Sexually Violent Predator Merle Wakefield Absconds from San Diego Supervision
- Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old sexually violent predator, absconded from his supervised release in San Diego on Sept.
- 25, 2026, while working at an Amazon warehouse in Rancho Bernardo, according to sandiegouniontribune.com.
- Wakefield was convicted in 1980 and 1991 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old and rape by force, according to sdsheriff.gov records.
Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old sexually violent predator, absconded from his supervised release in San Diego on Sept. 25, 2026, after cutting off his GPS monitor and discarding his secure cellphone while working an overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse in Rancho Bernardo, sandiegouniontribune.com reported.
How did Merle Wakefield escape his supervision?
Wakefield fled in the middle of the night on Sept. 25, 2026, while working at an Amazon warehouse in Rancho Bernardo, according to sandiegouniontribune.com. Security video showed Wakefield entering the passenger side of a white Tesla at approximately 3:30 a.m., according to a Sept. 28 court filing cited by sandiegouniontribune.com. Roughly 20 minutes after the alert, a staffer with Liberty Healthcare arrived at the work site intending to drive Wakefield home when his shift ended at 4:00 a.m., but found he was already gone. Authorities later recovered his GPS monitor and secure cellphone in nearby bushes, while his car and keys were found at his home in Campo.
What are Wakefield’s past convictions and current status?
Wakefield was convicted in 1980 and 1991 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old and rape by force, according to sdsheriff.gov records. He had been on conditional release since November 2024, residing in a remote Campo home. Following his disappearance, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and the San Diego Police Department launched a manhunt. Law enforcement describes Wakefield as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds, with brown eyes, and has warned the public not to approach him.
Who is responsible for monitoring sexually violent predators in California?
Sexually violent predators on conditional release in California are monitored by Liberty Healthcare, a private contractor hired by the state Department of State Hospitals, sandiegouniontribune.com reported. They are not on probation or parole, and local law enforcement has no direct involvement in their day-to-day supervision. Liberty Healthcare declined to comment on the incident and referred inquiries to the Department of State Hospitals, which cited patient privacy laws while confirming that participants in the step-down program may seek approved employment.
Why is the escape creating political fallout in San Diego County?
The escape has sparked frustration among local officials who criticize the lack of transparency surrounding conditional release parameters. San Diego County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond are fighting proposed placements for two additional sexually violent offenders in rural Boulevard. Desmond told sandiegouniontribune.com that the escape felt like a punch in the gut and called for a freeze on future placements until Wakefield is caught and oversight mistakes are addressed.
When will the court consider the next placements?
A court will consider the proposed Boulevard placements later this month, while the search for Wakefield remains ongoing.