Police believe a convicted sex offender arrested in the disappearance of San Diego high school student Chelsea King raped and murdered the girl, prosecutors said today.
Arrested on suspicion of first degree murder and forcible rape, John Albert Gardner III, 30, was taken into custody Sunday after police found what they say is physical evidence linking him to King, a 17-year-old high school senior who vanished Feb. 25 while jogging in a park north of San Diego.
Police have yet to find King or her body and San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said Gardner was not cooperating with the investigation.
No bail has been set for Gardner, but he is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday when he could formally be charged with murder even if King’s body has not been discovered.
“There are murder cases that get tried without a body. There is one going on now,” said Paul Levikow, spokesman for the San Diego County District Attorney.
Tags: Chelsea King, disappearance, San Diego, sex offender
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I was extremely saddened when I heard the news today. My sympathy goes out to the family. This is very disheartening as I have two children of my own, I can not fathom what the family must be going through. Everyone’s hearts and prayers are with you.