California man accused of taking sons, engaging in standoff pleads not guilty in wife's death

LOS ANGELES — A California man accused of killing his wife, abducting his sons and engaging police in a highway standoff acted in self-defense when his wife tried to stab him, his lawyer said Monday.

Attorney Eber Bayona said Daniel Perez previously was attacked by his wife in another knife incident, which led to her serving time in jail.

Bayona wouldn't say how the 43-year-old Daniel Perez defended himself in the latest incident or how Perez's wife was killed. However, he said Erica Perez wasn't stabbed.

Prosecutors also declined to comment on Erica Perez's cause of death.

Daniel Perez, an elementary school custodian, appeared in court Monday in shackles and pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping. His bail was set at $1.4 million.

According to investigators, Daniel and Erica Perez, along with their four sons, ages 6 to 11, disappeared Dec. 5 and were reported missing four days later. During the search last week, police found Erica Perez's body in the trunk of the family's Honda Accord about a half-mile from their Montebello home.

Authorities captured Daniel Perez the next day near Santee after a high-speed chase and a highway standoff. His children were in the car but were uninjured.

"My nephew is a good man, a good husband a father," she said. "He loved his children. ... Hopefully this will all be worked out."

"Our hearts go out to Erica's family," she added.

Superior Court Judge Renee Korn issued an order for Daniel Perez to have no contact with his children. She set a Jan. 12 court date to determine when his preliminary hearing will be held.

Daniel Perez wore a sleeveless uniform indicating he is being held in the jail hospital ward. Chains were wound around his upper body and connected to handcuffs. He held his hands clasped in front of him and did not speak during the hearing.