Florida Man Accused of Two Days of Child Abuse Captured on Surveillance

A disturbing video footage shows a man, identified as Zachary Perez, repeatedly attacking his 6-year-old stepson over a span of two days. Prosecutors describe the abuse as brutal and prolonged, with evidence from home surveillance revealing the extent of the allegations.

Footage obtained shows Perez parading the child through their Miami home while holding a pink leash around the boy’s neck, then forcefully yanking him to the ground. Additional videos depict Perez chasing the child with a stick, kicking him in the living room, and violently pushing him onto a bed inside the boy’s room.

During the two-day ordeal, Perez was seen forcing the boy to walk outdoors with a backpack filled with rocks. The child sustained injuries including swollen eyes from punches, scratches, a rash from the dog collar, and marks from branches used to whip him.

Surveillance video of a man allegedly abusing a child. — Zachary Perez, 42, was captured walking the boy around the home with a leash. Miami-Dade SAO

The child’s mother, Barbara Perez, reported that her son now suffers from PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and hearing issues due to the alleged abuse. Prosecutors noted there is no evidence supporting her claim that she sought help or authorized physical discipline.

Mugshot of Zachary Perez. — Zachary Perez faces charges of aggravated child abuse. Since his arrest, multiple individuals, including his 14-year-old daughter, have come forward with additional abuse allegations. Miami-Dade Corrections

Perez, a war veteran with prior service in Iraq, was initially denied bail but was released on house arrest in June. Conditions of his release included staying at least 500 feet away from his stepson and the child’s mother, with no contact permitted.

The accused is scheduled to return to court on August 28.