Marine vet violently kicks, yanks 6-year-old stepson on dog leash, disturbing video shows

Former US Marine Zachary Perez has been accused of committing horrific acts of torture against his 6-year-old stepson in their Miami home. Surveillance footage captured Perez repeatedly kicking and violently yanking the young boy on a dog leash over the course of two days, according to reports.

The disturbing videos obtained by NBC 6 show Perez parading the child through the house with a pink leash around his neck, forcefully pulling him to the ground, and chasing him with a stick. In one particularly disturbing clip, Perez is seen kicking the boy in the stomach onto a bed in his bedroom.

Prosecutors described Perez as a “ticking time bomb” who was willing to harm anyone, and alleged that he also made the boy wear a backpack filled with rocks and forced him to walk outside. The abuse left the child with swollen eyes, scratches, a rash from the dog collar, and marks from tree branches used to whip him.

The boy’s mother claimed that her son now suffers from PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and hearing problems as a result of Perez’s alleged cruelty. Perez’s attorney argued that the mother had given permission for him to discipline the child, a claim that prosecutors disputed.

Since Perez’s arrest in May on charges of aggravated child abuse, multiple individuals, including his 14-year-old daughter, have come forward with additional allegations of abuse. Despite initially being denied bail, Perez was released on house arrest on June 10, with strict orders to stay away from his stepson and the boy’s mother.

Perez is scheduled to appear in court on August 28 to face the charges against him. The shocking case has highlighted the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from abuse and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.