Thomas Perez

Thomas Perez jr is a Californian man who was interrogated by police for 17 hours. Police accused him of killing his father, Thomas Perez Sr, who was alive at the time.

Mr Perez jr reported his father missing on 7 August 2018 after Mr Perez Sr failed to return from a short walk with the family dog. On 8 August 2018 Mr Perez Jr reported his father missing to police. Two police officers Corporal Sheila Foley and Officer Joanna Piña took Mr Merez jr to the police station and began questioning him.

After 17 hours of interrogation by various police officers in which Mr Perez jr was denied needed medication he confessed to a crime he didn't commit. During the interrogation police claimed Perez's dog would be put down, that he would be charged US$1,000,000 if he did not lead them to the body and later that his father's body had been found.

Mr Perez jr was subsequently transported to a psychiatric ward and not informed by police for three days that his father was alive and well. Police further took his dog to the pound. Fortunately Mr Perez was able to track the dog down and rescue it.

Mr Perez jr subsequently sued the city of Fontana. He subsequently settled out of court for compensation of US$898,000.

After watching a recording of the interrogate Mr Perez jr's lawyer Jerry Steering commented:

“This case shows that if the police are skilled enough, and they grill you hard enough, they can get anybody to confess to anything.”