A 42-year-old Iraq War veteran is facing aggravated child abuse charges after prosecutors say home surveillance footage captured him violently assaulting his 6-year-old stepson.
Zachary Perez, a former U.S. Marine, is accused of repeatedly punching the boy with a closed fist, kicking him, and hurling obscenities at him, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
Video evidence allegedly shows multiple instances of abuse. In one clip, Perez appears to kick the child while yelling at him. Another reportedly captures him kicking the boy again. The arrest report claims Perez also punched the child in the face several times, leaving visible bruises.
Amanda Altman, CEO of child advocacy group Kristi House, called the abuse a nightmare for the young victim. She emphasized that signs of abuse aren’t always physical and often show up in a child's behavior — including acting out, social difficulties, and other age-inappropriate responses.
Prosecutors say Perez has a history of domestic violence, including past incidents involving his 14-year-old daughter. He has pleaded not guilty and has been ordered to have no contact with his stepson.
Perez is currently being held under supervision at a mental health facility, according to court records.
Child Welfare and Veteran Statistics
The Perez case is not an isolated incident but part of a documented struggle within the state’s child protection system.
- Florida Child Welfare Trends: In 2024, Florida saw a state rate of 16.6 substantiated child maltreatment cases per 1,000 children. While the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) reported a 47% reduction in children entering out-of-home care since 2019 due to family stabilization efforts, thousands of children still face high-risk environments daily.
- The Veteran Connection: Research indicates a complex relationship between combat-related trauma and domestic stability. According to the VA, while the majority of veterans are never violent, those with PTSD are statistically more likely to engage in intimate partner violence (IPV) or domestic aggression. One study found that 33% of veterans with PTSD reported intimate partner violence, compared to 13.5% of those without the diagnosis.
- Co-occurrence of Abuse: National data shows that in families where domestic violence occurs, child maltreatment is also present in 30% to 60% of cases. This "co-occurrence" often means that abuse is rarely limited to one victim in the household, as seen in Perez's alleged history with his teenage daughter.
Recognizing Behavioral "Red Flags"
As Amanda Altman of Kristi House noted, the wounds of abuse are often invisible. For teachers, neighbors, and extended family, the following behavioral shifts are critical warning signs:
- Regression: A child may suddenly return to younger behaviors, such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, or extreme clinginess.
- Hyper-Vigilance: Children living in "nightmare" scenarios often appear constantly "on guard," as if preparing for something bad to happen.
- Social Inhibition or Aggression: A child might either become extremely withdrawn or, conversely, model the violence they see at home by being aggressive toward peers or animals.
- Fear of "Home": An unusual reluctance to leave school or a specific fear of a primary caregiver can be the loudest signal that a child is unsafe.
How to Take Action
Florida law requires any individual who suspects a child is being abused to report it. You do not need "proof"—only a reasonable suspicion.
- Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
- Veterans Crisis Line: For veterans or families struggling with mental health or transition issues, dial 988 and Press 1 for confidential 24/7 support.
- Local Support: Organizations like Kristi House provide healing and legal advocacy for child victims of sexual and physical abuse in Miami-Dade.
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