2 Murder suspects escape from Monterey County Jail, $5K reward offered

Two murder suspects escaped from the Monterey County Jail in Salinas early Sunday.

Authorities have asked for the public’s assistance in spotting them, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced on social media midday Sunday. They are considered dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees them should call 911 immediately.

More:What we know about the two murder suspects who escaped from the Monterey County Jail

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office announced late Sunday that it was offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to their arrests.

Santos Samuel Fonseca, 21,  and Jonathan Salazar, 20, were locked up at the jail pending murder charges in separate cases. 

According to the Sheriff's office, both are Hispanic with black hair and brown eyes. Fonseca stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Salazar also is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 170. He has a facial tattoo of the letter “P” under one eye.

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The sheriff’s office said it’s investigating how the men escaped and provided no further details. 

“Our focus, and resources, are dedicated to locating and returning Fonseca and Salazar to custody,” MCSO wrote on social media.

Anyone with information is asked to call 831 755-3722. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the We Tipline at 888 833-4847. 

They have been in custody since last year. Fonseca faces two counts of first degree murder for the deaths of Lorenzo Gomez Acosta, 37, on June 2, 2018 as well as the June 5, 2018 shooting of Ernesto Garcia Cruz, 27.

Acosta was on the phone with his wife in Mexico when he was gunned down in Salinas. Cruz was killed in El Dorado Park. 

Fonseca’s girlfriend Alexandra Romayor helped lure Cruz to an ambush and covered up the killing of Acosta. She pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in the death of Cruz and in June, she was was sentenced to 15-years-to-life.

Salazar was arrested in the death of Jaime Martinez, 20, who was shot in Salinas Oct. 12, 2017 while driving with his girlfriend and 18-month-old son on Del Monte Avenue, a relative of Martinez has said.

After the shooting, Martinez continued driving a short distance before crashing into a parking barricade at the end of the street. The woman was also shot and taken to a local hospital where she was treated and released, police have said. The child was uninjured.

Salazar and a 15-year-old were arrested for the shooting. 

This story was updated to include the offer of a reward for information as well as information about the case. This story will be updated as more information is available.