After a decade of unimaginable horror, justice has finally been served for California father Paul Allen Perez. The 63-year-old transient was convicted on Tuesday for the murder of his five children and assault on a child under 8 resulting in death, as reported by the Yolo County District Attorney’s office.
Perez’s heinous crimes spanned from 1992 to 2001, with the discovery of an infant’s remains in a cooler submerged in a canal in 2007 serving as a catalyst for the investigation. DNA testing later confirmed Perez as the biological father of the child, who was identified as Nikko Lee Perez, born in Fresno on November 8, 1996.
The harrowing details of the case revealed that Nikko was one of five siblings who had tragically lost their lives. The deceased children, Kato Allen Perez, Mika Alena Perez, Nikko Lee Perez, and Kato Krow Perez, were all born in Fresno or Merced to their mother, Yolanda Perez.
During the trial, Yolanda recounted years of abuse and threats of violence from Perez, leading to the deaths of their children. She bravely testified against Perez, detailing the abuse and manipulation she endured over the years.
Perez, already serving time for unrelated offenses, was charged with five counts of first-degree murder in 2020, with special circumstances for torture. Yolanda, who initially faced murder charges herself, pleaded guilty to child endangerment in exchange for her testimony.
The prosecution painted a chilling picture of Perez as a remorseless killer, responsible for the deaths of his own children. Deputy District Attorney David Robbins argued that the intentional nature of the killings was evident in Perez’s lack of remorse or acknowledgment of the children as his own.
After a grueling trial, Perez was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on the fifth case, leading to a mistrial on the involuntary manslaughter charge.
Despite the delay in justice, Robbins expressed relief that Perez would finally be held accountable for his crimes. Perez faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for April 6, 2026, in Yolo County Superior Court.
The chilling case of Paul Allen Perez serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk within seemingly ordinary individuals. As the families of the victims continue to grapple with their loss, the hope for closure and justice remains as the legal system moves forward in delivering a final verdict.
