Fontana Settles for $900,000 After Interrogation Leads to False Murder Confession [San Bernardino, CA]

SAN BERNARDINO, CA (May 25, 2024) — Thomas Perez Jr. endured a 17-hour interrogation by Fontana police, resulting in a false confession to his father’s murder. Despite detectives grilling him until he experienced a mental breakdown, it was later revealed that his father was alive.

In 2018, Perez reported his father missing after an argument. Detectives found suspicious items at their home, leading to an intense interrogation of Perez Jr. The psychological pressure caused him to falsely confess to the crime. His father, meanwhile, was safe at his girlfriend’s home without his phone.

Perez Jr.’s attorney, Jerry Steering, described the interrogation as the “worst act of deliberate cruelty” he had seen in 40 years of suing the police. Even after discovering the father was alive, detectives placed Perez Jr. on a psychiatric hold without informing him of his father’s status.

In 2024, the city of Fontana reportedly agreed to a $900,000 settlement for Perez Jr. following the ordeal. Fontana police and city officials did not respond to requests for comment on the Thomas Perez false confession lawsuit.