Authorities are urgently searching for Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old convicted child sex offender and rapist, who disappeared after his GPS monitoring device triggered a ‘tamper mode’ alert Friday morning at a San Diego worksite. Liberty Healthcare, the state contractor responsible for his supervision, responded to the alert only to find the device removed and Wakefield gone, prompting a swift notification to law enforcement. Wakefield, who was convicted in 1980 and 1991 for lewd acts with a child and rape by force, had been on conditional release since November 2024, a decision that local officials, including County Supervisor Jim Desmond and Mayor Steve Vaus, had vehemently opposed due to concerns about public safety and the challenges of monitoring individuals without a fixed residence. Despite assurances of 24-hour in-person supervision and GPS tracking, Wakefield’s escape highlights significant failures in the state’s sexually violent predator program, which an audit revealed has a 36% violation rate among participants. Officials are warning the public not to approach Wakefield, who is described as 5’10”, 230 pounds, with brown eyes, and urge anyone with information to contact 911 or local law enforcement immediately.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
