OC jail escapees came to Bay Area by taxi, fought over killing driver
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A teacher who was arrested in connection with the escape of three inmates from a California jail has been released from custody.
The release of Nooshafarin Ravaghi on Monday night came after Orange County prosecutors said earlier in the day that there was insufficient evidence to hold her.
District Attorney Tony Rackaukas says steps have been taken to make sure Ravaghi doesn't leave the area and said he's asked investigators to keep digging.
The 44-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. She taught English at the jail and exchanged personal letters with one of the escaped inmates.
The Sheriff's Department says at some point, she provided the inmate with a Google Earth map that showed an aerial view of the entire jail complex.
The latest on the inmates caught after breaking out of a California jail on Jan. 22 (all times local):
3 p.m.
Authorities have released audio from a 911 caller who informs deputies that one of three fugitive inmates is at her business and wants to surrender.
A man and a woman speak to a dispatcher on the call and tell her that 43-year-old Bac Duong is with them and wants to turn himself in.
Duong was one of three inmates who escaped from a California jail on Jan. 22.
Authorities say the trio kidnapped a taxi driver, stole a van and traveled 400 miles to Northern California before they were recaptured.
A female caller tells the dispatcher that Duong is scared to turn himself in so he asked her to call 911 for him.
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11:45 a.m.
Authorities say three inmates planned their escape from a California jail for at least six months then abducted a taxi driver and drove to Northern California, where two of the fugitives argued about killing him.
Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Hallock also said Monday that the inmates were picked up by an accomplice shortly after they escaped on Jan. 22 from Central Men's Jail in Orange County.
Hallock says later that day, inmate Hossein Nayeri held a gun on a taxi driver, who spent two nights with the fugitives in Southern California before they stole a van and drove north.
Hallock says Nayeri and inmate Bac Duong had a physical fight in an Alameda hotel room over whether or not to kill the taxi driver.
Duong and the taxi driver returned the next day to Santa Ana, where Duong later surrendered.
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11:15 a.m.
Prosecutors say a man has been arrested on suspicion of providing support in the escape of three inmates from a California jail.
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said Monday that Lac Ba Nguyen is accused of sending an article useful for an escape into a prison.
Prosecutors didn't elaborate on the article or say how it may have been used in the Jan. 22 escape.
Rackaukas says Nguyen was not a visitor, inmate or jail employee. His relationship to the jail or the inmates is unclear.
Nguyen is due in court Feb. 22. It's not immediately known if he has an attorney.
Rackaukas says he'll decide Tuesday what the filing procedures will be for the inmates regarding the escape. The inmates - Bac Duong, Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu - are due in court Tuesday.
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10:15 a.m.
Prosecutors say there's insufficient evidence to hold a teacher who was arrested in connection with the escape of three inmates from a California jail.
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackaukas said Monday that steps have been taken to make sure teacher Nooshafarin Ravaghi doesn't leave the area as the sheriff's department continues its investigation.
The 44-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. She taught English at the jail and exchanged personal letters with one of the escaped inmates.
Rackaukas says she will be released and he'll decide Tuesday what the filing procedures will be regarding the escape. The inmates are due in court Tuesday.
Bac Duong surrendered Friday in Santa Ana just a few miles from Central Men's Jail. Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu were arrested Saturday in San Francisco.
