Authorities in San Diego are actively searching for a convicted sexually violent predator who disappeared from a worksite last Friday after his electronic monitoring device signaled a tamper alert. Merle Wakefield, 69, remains at large two days after the incident.
Wakefield was engaged in work activities in Rancho Bernardo when his GPS monitor indicated a "Tamper Mode" alert around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported that Liberty Healthcare, the state contractor overseeing his release, dispatched personnel to the location. Upon arrival, they discovered the device had been removed and Wakefield was no longer present. The sheriff's office and San Diego police were promptly notified.
Ongoing Search and Community Outcry
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office stated Sunday that it shares the community’s apprehension regarding Wakefield’s disappearance and confirmed that efforts to locate him are ongoing. "We have been working diligently to locate him," the agency affirmed, urging the public to report any sightings or pertinent information.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond voiced strong concerns on Sunday, noting that it had been over 48 hours since Wakefield removed his monitor and absconded. Desmond described Wakefield as "a convicted child molester and violent rapist," and criticized the state for its silence on the matter. In an earlier social media post, Desmond highlighted the ease with which Wakefield disappeared, stating, "That’s how easy it was." He added that the state had released Wakefield into the community in November 2024 with assurances of monitoring and supervision, only for him to go missing less than two years later.
Wakefield is currently wanted for violating the conditions of his supervised release. His criminal record includes convictions from 1980 and 1991 for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and rape by force. He has been under conditional release since November 2024.
Controversial Release and Prior Warnings
Local officials had previously expressed strong reservations about Wakefield's release. In October 2024, a San Diego judge authorized a transient release for Wakefield, opting against placing him in a designated residence. This marked the third attempt to secure housing for him within San Diego County.
An earlier proposal to house Wakefield in Poway, near a school and park, sparked significant community opposition, leading residents to rally against the plan. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus opposed that specific location and argued that allowing Wakefield to live without a fixed address would hinder public awareness of his whereabouts. Vaus characterized the transient release as "a shell game that puts a community at risk."
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office also opposed the decision to release Wakefield without a stable residence, citing concerns about inadequate monitoring and supervision. A spokesperson for the office emphasized the need for the Department of State Hospitals and Liberty Healthcare to find suitable housing where individuals on conditional release could be closely monitored.
State Senator Brian Jones also raised concerns about Wakefield's housing situation, suggesting he might end up homeless or in a hotel at taxpayer expense. At the time, Jones remarked, "Supposedly, he’s going to have a tracking device."
Scrutiny of Conditional Release Programs
Senator Jones had previously called for an audit of California’s sexually violent predator program. The audit revealed that approximately 36% of participants had violated the terms of their release. Jones criticized the program's financial burden and advocated for sexually violent predators to remain in state hospitals rather than being placed in communities.
The California Department of State Hospitals defended its release process, explaining that the ultimate decision regarding conditional release for individuals designated as sexually violent predators rests with the court. The department stated that its supervision program incorporates GPS monitoring, unannounced home visits, and surveillance, with rule violations potentially resulting in a return to a state hospital. Reports prior to Wakefield's final release hearing indicated his court order mandated 24-hour in-person supervision at his residence.
Following Wakefield's disappearance, Supervisor Desmond reiterated his objections, stating, "I’ve fought these placements from day one." He asserted that such individuals "do not belong back out in the community. They belong in a state hospital or in jail. As long as Sacramento’s law keeps putting them in our neighborhoods, families are going to keep paying the price."
Wakefield is described by the sheriff’s office as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds, with brown eyes. Authorities caution the public not to approach or contact him, and to immediately call 911 or local law enforcement if he is sighted.
