An unbelievable story, an inmate from the John Latorraca Correctional Center in Merced escaped with the help of his wife and girlfriend. All of the inmates at the Correctional Center are felons, but the Valentine's Day escape did not have a happy ending for the love triangle.
The Merced County Sheriff's Department says there is a soft spot in the showers of the jail, and 38-year-old Zachary Johnson cut a hole in the ceiling.
"And was able to get through there, had a blaket, got onto the roof, onto the ground and then jumped over the fenced area where the razor wire is," said Merced County Sheriff, Mark Pazin.
Johnson's girlfriend, 40-year-old Jeanette Segovia, sent a taxi to pick him up on Highway 59 near the jail. Somehow he had a change of clothes.
"The girlfriend and the wife somehow knew eachother and Johnson was making his way back to the San Jose area to be with the other part of this love trangle," said Sheriff Pazin.
The inmate's wife, 25-year-old Dawn Hathaway, wired him money and when he picked it up deputies spotted him. A persuit started in Santa Nella and officers pulled the taxi over on Highway 33 and 152. "He got behind the wheel and led our officers on a persuit that lasted approximately 40 to 45 minutes," said Sheriff Pazin.
The CHP and Santa Clara Sheriff's Office got invovled and used a spike strip to stop the car outside of Gilroy.
It's still unclear how Johnson was able to get clothes, use his blankets to get over the razor fence and cut a hole in the ceiling without the guards noticing.
"Someone's not doing their job if there's people cutting holes in the ceiling and they're not getting caught," said Megan Munoz, a Merced resident.
The two women are facing charges for aiding and abetting. Johnson, who already had a long wrap sheet, is facing more charges for felony evading, possesion of meth, and car jacking. His bail was set at just under $1 million.