A father described as “pure evil” has been found guilty of murdering his five infant children over a period of nine years. Paul Allen Perez, aged 63, was convicted by a jury in Yolo County, California, on multiple murder charges and one count of assaulting a child under eight resulting in death.
The verdict pertains to the deaths of five babies, all under six months old, who were killed at various locations in Central and Northern California between 1992 and 2001. Perez’s criminal acts came to light in 2007 when the remains of a baby were discovered in a canal concealed inside a cooler. The baby, estimated to be about one month old, was determined to have died by homicide, with DNA evidence linking Perez as the biological father.
After 12 years of anonymity, the baby was identified as Nikko Lee Perez in 2019, revealing that he was one of five siblings who had perished. The other children, born between 1992 and 2001, were Kato Allen Perez, Mika Alena Perez, Nikko Lee Perez (the identified baby), and Kato Krow Perez. Only the remains of two of the children have been recovered to date.
Perez, already incarcerated for unrelated offenses, faced five counts of first-degree murder with torture allegations in January 2020. Yolanda Perez, his wife and mother of the children, testified during the trial about years of abuse and threats from Perez, who allegedly killed their first child in 1992. Prosecutors stated that Perez continued to kill their subsequent children shortly after birth, warning his wife against seeking help.
Yolanda Perez pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges, avoiding murder charges through a plea deal for her testimony. The couple had six children in total, with Brittany being the only surviving child. In closing arguments, the Deputy District Attorney emphasized Perez’s lack of remorse or acknowledgment of his actions, branding him as a deliberate killer.
The Yolo County District Attorney condemned Perez’s actions as “pure evil” and advocated for his permanent imprisonment. Perez is facing a life sentence without parole and is scheduled for sentencing on April 6 at the Yolo County Superior Court.