SANTA ANA, Calif. (KNX) — The public was warned Friday that an "extremely dangerous and violent criminal" is on the run in Orange County, after cutting off his ankle monitoring bracelet Wednesday.
Ike Nicholas Souzer, 19, is said to have cut off the monitoring device shortly after being released to a Santa Ana halfway house from the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange, Calif., according to the District Attorney's Office.
"In addition to other charges, [Souzer] was convicted in December of attacking three correctional officers and was ordered to wear an electronic monitor for the remainder of his sentence which was set to expire on July 9, 2023," the DA's office said in a statement.
The 19-year-old is said to have a lengthy criminal history, and was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter at the age of 15, in the stabbing death of his mother in Garden Grove, Calif.
When asked why Souzer was released in the first place, D.A. Todd Spitzer said it was the judge's decision.
"A judge made a decision to put him into a halfway house over a year before his sentence was actually completed," Spitzer said.
"We objected vigorously, on the record to the court, discussing [his] criminal history. The judge disagreed and the judge allowed him to go to a halfway house."
Given Souzer’s history, Spitzer said the escape was not unusual and probably foreseeable.
Shortly after being charged with his mother's killing, while awaiting, Souzer briefly escaped from juvenile hall. Then, in 2021, he was convicted of attacking three correctional officers, according to Spitzer’s office.
Anyone who sees Souzer is asked to immediately call 911 and not approach him, as he is believed to be extremely violent.
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