The manhunt for three Southern California men who escaped an Orange County jail last week entered its fifth day Tuesday with much attention focused on an escapee who has been compared to the brutal film character Hannibal Lecter.
Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been held without bond since September 2014, charged with kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. Nayeri and two other men are accused of kidnapping a California marijuana dispensary owner in 2012, driving him to a spot in the desert where they believed he had hidden money and then torturing him.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown told the The Orange County Register that Nayeri was a likely candidate to have planned the escape. She described him as diabolical, sophisticated, violent and cunning.
“My first reaction was 'Oh, my God, they let Hannibal Lecter out,'" she told the newspaper.
A lawyer representing one of Nayeri's codefendants in the 2012 case told the Los Angeles Times that when he heard about the escape, he immediately thought that Nayeri was the mastermind and had recruited the others.
Lawyer Robert Weinberg said the savagery of the kidnapping case was an indication of how dangerous Nayeri could be while on the run.
Nayeri, Bac Duong, 43, and Jonathan Tieu, 20, were discovered missing from the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana on Friday, about 15 hours after they were present for an early morning head count. Authorities say the men cut through steel into duct work, climbed to the jail roof, but through a section of razor wire and rappelled down using makeshift rope apparently made from bedsheets.
Sheriff's Lt. David Sawyer said the men should be considered extremely dangerous and may be hiding in the area. All are accused of violent crimes, and at least one is connected to Vietnamese gangs in the area, Sawyer said.
"We feel that they may be embedded somewhere in the community, and that is why we are reaching out to the community," Sawyer said.
Sawyer said someone in the area must know where they are or where they are headed. He said the identity of anyone who provided information could be protected. Rewards for information leading to their capture total about $50,000.
"We understand that you are in danger. We understand that you are fearful," Sawyer said. "But it's an obligation that you come out and let us know" where they are.
Duong was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and other charges.
Tieu had been held since October 2013 on $1 million bond on charges of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related.
Top stories:
Follow us on Facebook for the latest breaking news updates
Watch live or check weather & traffic updates on the go with the KGW News app.
