By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–Authorities in San Diego County continue to search for sexually violent predator Merle Wakefield, who walked away after removing his GPS monitoring device while he was working in Rancho Bernardo.
On September 25, Wakefield’s GPS monitoring device alerted “Tamper Mode” while he was at work. Wakefield is supervised by Liberty Health Care through the state’s Conditional Release Program. Staff responded to the location and determined that Wakefield’s device had been removed and that he was no longer at the scene, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Liberty Health Care notified the Sheriff’s Office and the San Diego Police Department of the incident.
Wakefield is currently wanted for violating the terms of his conditional release. He was convicted in 1980 and 1991 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old and rape by force. He has been on conditional release since November 2024.
Wakefield stands 5’10” tall, weighs 230 pounds and has brown eyes.
If you see Wakefield, do not approach or contact him. Contact the local law enforcement agency or call 9-1-1.
