Homeless tipster could receive reward for finding Orange County jail escapees

Matthew Hay-Chapman returns to the McDonald's restaurant at Haight and Stanyan streets in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 to describe how he spotted two of the Orange County jail escapees last Saturday and pointed them out to police, resulting in their capture. less Matthew Hay-Chapman returns to the McDonald's restaurant at Haight and Stanyan streets in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 to describe how he spotted two of the Orange County jail escapees last ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Homeless tipster could receive reward for finding Orange County jail escapees 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

A homeless man is being credited with helping San Francisco police capture two Orange County jail fugitives last week, and he could now possibly collect $140,000 in reward money.

It was through Matthew Hay-Chapman's self-described photographic memory that he was able to spot the stolen van being used by Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu, after seeing them on the news.

His tip to San Francisco police lead to the arrest of the two men, bringing an end to a statewide manhunt after eight days of searching.

The San Francisco Chronicle caught up with Hay-Chapman, 55, to get an account of how he first noticed the escapees and how the reward money could help improve his situation.

To read the full story on Hay-Chapman, visit sfchronicle.com.