Shivangi Sinha
In August 2018, Tom Perez Jr. of Fontana, California, became convinced that his father, Papa Tom, had gone missing. After he filed a missing-person report, officers arrived at his home and began questioning him. Before he fully understood what was unfolding, he was informed that investigators had supposedly found traces of blood in his house and that he was suspected of killing his father. Shocked and overwhelmed, Perez suffered a breakdown, only to later discover that his father was actually alive. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Ruse’ outlines the sequence of events, what the investigation entailed, and the kind of impact the ordeal had on Perez Jr.
Tom Perez Jr. Didn’t Believe His Father Had Been Harmed When He Reported Him Missing
After separating from his ex-wife, Tom Perez Jr. relocated to Fontana, California, where his father, Tom “Papa Tom” Perez Sr., had lived for many years. Papa Tom had long felt he was too independent to move into a senior living facility, and Perez Jr. saw the move as an opportunity to look after him. He joined his father in the three-bedroom home, and both had to adjust to each other’s routines. The transition wasn’t always smooth, but nothing about it was unusual or alarming. They mostly lived their own lives and gave each other space. Perez Jr. worked in real estate, and that remained their primary source of income.
By 2018, he and Papa Tom had decided to renovate their home and prepare it for sale, and everything seemed to be moving according to plan. But on August 7, 2018, when Papa Tom stepped out with their dog, Margo, saying he would check the mail and return shortly, it set off an unexpected chain of events. Not long after, Margo came back alone with her leash still attached, and there was no sign of Papa Tom. Perez knew his father was well-known around town and might have gone off to visit someone without letting him know. But the following morning, when Papa Tom still hadn’t returned, and there had been no calls, Perez grew concerned. By the afternoon, he decided it was best to alert the authorities.
Perez Jr. wasn’t overly alarmed, since his 71-year-old father often wandered off on his own. He called the non-emergency line and requested notification if an elderly man matching his father’s description had been seen or reported anywhere. However, a few hours later, community service officers arrived at his home and began asking questions about the ongoing construction and whether the two had recently argued. Perez Jr. acknowledged they’d had a minor disagreement, but he didn’t believe it had anything to do with his father leaving. He was then taken to the Fontana Police Department and placed in an interrogation room. Initially, he thought the officers were simply gathering information to help locate Papa Tom, but the tone of their questions shifted quickly.
Tom Perez Jr. Had a Breakdown While Being Interrogated by the Fontana Police
Tom Perez Jr. remained in the interrogation room until the following morning, while a search warrant was carried out at his home. Officers found what they believed to be blood stains, and a cadaver dog had reportedly alerted to possible human remains inside the house. Around 4:40 am, Perez Jr. was asked to provide a DNA sample and questioned further about his relationship with his father. He later alleged he was not permitted to leave. A few hours later, a different pair of detectives took over and drove him around, allegedly asking whether he had killed his father. They supposedly suggested that he might not remember due to the medication he was taking for depression and anxiety, and even pressed him to say where he had hidden the alleged remains.
Perez Jr. alleged that when he asked for his medication, the request was denied. However, the police department has disputed this point. His friend, Carl Peraza, was brought in and was allegedly told that Papa Tom had died and that Perez Jr. was the prime suspect. Peraza advised him that the evidence looked strong and urged him to cooperate. Officers also warned him that he could face restitution costs, and eventually, they brought in his dog, Margo. Per reports, they told him the dog had witnessed a killing and was so traumatized that she had to be euthanized.
This news triggered a severe breakdown during which Perez Jr. pulled his hair and tore his shirt. After hours of questioning, feeling as though everything was collapsing around him, he even said it was possible he might have killed his father with scissors. Perez Jr. apologized to his sister and father, whom he genuinely believed he had killed, and this was included in the report officers prepared. In that report, police wrote that Perez Jr. had allegedly stabbed his father on the couch, wrapped the body in a shower curtain, and disposed of it. They also noted that he had supposedly waited hours before reporting Papa Tom missing.
Tom Perez Spent a Week in the Psychiatric Unit After Being Told His Father Had Passed Away
Late on August 9, 53-year-old Tom Perez Jr. was admitted to a psychiatric unit. By then, however, police had already learned that Papa Tom had spent the night at his brother’s house and was on his way to visit his daughter in Oakland, California. He was found alive and safe at the Los Angeles International Airport. Perez Jr. wasn’t informed of the truth, and for three days, he lived believing he had killed his father and that Margo was going to be euthanized. His phone had been disconnected, so none of Papa Tom’s calls reached him. It was only when a nurse connected them that Perez learned his father was alive. On August 13, 2018, he was released from the hospital and reunited with Papa Tom.
They also received a call from a local shelter that had scanned Margo’s microchip, allowing them to bring her home. In the days that followed, Perez said that he struggled a lot once he was free. He said he couldn’t focus on work and relied heavily on his father for support while dealing with emotional distress. The police continued their investigation for more days, and they stated that based on the evidence, they believed there had been a victim in the house, but nothing was found, and no charges were filed.
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Tom Perez Jr. Prefers to Avoid the Limelight Today
In August 2019, Tom Perez Jr. filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Fontana and several police officers, accusing them of false imprisonment, due process violations, unlawful seizure, excessive force, retaliation, Bane Act violations, false arrest, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case was settled out of court in April 2024 for $900,000, though the Fontana Police Department denied any wrongdoing. Officials maintained they acted appropriately based on the information available at the time and alleged Perez Jr. had appeared unusually calm about his father’s disappearance. The lawsuit also included a photograph showing a door in the Perez home with what appeared to be bloodstains.
Perez Jr. and his legal team argued that the photograph was never part of the initial filings and did not come from his home. The police, however, insisted they were legally permitted to use deception during an interrogation and claimed they had not crossed any boundaries. They stated the settlement was reached only because mediation was required, and to prevent further loss of time and resources for the department. Tom Perez, Jr., now around 60 years old, has returned to his life in Fontana, California, where he still resides with his father. In September 2024, he appeared in an interview with his father to discuss the case, but has otherwise kept a low profile.
