Where is Jonathan Perez now? Details explored ahead of Cabin in the Woods on ID

The latest episode of Investigation Discovery's Cabin in the Woods: Desert focused on Jonathan Perez's survival story. The episode, which aired on September 9, 2024, at 9 pm EST, explored the details of Jonathan and his friends' ordeal in the California desert in 2015. It will focus on how Perez and his two friends narrowly escaped a life-threatening hostage situation.

In July 2015, Jonathan Perez, and his two friends, Keyton Cornelius and Will Kleier were on a hunting trip near Bakersfield, California. While they were enjoying their trip, a homeless man reportedly ambushed them and held them hostage on the property. However, Jonathan and his friends managed to convince the man to let them go after giving him all their belongings.

Since the incident, Jonathan Perez has reportedly found a new outlook in life. He currently lives in San Diego, California, and is believed to be working as a graphic designer. Perez is also active on social media and often shares insights into his work, and glimpses of his daily life, and also advocates for mental health.

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What did Jonathan Perez and his friends go through?

Noir (Image sourced from Unsplash)

Jonathan Perez, Keyton Cornelius, and Will Kleier were 19-year-olds in July 2015 when they went on a hunting trip in the remote area of the California desert near Bakersfield. They planned to enjoy the rugged terrains of Kern County but things took a turn when they encountered Benjamin Peter Ashley, who held them hostage in the cabin.

Ashley, who had multiple mental health issues, was taken to prison in October 2014 on several charges. However, he was released quickly due to a shortage of bed space in the prison. In the summer of 2015, Ashely wreaked havoc in the California desert before local police apprehended him.

He confronted Jonathan Perez and his friends while holding a sawed-off shotgun and accused them of trespassing on what he believed was his property. He then forced them into a nearby cabin and threatened to kill them.

Things escalated when Ashely lined the perimeter of the property with propane tanks and seemingly wanted to blow up the cabin. The trio of friends were scared for their lives as they saw Ashley make erratic threats. His erratic behavior also included moments when he seemed to contemplate whether to kill the men, as he often pointed his gun at them.

However, Jonathan's friend, Will Kleier devised a desperate plan and told Ashley that their parents were going to arrive at the cabin soon. He also suggested that Ashley could use their off-road vehicle to escape, and pointed him to a winding road.

As their captor took the vehicle to flee, Jonathan Perez and his friends took off from the cabin and around 15 miles through rugged terrain. While they eventually reached a nearby road, they were scared that Ashley would find and pursue them.

However, they were relieved when they flagged a car down and it turned out to be Kleier's father. The encounter ended their immediate physical ordeal but marked the beginning of an emotional and psychological recovery process

Noir (Image sourced from Unsplash)

The broader implications of Ashley's threat became clear in the days following their escape. Two days after the incident a dentist named David Markiewitz was found dead in a cabin approximately 10 miles from where Jonathan Perez and his friends were held hostage. The authorities linked Ashley to the dentist's murder and soon began a two-week-long manhunt.

Ashley was finally confronted by the sheriff's deputies who eventually shot him dead after he failed to comply with their commands to disarm.

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The episode Cabin in the Woods: Desert Manhunt, featuring Jonathan Perez and his friends' ordeal, was released on Investigation Discovery on September 9, 2024.