SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the region are continuing to search for sexually violent predator Merle Wakefield, who disappeared after his GPS monitoring device was removed while he was working in Rancho Bernardo.
According to sheriff’s officials, Liberty Healthcare received an alert around 3:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, that the GPS tracker worn by Wakefield was being tampered with. Personnel responded to the location and found that the device has been removed. They were unable to locate him in the Rancho Bernardo area.
The sheriff’s office and the San Diego Police Department were notified, along with law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Authorities also notified the public and media.
Wakefield, who is under supervision through the state’s Conditional Release Program, is wanted for violating the terms of his release. He has been on conditional release since November 2024.
Mexican Navy ship, the Cuauhtémoc, coming to San Diego
Authorities said Wakefield was convicted in 1980 and 1991 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and rape by force.
Wakefield is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He has brown eyes. The sheriff’s office released an updated photograph, seen below, as the search continues.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and its law enforcement partners are searching for Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Merle Wakefield. (San Diego County Sheriff’s Office)
“The sheriff’s office shares the community’s concerns over Wakefield’s disappearance,” officials noted in a press release. “We have been working diligently to locate him. We continue to ask the public to be aware and to notify any law enforcement agency if he is seen or they have information that will assist in his apprehension.”
Anyone with information that could help investigators locate Wakefield is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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