Chelsea King Case: Charges to Be Filed Against John Albert Gardner III

Chelsea King Case: Charges to be Filed Against John Albert Gardner III. The story of the missing Escondido, California teen has been looming for days. Unfortunately, authorities have found a body that they believe belongs to the missing girl.

Chelsea King first went missing on Thursday, February 25 while going on a routine run in a San Diego park after school. Her parents grew worried after she failed to come home, and so they alerted authorities that she was missing. Her phone and iPod was found inside her vehicle.

A search effort continued until authorities found what is believed to be Chelsea King's body in a shallow grave near a lake where she was last seen jogging. An arrest has been made in connection with the case, and the suspect has been previously convicted of a sex crime on a minor.

John Albert Gardner III is a 30 year old Californian man who is believed to not only be connected to the Chelsea King case, but last year's Amber DuBois case and also an attack on a runner on December 27^th in the same park Chelsea went missing. The victim is reported to have identified the suspect in a photo lineup.

Gardner was up for an 11 year sentence for his conviction, although prosecutors only gave him a six year sentence. Had he still been behind bars, Chelsea would likely be alive today. According to the Associated Press, "Dr. Matthew Carroll, a psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner, wanted a stiffer punishment, saying in court documents that he was a "continued danger to underage girls in the community."

Such a revelation is scary, considering that something could have been done to prevent this repeat offender from striking again.

At first, authorities told the press that they had evidence linking the suspect to the crime. At the time, the evidence was not revealed, although rumors floated around that the police found Chelsea's underwear.

A positive identification has not been made on the body found near the lake. It's not certain how they will ID the body - through dental records or other methods.

This case has shook the world, and many are very upset over what has happened to the young girl. She is a bright and shining angel to many who knew her, and even those who didn't know her will miss her dearly.

While the world was hoping that the Chelsea King case would have a happy ending, that is not the case. It was a sad day for many people in the world when they found what is believed to be her body.

Source:

Associated Press

CNN