Shivangi Sinha
In August 2018, Tom Perez Sr., affectionately known as Papa Tom, set out for a casual stroll in his hometown of Fontana, California for a small walk. He later made additional plans and eventually headed to the Los Angeles International Airport to take a flight to visit his daughter. Before he could board, however, police approached and questioned him. They informed him that his son, also named Tom Perez, had been admitted to a psychiatric facility. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Ruse’ recounts the series of events that unfolded next and how both father and son found themselves in a situation they never could have imagined.
Papa Tom Perez Got to Know About His Missing Person Report at the Airport
Tom “Papa Tom” Perez Sr. had lived a long and happy life. He was proud of his two children, a son, Tom Perez Jr., and a daughter, and had built a stable life for himself. As he grew older, he realized that senior living facilities weren’t the right fit for him. He was still holding an active real estate license and stepped in when his son separated from his wife. Papa Tom suggested they move in together. By 2018, the two were sharing a three-bedroom home in Fontana, California, managing their own routines. They occasionally clashed, as families do, but remained largely independent and found companionship in each other’s presence.
The house they were living in was actually being prepared for sale, and the two had begun some renovation work. Most of the physical labor was handled by Perez Jr., but Papa Tom stayed involved in the process. He was active in the community, well-liked, and maintained close relationships, including one with his brother, who lived in the same town. On August 7, 2018, he headed out for a walk with the family dog, Margo. After running into a friend, he sent the dog home and chose to spend the evening at his brother’s place. The next day, his daughter booked him a ticket to visit her in Oakland, California, so he went straight to Los Angeles International Airport to wait for his flight.
Papa Tom said that airport officers pulled him aside and informed him that Fontana Police Department officers wanted to speak with him. He claimed he was detained, placed in a car, and read his Miranda Rights before being taken to an interrogation room. There, officers told him a search warrant had been executed at his home because he had been reported missing. He said he received little information and was told that his son, Tom Perez Jr., had filed the report but that he also needed to be admitted to a psychiatric unit. Papa Tom explained what had happened, but officers questioned him about his relationship with his son and allegedly asked whether there was any violence in the home.
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Papa Tom Perez is Continuing to be a Solid Rock For His Son Today
Papa Tom said he repeatedly tried to contact Tom Perez Jr., but his calls kept getting disconnected. It was only when a nurse finally connected them that he heard his son’s voice. On the afternoon of August 13, 2018, Perez was released from the hospital and reunited with his father. Papa Tom recalled the moment, saying that Perez told him he truly believed his father had died. “And then he walked slowly to me… and then we embraced, and we had tears in our eyes,” he said. But the ordeal wasn’t over. Soon, they also picked up their dog, Margo, who was at a local shelter. In the days that followed, police continued their investigation, operating under the belief that someone might have been harmed inside the house, though nothing ultimately came of it.
When Papa Tom saw the toll those two days in the interrogation room had taken on Perez, he knew he had to support his son. He said Perez was unable to work for a long period afterward, and he had to step in to help and care for him. In August 2019, when Perez filed a civil lawsuit against certain officers of the Fontana Police Department, Papa Tom stood beside him and supported him throughout the process. In February 2023, when Margo passed away, it was a very tough time for Papa Tom as he adored her, but he kept her fond memories alive in his heart.
It wasn’t until September 2024, in an interview with CNN, that the father and son spoke publicly about the incident for the first time, sharing their experience. Papa Tom reflected on how they had been each other’s support system, explaining that the years since then have been extremely difficult and that the emotional wounds still remain with his son. He is now around 78 years old and is most likely still living in California, keeping a low profile and avoiding the public eye.
