Merle Wakefield / San Diego County Sheriff's Office
SAN DIEGO - The weeks-long search for a sexually violent predator who disappeared from state supervision last month has ended after the man's body was found in a San Diego riverbed, according to the sheriff's office.
What we know:
The San Diego Police Department was dispatched to the 4800 block of Fairmount Avenue shortly after 9:30 a.m. on October 19 following a report that a human body had been spotted in a riverbed.
Officials from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived at the scene, took custody of the remains, and subsequently confirmed the person's identity as Merle Wakefield.
Wakefield was classified as a sexually violent predator and placed under the State’s Conditional Release Program, where his daily monitoring and supervision were managed by Liberty Healthcare personnel, according to the sheriff's office.
The regional search began after Wakefield removed his court-mandated GPS tracking monitor during work hours in Rancho Bernardo and took off, officials said.
Once Liberty Healthcare staff realized he was missing, they immediately alerted local law enforcement agencies and community groups about his disappearance.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not disclosed the cause or manner of Wakefield’s death, which will remain unknown until the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office completes a comprehensive autopsy examination.
Authorities have not shared details regarding how long the body had been in the riverbed before being discovered, nor have they indicated whether foul play is suspected in connection with his death.
What's next:
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an official post-mortem autopsy to establish both the biological cause and the legal manner of Wakefield’s death.
What you can do:
To provide non-emergency investigative tips anonymously, you can reach San Diego County Crime Stoppers by calling (888) 580-8477.
The Source: This report is based on information provided by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, the San Diego Police Department, and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.