Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Thousands Gather To Mourn Chelsea King - Updated VIDEO Court Appearance
I read and see the pictures of the hundreds and hundreds of people gathered to mourn the loss of this beautiful young girl and I can’t help getting chills. St. Michaels Church is right across the street from where our house was and where my son and daughter were raised. I realize that was years ago, but as a Mom, you can’t help identifying with these grieving parents and think about how this normally safe community has been turned upside down and how many people in that crowd are probably your former neighbors and friends. It is just such a tragedy and one that should never have happened if prosecutors and probation officers had done their jobs right to begin with. If this sleaze doesn’t get the death penalty, I for one will be joining the marches and protests.
Our hearts here in the CalPal family go out to the Kings and all of Chelsea’s friends, family, and teachers.
AP - March 2: People hold candles during a candlelight vigil held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church for missing teenager Chelsea King in Poway, Calif.
Photo by Susan Murphy / KPBS - Mourners hold up candles in memory of 17-year-old Chelsea King during a vigil at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Poway on March 2, 2010.
District attorney’s spokesman Paul Levikow did not immediately specify the charges planned against John Albert Gardner III, saying the complaint was still being written. The counts will be disclosed at an arraignment later in the day, he said.
The 30-year-old Lake Elsinore man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of murder and rape.
Police said a spray-painted message found on the garage of the suspect’s mother read, “Chelseas (sic) blood is on you. Move out.” Police did not know who painted it.
Gardner lived at the home in 2000 when he molested a 13-year-old neighbor. The home is down the street from an elementary school and near the park where King was last seen Thursday wearing running clothes.
A piece of paper taped to the front door told visitors to leave.[...]
Mourners held a candlelight vigil Tuesday night for the popular straight-A student at Poway High School.
“What bothers me most is the kids don’t feel safe anymore,” Traci Barkerball, King’s teacher for three years, said between hugs of grieving students. “Their sense of security has been taken away from them.”
Brent King, Chelsea’s father, thanked supporters on the lawn of St. Michael’s Church in Poway, northeast of San Diego. Some people in the audience fought to control their sobs as he spoke.
“One of the nicknames that I’ve always called my daughter is my Angel. She’s my angel forever,” he said. “I want to thank you. Chelsea wants to thank you.”
Someone shouted, “We love you,” and Brent King replied, “We love all of you.”
Gardner was arrested after police said a piece of physical evidence tied him to King. No further details were provided.
Gardner pleaded guilty in May 2000 to molesting the 13-year-old female neighbor and served five years of a six-year prison term. Prosecutors said he lured the victim to his home with an offer to watch “Patch Adams,” a 1998 movie starring Robin Williams.
The girl was beaten before escaping and running to a neighbor.
UPDATED:
The piece of crap pleads Not Guilty, just stares down at the floor.
SAN DIEGO — A 30-year-old sex offender was charged Wednesday with murdering a 17-year-old San Diego County girl in a case that could end in the death penalty.
Prosecutors say John Albert Gardner III also faces a special allegation of rape or attempted rape involving the teen, Chelsea King, who vanished last week after heading off for a run in a park. Police say a body found Tuesday in a shallow grave is likely that of King.
Gardner also was charged with assault with intent to commit rape in an unrelated Dec. 27 incident.
An attorney entered pleas of not guilty on Gardner’s behalf during his brief court appearance Wednesday.
Posted by CalPal
on 03/03/2010 at 12:25 PM in Crime-Legal-Justice - -SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -
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