California Man Receives $900,000 Settlement After Coerced Confession to Nonexistent Crime

Fontana police subjected Thomas Perez Jr. to a 17-hour interrogation, leading to a false confession and a suicide attempt.

Thomas Perez Jr. was coerced into confessing to the murder of his father, who was actually alive.
The police used psychological torture, including threats to euthanize Perez's dog, to extract the confession.
Perez was denied medication and sleep during the 17-hour interrogation, exacerbating his mental health issues.
The city of Fontana agreed to a $900,000 settlement nearly six years after the incident.
Three of the involved police officers remain employed with the Fontana Police Department.