas justice was delayed, it was not denied, and as we speak’s verdict is proof of that,” mentioned Robbins.
Perez pleaded not responsible and faces a sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole. Sentencing is scheduled for April 6, 2026, in Yolo County Superior Court docket.
Thus far, the stays of solely two of the 5 youngsters have been recovered.
