Amber Dubois vanished as she walked to school in February 2009. Investigators did not think Amber was abducted, so the case was treated as a runaway early on. Earlier this year, Amber’s body was found in California because another young girl, Chelsea King, had vanished in the area. A convicted sex offender, John Albert Gardner, was linked to both of the cases and arrested. In April 2010 Gardner confessed to killing Amber and Chelsea, and he will remain behind bars for life.
This week Amber’s mom launched a new website, TEAM AMBER RESCUE. According to the site, its mission states:
“Team Amber Rescue was formed to train volunteers in the proper search and rescue techniques so missing children can be found as quickly as possible. It was founded by Carrie McGonigle in loving tribute to her murdered daughter, Amber Leeanne DuBois.
Reported missing, the police declined to issue an Amber Alert and maintained that she was likely a runaway although possibly she could have been abducted. Carrie knew her daughter was someone’s victim, and, praying that she was still alive, worked with family, friends and volunteers to find her with searches on foot, on horse, door to door, websites, mailers, posters, media, psychics, and, even knocking on doors of known sex offenders.
Just a few days ago, John Albert Gardner III was sentenced to life in prison for raping and murdering two teens in California, and now investigators say he admitted to having more victims. Investigators are looking into those other possible crimes right now, but they aren’t releasing any details yet. Chelsea King went missing on February 25, 2010, and her body was found a short time later in a park near San Diego. Then, a few days later, the bones of 14-year-old Amber Dubois were discovered. Amber went missing more than a year ago on February 13, 2009 as she walked to school. When John Albert Gardner III was arrested last month, he wasalso charged with assault for an attack he allegedly committed on December 27, 2009 on a woman in the same park whereChelsea was found.
Hundreds of young athletes gathered yesterday to help raise money for the Chelsea King Memorial Scholarship fund. Chelsea was raped and murdered as she jogged in San Diego by convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III. Gardner pleaded guilty earlier this month to her murder, and the murder of 14-year-old Amber Dubois.
Nearly 60 teams played in baseball games around the county and paid entry fees hat raised more than $20,000 for Chelsea’s fund. The money will go to a student at Poway High School where Chelsea would have graduated this year.
Gardner issued a public apology over the weekend. The note was given to CBS News 8 in San Diego by an unnamed source and says, “I’m sorry. I wish I could take it back. I know that it doesn’t mean anything to anybody but I really am sorry for everything. I wish that I was able to get help when I tried to get help. I tried to seek out help and was not able to get any.” News 8 also says just days before Chelsea’s murder Gardner claims he tried to admit himself into a mental hospital, but was denied.
John Gardner, convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty today to murdering teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois.
Chelsea King went missing on February 25, 2010, and her body was found a short time later in a park near San Diego. Then, a few days later, the bones of 14-year-old Amber Dubois were discovered. Amber went missing more than a year ago, on February 13, 2009 as she walked to school. When Gardner was arrested last month, he wasalso charged with assault for an attack he allegedly committed on December 27, 2009 on a woman in the same park whereChelsea was found.
Gardner’s initial arrest sparked an outrage across America, and the question was asked: how could this convicted sex offender be allowed to strike again?? Gardner should have spent 10 years behind bars, but only served five, and was on probation for three.
Gardner was convicted in 2000 of sexually assaulting and attacking a girl in his own home. He punched the 13-year-old in the face numerous times during the attack.
Investigators confirm the skeletal remains found in a remote area of San Diego County are those of Amber Dubois. Amber went missing on February 13, 2009 as she was walking to her high school in Escondido, California. Investigators will not say if convicted sex offender, John Albert Gardner is responsible for her death, or if he has any connection to her case. Gardner is currently behind bars, and is charged with the murder and rape of 17-year-old Chelsea King. Chelsea went missing a little more than a week ago as she was jogging through a San Diego County park. Gardner is also charged with a December 2009 assault of a woman in the same area. As we learn more about the investigation… we will bring it to you.
Convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner is charged with murder in the disappearance of missing teen Chelsea King. The District Attorney filed the charges and the complaint was read at an arraignment earlier this week when Gardner made his first appearance. Gardner entered a plea of not guilty. I spoke with the District Attorney in San Diego, and he tells me that a status hearing will take place next week, and a preliminary hearing is set for March 18, 2010. At the preliminary hearing, the court will decide if there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial. The charges come after a body was found earlier this week in Lake Hodges, an area near where Chelsea King went missing while she was running through the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. We are still waiting for a positive ID on the body. Investigators say thatChelsea, 17, was a runner for her high school, and parked her car nearby as she went to exercise. Inside her vehicle, police found a cell phone and other personal belongings.
Convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner is charged today with murder in the disappearance of missing teen Chelsea King. The District Attorney filed the charges and the complaint was read at today’s arraignment when Gardner made his first appearance. Gardner entered a plea of not guilty. The charges come after a body was found yesterday in Lake Hodges, an area near where Chelsea King went missing last week while she was running through the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. We are waiting for a positive ID on that body. Investigators say thatChelsea, 17, was a runner for her high school, and parked her car nearby as she went to exercise. Inside her vehicle, police found a cell phone and other personal belongings.
Registered sex offender John Albert Gardner was arrested on Sunday and held on preliminary charges of suspicion of murder and rape in the disappearance of the missing teen. Gardner has a conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age, and served five years in prison. He was staying with his mother in the Rancho Bernardo Community where Chelsea went missing. It is widely reported that 10 years ago, Dr. Matthew Carroll, a psychiatrist who spent time and interviewed Gardner after his conviction said he lacked remorse for the incident, making him “an extremely poor candidate for any sexual offender treatment.”
6:45 p.m. BREAKING NEWS COMING IN… Investigators confirm human remains were found in the area they were searching for missing teen Chelsea King. Authorities say the body was covered in a shallow grave, and was near the area where evidence was found a few days ago. At this time, the remains appear to be Chelsea King. The medical examiner will make an official confirmation on those remains by tomorrow morning.
Since last Saturday, more than 4,500 volunteers have donated their time to look for missing teen Chelsea King. Right now the focus is on and near Lake Hodges where she went missing. Authorities say Chelsea vanished last Thursday after she went for a jog at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Chelsea, 17, is an avid runner for a local high school. She left her car in the park nearby, and her cell phone was inside the vehicle.
Registered sex offender, John Albert Gardner, is being held on preliminary charges of suspicion of murder and rape in the disappearance of missing teen, Chelsea King. Gardner has a conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age, and he was staying with his mother in the Rancho Bernardo Community where Chelsea went missing. Authorities say Chelsea vanished last Thursday after she went for a jog at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Chelsea, 17, is an avid runner for a local high school. She left her car in the park nearby, and her cell phone was inside the vehicle. Gardner is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court, and investigators have 72 hours to file official charges.
Investigators say physical evidence found at Lake Hodges lead them to Gardner, and there may be a chance he is linked to a December 27, 2009 attack on another jogger in area. The victim in that incident told investigators she was tackled by a suspect who demanded money from her. At this point, Gardner is not charged with that attack. At a press conference last night, authorities said Gardner could have played a role in the Amber Dubois case as well. Amber disappeared more than a year ago as she walked to a nearby high school.
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
