John Albert Gardner (booking photo)

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.