Twisted father killed 5 of his helpless babies – 1 found in canal | World | News
An evil man faces life behind bars after killing five of his own children. Although police found the remains of one of the infants hidden inside a wine cooler submerged in a canal, three of the babies are yet to be recovered.
Paul Allen Perez, 63 and from California, was convicted on four counts of murder and one count of assault on a child under eight resulting in death on Tuesday, January 6. He began his murder spree in 1992 before the first baby was discovered by police in 2007. He was just one month old at his time of death and was found wrapped in a blanket inside a wine cooler.
As reported by The Sun, a DNA test revealed that Perez was his biological father and the baby was identified as Nikko Lee Perez. He was one of five siblings who had died, also including Kato Allen Perez, Mika Alena Perez, Nikko Lee Perez and Kato Krow Perez.
Investigators found that all five had the same mother – Yolanda Perez. They were born in either Fresno or Merced, two cities in California.
Their father was charged with five counts of first-degree murder while behind bars for unrelated offences in 2020. During his trial, Yolanda gave evidence detailing years of abuse and threats of rape.
According to Yolanda, Perez murdered Kato first in 1992. She added that he threatened her with violence if she reported him to police.
Perez then allegedly went on to murder four more of his children. Yolanda also pleaded guilty to five counts of child endangerment and now faces up to a decade in jail.
David Robbins, Deputy District Atorney at the Yolo County District Attorney’s office, told the court: “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. There was no remorse, there was no regret, there was no acknowledgement they were his children – that’s the mindset of a killer.”
Perez was initally found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder by a jury. However, they found him not guilty of first-degree or second-degree murder in the fifth case.
Robbins added that “the world is a safe place with Paul Perez in prison.” He continued: “There are multiple victims, alive and deceased, who can attest. While justice was delayed, it was not denied and today’s verdict is proof of that.”
Outside court on Tuesday, District Attorney Jeff Reisig said: “The defendant should die in prison. May the souls of his murdered children rest in peace.”
Perez pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will be sentenced at Yolo County Superior Court on April 6.
