Missing sexually violent predator found dead in San Diego riverbed

Merle Wakefield, a 69-year-old sexually violent predator who went missing after disabling his GPS device at work in Rancho Bernardo, was found dead in a San Diego riverbed, sheriff’s officials reported.

The body was discovered near Fairmount Avenue north of Aldine Drive in the Talmadge area, about half a mile south of Montezuma Avenue, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Wakefield had cut off his GPS around 3:20 a.m. on September 25 while working at an Amazon warehouse, prompting a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies and the San Diego Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force.

His GPS and secure monitored cellphone were found in bushes, and his car and keys were located at his home in Campo. Wakefield was convicted of multiple sex crimes and designated a sexually violent predator after his release from prison.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the body and will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Sheriff’s officials have not released further details due to the ongoing investigation.