Disturbing video allegedly captured a former US Marine repeatedly kicking and ferociously yanking his 6-year-old stepson on a dog leash during what Florida prosecutors described as two days of horrific torture, according to reports.
Zachary Perez, 42, was allegedly caught on home surveillance footage parading the youngster through their Miami home with a pink leash wrapped around his neck and then aggressively jerking him backward to the ground, multiple videos obtained by NBC 6 showed.
Other horrifying videos, released by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, captured the unhinged stepdad seemingly chasing the youngster with a stick, kicking him as he ran through the living room and viciously booting him in the stomach onto a bed in the boy’s bedroom.
Prosecutors, who described Perez — an Iraq War vet — as a “ticking time bomb” willing to hurt anyone, said he was also seen forcing the boy to walk outside wearing a backpack filled with rocks during the malicious two-day ordeal, the outlet reported.
The alleged abuse left the young boy with swollen eyes from being punched, scratches across his body, a rash on his neck from the dog collar and marks from tree branches used to whip him, court records alleged.
The youngster’s mother, Barbara Perez, previously claimed in court that her son now suffers from PTSD, a traumatic brain injury and hearing problems as a result of Perez’s alleged savage cruelty.
Perez’s attorney claimed the boy’s mother asked for help caring for the child and gave him permission to discipline him — a claim prosecutors argued lacks any evidence.
The frenzied stepfather was arrested and charged back in May with aggravated child abuse — an allegation in which he pleaded not guilty.
Since his arrest, multiple individuals have reportedly come forward with additional allegations of abuse, including his 14-year-old daughter, prosecutors said.
The rampaging madman was initially denied bail but was released on house arrest on June 10.
Perez was reportedly ordered to remain at least 500 feet away from his stepson and the boy’s mother, and have no contact with either of them.
Perez is due back in court on Aug. 28.
