May 14th, 2010
05:27 PM ET

Man who admitted killing two teens gets multiple life terms

Registered sex offender John Albert Gardner III was sentenced to three consecutive life terms Friday for the deaths of two teens and the attempted rape of a third victim in a case that has sparked calls for stiffer penalties against sex offenders.

Gardner, 31, pleaded guilty April 16 to the murders of San Diego, California-area teens Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. He also pleaded to assault with intent to commit rape of a third person.

Gardner was arrested on February 28, three days after he abducted, raped and stabbed 17-year-old King, and buried her body in a shallow grave, according to court documents.  She was last seen alive leaving Poway High School. Her car was found at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, where she was known to run on the trails.

Dubois was last seen alive walking to Escondido High School on February 13, 2009. She was considered a missing person for more than a year, until Gardner led authorities to her remains in March in exchange for assurances that it would not be used against him in court.

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Filed under: Justice
soundoff (88 Responses)
  1. tekbit

    We are Beyond the point that "Law Enforcement" can contain the Idiots free to scavange at their Will, Time has come for Society to realize it's Ill Folk, and Attend to them Accordingly.

    May 14, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Report abuse |
  2. The Faithful

    May God have mercy on all of you, as much if not more than Mr. Gardner, with all your strong and hateful opinions. It's no wonder our World is in such chaos with this mentality of society. It's times like these I'm ashamed to be a member of the human race. Do none of you believe in Jesus's teachings? Do all of you go to church for appearances sake, but don't live out christian teachings? Don't bother to answer – it's a retorical question.

    May 14, 2010 at 7:31 pm | Report abuse |
  3. tekbit

    I Care not for God, for God Cares not for Me. If You Wish Your Faith, Please do not ask me to sit in Your Pew. It Insults My Intelligence, as it should Yours.

    May 14, 2010 at 7:36 pm | Report abuse |
  4. MyAlterEgo

    Gardner wanted the life sentence so that he would be put in general population which in effect would be a death sentence. If he had gotten the death penalty he would be in a separate cell for years because of the appeals process and because there is a moratorium on executions in California at the moment, and it appears that the death penalty here will be abolished.

    For those of you who state it's cheaper to execute – in California it actually costs millions to keep a prisioner on death row from the time he is convicted until the execution, which can be 30 years. Death Row inmates are in separate cells, get their own TVs, eat by themselves, etc., plus the state pays for their appeals and they don't work. And while I agree that it would be much easier to ship him off to Saudi Arabia or China, who would trade this POS's quick execution to live under those types of government? Personally, I like a drink now and then and like the freedoms of the US which you will not get in Saudi Arabia or other Arabic nations.

    May 14, 2010 at 7:39 pm | Report abuse |
  5. tekbit

    Simple..You are a Criminal, You Work! Damn it, thet made Pyramids and Temples that way for Melennia!

    May 14, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Forjustice

    Come on! If you're sentenced to more than one life sentence, then you should be executed. Lord knows that there is a huge back log for those on death row. When are they going to go back to public execuations? A tall tree with a short rope in the middle of town. Supporting these prisoners to live after they have taken a live/lives in prison can not justifiable. Let's clear out "Death Row" and make room for other prisoners who are serving for other crimes.

    May 14, 2010 at 8:01 pm | Report abuse |
  7. veryserious

    The START of the horrorshow here in Escondido was one year before our little Amber Dubois vanished. Please investigate John Albert Gardner in the abduction and murder of Martha Lopez Perez. This is the Escondido mom who vanished from the AMVETS thrift store in Escondido on Dec 13 2007. Her body was found Feb 9 2008 in Jesmond Dene Park in Escondido. Before that, we did not have females of any age suddenly vanishing and then being found dead in shallow graves. Gardner had been released from prison in 2005 and he was not in prison when Martha Lopez Perez vanished and was killed. If the GPS prevented him from going near young girls, that is more "reason" for him to have abducted and killed this adult woman. She was very short, and she was alone– the sort of victim a coward like Gardner would figure he could take.

    May 14, 2010 at 8:49 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Matt

    He said in an interview with a San Diego reporter that he didn't want the death sentence because it would keep him alive for many, many years. He said if he gets life he won't last 5 years before he is killed in prison...we can only hope.

    May 14, 2010 at 11:01 pm | Report abuse |
  9. hockeyjosh

    why dont we bring him here to florida, bring back old sparky and slowly cook him every week or so, not enough to kill him but just enough to fry him a little bit. when he dies... oh well

    May 15, 2010 at 6:06 am | Report abuse |
  10. SHANE

    I believe they should get the death penalty. They can still masterbate in prison with their sick twisted desires. Can enjoy food or a snack. Then can laugh at a program on the tele. Have a warm place to sleep. Contact love ones through phone,letter,emails and meetings. Bottom line they still get to feel bouts of enjoyment.

    Why waste good money to keep them in prison. They will never feel bad about what they did. Make them die and let god handle their fate!!!

    May 15, 2010 at 6:12 am | Report abuse |
  11. david guy

    now how about jailing those who let him out to kill again?

    May 15, 2010 at 9:17 am | Report abuse |
  12. Gary Marrero

    One 45 ACP round to the back of the head infront of the CNN cameras would be a bargin.

    May 15, 2010 at 9:18 am | Report abuse |
  13. MIKI

    HANG HIM BY HIS BALLS ONE BY ONE.

    May 15, 2010 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
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