San Diego sex offender Merle Wakefield vanishes after removing GPS monitor
Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old man designated as a sexually violent predator, disappeared from a work site in Rancho Bernardo on Friday morning after removing his GPS monitoring device. Authorities confirmed this is the first time an SVP in San Diego County has absconded from the conditional release program. Wakefield, who has been on conditional release since November 2024, is currently wanted for violating his supervision terms. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public not to approach him but to call 911 if spotted. Wakefield was previously convicted of sexual offenses in the 1980s and 1990s and has been under the care of Liberty Healthcare, a contractor for the Department of State Hospitals.
