{"id":379967,"date":"2010-03-02T19:27:14","date_gmt":"2010-03-03T00:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com\/?p=12943"},"modified":"2010-03-02T19:27:14","modified_gmt":"2010-03-03T00:27:14","slug":"the-search-justice-for-chelsea-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/379967","title":{"rendered":"The Search & Justice for Chelsea King"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOLLOW ADAM ON TWITTER<\/a><\/p>\n

INSIDE THE COURTROOM<\/strong>
\nAs I walked into Department 11 in San Diego, about 15 of Chelsea’s family and friends were already seated and passing around tissue. Chelsea’s parents sit close together, their hands clasped. Security is tight with deputies blocking the aisle that leads to where the accused killer John Gardner will eventually stand. I am sitting in the fourth row, one seat from the aisle and there isn’t an inch of room for anyone else to cram in. The mood is somber and tense. No one speaks, but we are allowed to use our blackberry’s and communication devices to type. Her family and friends wear ribbons in her honor.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors say John Albert Gardner III killed Chelsea King and the special allegation of either attempting to rape her, or raped her….they don’t have to specify under California law…either way it could meant he death penalty. Gardner also faces an allegation of assault with intent to commit rape in an unrelated Dec. 27 incident.<\/p>\n

An attorney entered pleas of not guilty on Gardner’s behalf during his brief court appearance Wednesday. He looked down almost then entire time. His hands held at his waist where he was handcuffed. He only looked up briefly and only said yes once when answering a question from the judge. He will next be in the courtroom on March 18th. I knew he was a big man, but he looks even bigger and stronger in person. He would have no trouble controlling such a smaller girl if he committed the crime. <\/p>\n

The district attorney has the option to pursue the death penalty, but that determination has not been made yet. That will happen after the preliminary hearing and after consultation with the entire DA’s office and also with the King family. A huge crowd had gathered outside the courtroom during the arraignment and stayed there as the media and the attorney’s and family all left. The whole process was about 5 mins.<\/p>\n

When I asked the DA how the public frustration over the previous case, where Gardner only served 5 years for a 2000 attack, she said her office was going to do everything possible and more needs to be done to strengthen the laws against sexual predators. But first this case needs to be handled.<\/p>\n

WEDNESDAY JUSTICE UPDATE<\/strong>
\nWe have moved from the serenity of a beautiful neighborhood outdoor area and park, to the hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego. Here this afternoon, John Gardner will face a judge and charges that he raped, beat and killed Chelsea King. At this hour we are still told that he is being uncooperative with authorities and with this investigation.
\nEveryone hear in this community knows this story and it seems as if everyone has been affected in some way. People seem frustrated as the talk with us, wondering why this man was allowed back on the street after a criminal psychologist warned that he showed no remorse after being convicted of raper 10 years ago…and that more young women might be in danger.<\/p>\n

We will see John Gardner in court at 2:30pm local time today and I will be in the courtroom to take notes and report back here and on Fox News Channel on the hearing. Meantime more than 5,000 people held a candlelight vigil last night in Poway. At one point Chelsea’s father saying that he called he his angel and that now she will always be his angel. Truly heartbreaking.<\/p>\n

TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE<\/strong>
\nThis is never easy to report.
\nBody found Shortly after 1pm- near water’s edge in a shallow grave and was found not far from where they found one of Chelsea’s shoes. Her body was 10-15 ft from a tributary. Strong likelihood it is Chelsea and the family has been told and is devastated. Dive teams found her body on the shoreline south of the lake in little tributary about a half mile from her car and a thorough crime scene investigation is now underway. Positive ID is expected tonight or early tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Arraignment still scheduled Wednesday for the suspect John Gardner, who is being held in solitary confinement in a medical unit to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself. We are also told he is being uncooperative in regards to the investigation, not a shocker when we hear that a criminal psychologist reported that Gardner didn’t take responsibility for his last crime…a rape and beating of a 13 year-old. Investigators first searched the area where body was found on Friday, but it is a heavily wooded area and the Sheriff says it would have taken someone effort to hide the body there. Sonar did not help find body.<\/p>\n

A VERY SAD UPDATE<\/strong>
\nAbout a half hour ago I got information that Chelsea’s body was found. A law enforcement source says she was found near the lake and it appears to be found in a creek. So sad. Press conference postponed until later today\/tonight.<\/p>\n

Any time you cover a story like this it just breaks your heart. It should never happen to a family, to a young girl with so much ahead of her, but at this hour the search is on again in the rural area around Lake Hodges near San Diego. The lake and surrounding park is not unlike many other areas around our country, nestled in a nice neighborhood of surrounding foothills. A large community park with baseball and soccer fields is attached. It is here that Chelsea parked her car last Thursday and it is here that her father found that car with her cell phone and iPod still inside and his daughter nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

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