A FRANTIC manhunt is underway today after two suspected murderers escaped a California jail at the weekend. Cops have warned the public to remain vigilant after the “extremely dangerous pair” – who should be considered armed – vanished on Sunday. Santos Fonseca and Jonathan Salazar, both 19, were reported missing from Monterey County Jail – […]
A FRANTIC manhunt is underway today after two suspected murderers escaped a California jail at the weekend.
Cops have warned the public to remain vigilant after the “extremely dangerous pair” – who should be considered armed – vanished on Sunday.
Santos Fonseca and Jonathan Salazar, both 19, were reported missing from Monterey County Jail – where they had been held since 2018.
Both teenagers were awaiting trial on unrelated murder counts “along with numerous other felony charges,” a sheriff’s statement said.
Fonseca was facing two counts of first degree murder over the deaths of 37-year-old Lorenzo Gomez Acosta and Ernesto Garcia Cruz, 27, in June last year.
Salazar was arrested following the death of Jaime Martinez, 20, who was shot dead in front of his girlfriend and 18-month-old son in October 2017.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office added: “An investigation is underway to determine their means of escape but, at this time, we can provide no details on that topic.
“Our focus, and resources, are dedicated to locating and returning Fonseca and Salazar to custody.”
Both men are 5ft 7in tall.
Fonseca weighs 150 pounds and Salazar weighs 170 pounds.
They each have black hair and brown eye – while Salazar has a distinctive “P” tattoo below his right eye.
Monterey is a city of about 28,000 people on California’s central coast, 100 miles south of San Francisco.
