By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – More details have been revealed in a disturbing child abuse case in Pima County that ended with the deaths of a 4-year-old girl and her father.
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The case is raising serious questions about the possible failures of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which has been under fire by lawmakers for years.
According to reports from the DCS, there were three reports of neglect and abuse made involving the child, Tammy Hernandez, before she died. The suspect, 31-year-old Nathan Aaron Peru, had six other allegations of abuse and neglect involving other children.
Peru also had a long criminal history in Pima County, and it is unclear how he was able to retain custody of his child.
On March 16, 2024, Hernandez was found dead in a bathtub at the El Frontier Manufactured Home Community, located in the 4200 block of North Flowing Wells Road.
Authorities doubted that the child had simply drowned, and Peru was quickly named the suspect. He fled before he could be arrested, even stealing a city of Tucson vehicle in the process.
On Aug. 29, 2024, Peru was arrested in the Flowing Wells area and charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and vehicle theft.
On Oct. 22, 2025, Peru was shot and killed when he attacked a corrections officer at a local hospital. Video from that incident can be found near the bottom of this story.
On May 14, 2026, 13 News obtained the DCS report on Tammy’s death. The full report can be read below, but it shows a long history of abuse allegations made against Peru and other adults in Tammy’s life.
Arizona DCS report on death of Tammy Hernandez by KOLD News 13
According to DCS, Hernandez suffered blunt force injuries and had a severe stomach ulcer that contributed to her death. The agency said the young girl died “as a result of physical abuse and neglect while in the care of her father, Nathan Peru.”
PATTERN OF NEGLECT AND INACTION
The DCS report lists the nine total investigations into Peru, three of which included Hernandez. In several of the cases, either the children were returned to the guardians, the family could not be found, or the allegations were unsubstantiated.
On Aug. 14, 2020, someone reported that Hernandez and her sibling were being neglected by Peru, Hernandez’s mother, and the father of the other child. The investigators were unable to find the family. As the investigation continued, another report was made.
On Sept. 8, 2020, someone reported that Hernandez and her sibling were being neglected and abused by Peru, Hernandez’s mother, and the father of the other child. The investigators were unable to find the family. As the investigation continued, another report was made.
On Oct. 14, 2020, someone reported that Hernandez and her sibling were being neglected by Peru, Hernandez’s mother, and the father of the other child. Investigators were able to find the family.
DCS said the allegations of neglect in all three reports for Hernandez and her sibling were substantiated, and they were placed in foster care. The allegation of abuse made on Sept. 8, 2020, was unsubstantiated.
The family was provided services, according to DCS, and Hernandez was returned to Peru in November 2023. She died less than a year later.
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Peru was accused of neglecting other children at least six times.
On March 29, 2012, Peru and a woman were accused of neglecting two children. The children were placed in foster care, and Peru’s parental rights were terminated in 2014
On Aug. 30, 2013, Peru and a woman were accused of neglecting a child. The child was removed from their home and placed with a relative. While the allegations were substantiated, the family was provided with reunification services. Peru’s parental rights were terminated in 2014.
On Aug. 14, 2020, Peru and a woman were accused of neglect again. While the investigation was ongoing, another report of neglect was made. The allegations on this one were later confirmed to be true.
On Aug. 30, 2020, Peru and a woman were accused of neglect. The child was placed in foster care after the allegations were substantiated. The family was provided reunification services, and the child was returned to their mother’s home in 2022.
On June 9, 2021, Peru and a woman were accused of neglect. The child was removed from the home, and the child was placed under court supervision. The allegations were substantiated, but the family was again provided services, and the child was eventually returned to their mother’s home in 2022.
On Sept. 24, 2021, Peru and a woman were accused of neglect. The investigators claimed the child was safe to remain in their mother’s care after the allegations were unsubstantiated.
FATAL SHOOTING
The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team released video from the fatal shooting of Peru. The video, which can be watched in the player above, does contain graphic content.
Investigators said he attacked corrections officer Caitlin Acosta while in the ER at Banner South on Oct. 22, 2025. Peru may have faked a medical emergency while in the county jail, and was taken to the hospital located at East Ajo Way and Country Club.
Acosta, a five-year veteran of the department, shot Peru and was not injured in the incident.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Peru was transported from the Pima County Adult Detention Complex to the hospital for medical treatment. Nanos said while being checked out, Peru attacked Acosta and was shot. He died from his injuries despite immediate medical treatment.
“We’re very cognizant that this hospital has a job to do,” Nanos said during a news conference after the shooting. “We want to assure our community that we understand that, and especially in the emergency room area, so we’re moving with them, collaborating with their team to make this happen as smoothly as possible.”
Nanos said that Peru was being held in a higher security unit at the jail due to being a threat to staff and other inmates.
PERU’S CRIMINAL HISTORY
According to court documents, Peru has an extensive violent criminal history in the county.
- In 2013, he was found guilty of second-degree burglary and criminal damage. He was sentenced to six months in prison.
- In 2014, charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and prohibited possession were dismissed. In a separate case from that same year, he was found guilty of drug possession.
- In 2017, he was found guilty of escape. He was sentenced to 173 days in jail, but got credit for 173 days’ time served.
- In 2018, he was found guilty of aggravated assault and received probation.
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