3 inmates, including suspected murderer, escape from OC jail

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Three jail inmates, including a suspected murder, escaped from the Orange County Men's Jail, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43, were last accounted for around 5 a.m. Friday. By 9 p.m., authorities at the jail discovered the inmates were unaccounted for and immediately began a search of the Central Jail Complex and adjacent Santa Ana Civic Center were conducted with no results.

Authorities believe the inmates escaped the jail and fled the area. It was unclear how the inmates escaped from the facility. During a Saturday press conference, Lt. Jeff Hallock said authorities may know how the men fled the jail, but did not release details.

Hossein, who has been in custody since September 2014, faces charges for kidnapping, aggravated mayhem, torture and burglary. He was held without bail, according to Hallock.

Tieu faces charges for murder, shooting at an inhabited home, a criminal street gang enhancement and attempted murder. He was held on a $1 million bail and had been in custody since October 2013.

Bac was held without bail due to an immigration hold since December 2015. He faces charges for attempted murder, an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, car theft, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into an inhabited home.

Hossein's last known address was in Newport Beach, Tieu's was in Fountain Valley and Bac's was in Santa Ana.

"The sheriff's No. 1 priority in this is the safety of our community," Hallock said during the press conference. "We have dedicated all available resources to this search and investigation so that we may bring all three inmates back into custody."

Anyone with more information was urged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227.