Prison Break Video: OC Inmates Shared Selfies, Footage Of Escape

The jailbreak that rocked Orange County in January of 2016 was captured on brazen video footage and released to media outlets via an attorney involved with the case, according to NBC4LA.(Full video below)
The video of escaped inmates Adam Hossein Nayeri of Newport Beach, Jonathan Tieu of Fountain Valley and Bac Duong, rapidly was spread to media outlets across the country. The footage originally contained clips of popular music in its original form and was trimmed down due to copyright concerns according to NBC4LA.

Voice overs can be heard of one of the escapees, presumably Nayeri of Newport Beach. The video is fronted by clips of news footage detailing the escape and time spent on the run to northern California and hiding out from authorities in the infamous white van.

The actual footage of the escape begins after the 4:30 mark.

It is unclear how the inmates gathered the implements for their escape, including the mobile phone used in recording the actual play-by-play of their prison break. Several suspected accomplices to the jailbreak were arrested in the weeks following the escape, for aiding the inmates on their journey. The exact details of the escape were not known until Tuesday night.

The video was not provided by the Orange County District Attorney's office, but rather by an attorney connected to the case.

In the narrative, Nayeri said that the discussion of time elapsed during the escape was greatly underestimated. He also details their reasons, with hindsight of a "Monday morning quarterback." The tone of his narration is tinged with fondness of recollection and a few moments of bitter regret.

The statements from Nayeri were transcribed from the narration in the released video, time-lining the events of Jan. 22 and the days that followed until capture.

Transcription Below:

"My name is Adam Hossein Nayeri. You know, a lot of people credit us with some Houdini escape act all in eight minutes flat. It's an interesting myth. In reality, we did leave the mod after count. Not the one they're claiming though. I left that module at least eight hours earlier, the night before," Nayeri claimed on the video.

The video shows other inmates who look like they are aware that Nayeri is recording them on the cell phone until the camera zooms on fellow escapee Bac Duong, who flashes a large, excited-looking grin. Then, the escape occurs as a panel is removed and Nayeri is first to crawl through then give a thumbs up.

A light from the phone or flashlight shows the maneuvering of a hammock-like ladder, made with sheets and ropes, up to a grate, also removed. The three men disconnect cut bars and then pose on the roof prior to the final breakout.

Ropes were used to descend the wall and leave the facility, and clips next show a beach in Santa Cruz, with the escaped prisoners posing with a taxi cab driver believed to have been kidnapped in the escape.

Read: Escaped Inmates Came To Blows Over Plan To Murder Cap Driver

Nayeri paints a different picture of the trio’s association with the taxi cab driver that Nayeri calls “Mr. Ma.”
"We were so grateful he decided to help us. He is a really compassionate person who wanted no harm to anyone. Things fall apart. You never know what a really intense situation can do to a man. His presence kept a loose cannon from acting out. I couldn't communicate with him. I don't want to know what happened. It would take away the purity of the moment. I didn't have $180-grand at the moment. I still think Mr. Ma is the most amazing person ever."

Then, regarding fellow escapee Jonathan Tieu:

"What does a 14-year-old know anyway? He grew up in jail, for 18 months they kept him in the hole, a ghostly concrete shoebox, designed for a couple of weeks punishment bay, and is this happening in your first-world country. He's still in Disney town's dungeon right now."

"This is Bac, the first man in history to try and collect reward money on himself," Nayeri said.

"When you have no control, and you say, 'We have nothing to lose,' this was a critical moment when we had to make a decision. I'm so thankful we chose being over madness," Nayeri said. "It's the difference between a Sunday and Monday morning quarterback."

In San Francisco, at Haight and Ashbury, Nayeri said they were not kidnapping or killing anyone but just trying to pass the time and weather the storm in a white van, with water, bananas and marijuana.
"It's kind of bananas," they said. "They are thirsty to catch us."

There is no cell phone video of what came next.

Duong was arrested Friday in the 1400 block of North Harbor Boulevard. He walked into a business called Auto Electric Rebuilders, which is owned by an acquaintance of Duong, and said he wanted to surrender. The business owner’s wife called 911, and sheriff’s deputies responded and arrested Duong.

Duong is believed to have taken the white GMC Savana van for a test drive, then stolen it. Investigators had said they believed the three escapees were living out of the vehicle while on the lam. Hallock said all three escapees were spotted Thursday in San Jose, but Duong somehow made his way back to Santa Ana to surrender.

Nayeri and Tieu were returned from San Francisco to Santa Ana in January of 2016, according to Orange County sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Hallock.

Police arrested the two after being tipped off by someone who spotted a white van they were using in the parking lot of a Whole Foods Market.

"We cost the taxpayers a lot of money, we scared a lot of people and caused a lot of anxiety and fear.” Nayeri spoke at the end of the video. “I can’t say I feel good about that. I can’t. I don't know velvety words to express this, but with every ounce of my being. I completely lost faith in the system. Maybe there was a better Walt Disney way. I was hurt and I ended up hurting you. ”

Related:

• Watch: Escaped Inmates Return to OC Jail, Ending Massive Manhunt
• Remaining California Jail Escapees Captured in Bay Area
• Southern California Jail Escapees Spotted in San Jose, Police Say
• California Jail Escapee Surrenders; Other 2 Spotted in San Jose
• No Bail for Teacher Charged in Inmates’ Escape
• Saddleback Teacher Accused of Helping Inmates Escape from Jail
• The Long And Sordid Rap Sheets Of OCs Escaped Prisoners
• Second Person to be Charged in Inmate Escape
• 'Antiquated' Central Men's Jail To Blame For Inmate Escape, Grand Jury Says

Orange County District Attorney's Office photos