Sheriff Officials Believe Escaped California Inmates Still Are in Orange County Area

Sheriff’s officials in Orange County, California say they don’t think three violent inmates who escaped from jail have left the Southern California area.

FOX’s Jessica Rosenthal reports they’re asking for public help finding the men:

Three inmates escaped Friday morning, but it took authorities 16 hours to realize they were gone.

They apparently cut through steel bars, went through a plumbing tunnel, got on the jail’s roof and rappelled off, which you can imagine is prompting a lot of questions about jailhouse security.

But Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock says they do not believe the three have left the area:

(Hallock) “We need the public’s help. There’s people out there. People have seen, know people, whether it’s a friend or family member, we need people to come forward.”

Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu, and Bac Duong are considered violent. One is accused of kidnapping, another accused of attempted murder, and the third accused of murder.

Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.