San Diego authorities hunt convicted sex offender after GPS monitor removal

Authorities in San Diego are conducting an intensive search for Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old convicted sex offender who escaped supervision after removing his GPS monitoring device. The device triggered a ‘tamper mode’ alert around 3:30 a.m. on a Friday while Wakefield was working at an Amazon processing center in Rancho Bernardo.

Liberty Healthcare, the contractor responsible for his supervision, arrived at the scene to find the monitor removed and Wakefield gone. Police believe he may have discarded his cell phone in nearby bushes before fleeing in a white 2018 Toyota Camry. Wakefield has a criminal history including a 1980 conviction for lewd acts against a minor and a 1991 conviction for rape.

His disappearance has sparked local controversy regarding his conditional release, which began in November 2024. San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized the state’s oversight, noting that Wakefield had been released into the community under the promise of constant monitoring. The Sheriff’s Office continues to urge the public to report any sightings.