Michelle Dion, a single mother of three in Las Vegas, turned to social media in late July as a last resort to locate the father of her children, Juan Enrique Pereda, who had been absent from their lives for nearly a decade. Facing mounting financial pressure from increased rent and utility costs, Dion had been the sole provider for her children, Isabella (14), Leonardo (13), and Juan (10), since Pereda left the family in 2017. She alleged that Pereda had not consistently paid the court-ordered $866 in monthly child support and had rarely seen their children.
Dion's post on the Threads app detailed her nine-year struggle and sought information about Pereda, describing him as 41 years old with duck hunt tattoos on his upper arms, last known to be in Lake Elsinore, California, and working at a place called Lunch Bang. Within hours, the post gained significant traction, with thousands of replies. Users provided information about Pereda's location, employment, and revealed he had a new partner and family, including three children.
Dion expressed being overwhelmed by the response, stating her post stemmed from desperation and a feeling of hitting her lowest point. The outpouring of support from thousands of women, many sharing similar experiences with absent fathers, resonated deeply. The post garnered over 30,000 likes, 2,000 reposts, and more than 4,000 replies.
A significant development was the comment from Noelle Thompson, identified as the mother of two of Pereda's older children. Thompson corroborated Dion's account, alleging that Pereda had left her family in 2010 and had seen their sons only a few times since. She stated Pereda now has six children he has not actively parented and expressed hope that the post would lead to accountability.
Dion recalled her past interactions with Pereda, mentioning that he had previously painted Thompson negatively. However, she noted Thompson's kindness during a rare visit Pereda made to see his sons with Thompson, where Thompson even brought a gift for Dion's newborn daughter.
Dion met Pereda in 2011 while they both worked at Best Buy. Their relationship progressed rapidly, with Pereda moving into her apartment within a month and Dion becoming pregnant less than a year later. Initially, Dion described Pereda as caring and attentive, drawn to his charm and musical pursuits. However, she claimed he quit his job at Best Buy shortly before their daughter's birth, allegedly to avoid wage garnishment for child support owed to Thompson's children. Dion stated that Pereda's demeanor changed significantly after their second child, becoming more distant and controlling, which contrasted with her desire for a stable family life.
By the time their third child was born, Dion felt she barely recognized the man she had fallen for, leading her to end the relationship due to diverging values regarding their children's upbringing. The financial strain of Pereda's absence has been significant, but Dion emphasized the greater cost of his absence from their children's lives, expressing a desire for them to have more opportunities, such as participating in activities like hockey or art school.
Pereda's current girlfriend responded to Dion's post, disputing the narrative and calling it unfair to judge based on one side's account. Pereda himself acknowledged to the Daily Mail that his financial support has been insufficient, stating he sends about $200 every few months but not steadily, citing