Chelsea King -- Found Deceased 3/2/10 -- UPDATE: John Albert Gardner III admits he murdered Chelsea

randilynn wrote:i think it is round about time that judges face some accountability for the sentences they give these violent offenders.

this judge was given testimony from numerous professional sources that this man was DANGEROUS--the maximum sentence was advised, yet, he gave the minimum.

i think if the judges had accountability for their CLEAR lack of reason... there would be much less of this crap occurring!!

this is sheer negligence. and this beautiful young woman paid the ultimate price.

Amen!

There was a comment or two on the news stating that prosecutors wanted to spare the 13-year-old victim the trauma of testifying in the courtroom. Yeah! I understand that. How much hell is it for a minor to submit to cross-examination by the rapist's defense attorney? The trauma of sexual assaults are trauma enough, and the law forces these kids to take the stand and confront their attacker, and have to describe in exacting detail what was done to them. Trauma? You bet! There is sufficient evidence that many rapes go unreported and the rapists go free to prey again. Understandably, the victims either fear or are too shamed to face their attackers in a room full of people, not all of whom are compassionate. The defense attorney sure won’t be.
The solution to this is quite simple...allow the testimony of minors to be taped. Protecting the child rather than the criminal should be top priority. However, this is the land of the free, and free defense to help set you free.

Nancy Graceless had one of the most disgusting shows tonight, playing off this tragedy and feigning innocence about scientific terms that she must have heard time and time again in her exploitation of breaking news.
She airs a call to a doctor in CA and asks what condition the body would be in. The doctor went on to explain, then said that the time of death could be determined by microorganisms and NG does her "Doctor, Doctor, Doctor - I'm a JD not an MD, explain". So the doctor explains explicitly, graphically as NG had requested, that it inclludes "deterioration of the body and what organisms, insects, bacteria are on the skin and growing in the body". Then NG appears shocked and says "When I think about the King family hearing this"... and takes a call from: Sheba in IL.
I forced myself to listen to her show tonight, knowing full well that she would "play dumb" and speak with her "experts" whom she could control and interrupt as often as she pleased. Her rants have become so predictable..and I wonder when the network will pull her plug.

well, i had dvr'd ng like i do every night, but something went wrong and the whole program was just black - so now I count that a blessing... she just makes me so mad, i don't know why i continue to watch her... just to my blood boiling i guess...

Anyway, I'm saddened and yet relieved at the same time that Chelsea was found. I wanted to hope that she wasn't dead, but am relieved that we now have a body which I'm sure will offer more evidence against the perp. It's so difficult to try cases for the max sentence when there is no body...

I found this new quote in regards to Gardners first trial - "A psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner, Dr. Matthew Carroll, wanted a stiffer punishment, saying in court documents that he was a "continued danger to underage girls in the community." "

the more i read about what this psychiatrist had to say about Gardner, the more i realize the sheer miscarriage of justice that PERMITTED this man to continue ruining lives... why even ask the opinion of a professional psychiatrist when the judge or prosecutor will discard their advice???? Kudos to this psychiatrist for doing their job, and recognizing the danger, but the prosector AND judge in the previous case should be reprimanded - hopefully the voters in that area are paying close attn if either of these men are still seated....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35663135/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Cali - I loved your description of NG's show, I could just see it the way you described it. Nothing on there has changed, has it? Now I remember why I don't rush to watch her anymore.

I agree Tish. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented if these sex offenders weren't given lenient sentences. The judge and prosecutor both made a grave mistake by not listening to the psychiatrist. I hope neither one of them are still seated.

i get the "protection" of the young victim in this case...

however, any trauma imposed by testifying, and seeing the perp again, could be helped by therapy that this child needs anyways.. what happened to chelsea king, cannot be undone.

i have also been on the camp wagon that the process of trial and testifying can be a part of healing... to know that you stood up, at such a young age and put the person responsible behind bars is a great step toward healing.

the way things stand, this first 13 yr old victims learns nothing out of this other that those put in power to protect us failed miserably. this man did what he did to her, and was allowed to turn around and do just that and worse to another young girl. ... to me, that seems more traumatizing that cross-examination.

imo, ng just compounds the issue when she insists on vividly describing every detail of what the perp did to this girl - that's worse than cross exam too if you ask me!! she should be reprimanded for what she did on national tv last night!!!

Outrage Growing over Repeat Sex Offenders

Known Predator John Gardner Charged with Killing Chelsea King; Experts Say Monitoring of Offenders Insufficient

March 3, 2010
By Ben Tracy


Watch CBS News Videos Online

(CBS) When 17-year-old Chelsea King went for a jog near her San Diego home last week, police say she ran into John Gardner, who they believe raped and murdered her before dumping her body nearby.

CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reports Gardner, 30, is a known predator. In 2000, he pleaded guilty to molesting his 13-year-old neighbor. His psychiatrist said he was "a continued danger to underage girls in the community" and recommended a 30-year sentence.

However, prosecutors made a plea deal so the victim didn't have to testify. Gardner served just five years.

Sex Offender Charged in Teen Killing

He did wear a GPS monitoring device until 2008, but since then investigators think he may be involved in the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl last year and may have attacked a 22-year-old woman in December. Convicted sex offender Jake Goldenflame says without therapy, prison terms are useless.

"It's wishful thinking to believe that simply by locking someone up for a number of years that's going to magically transform him when he comes out," Goldenflame said.

Experts say there are not enough parole officers to monitor the more than 700,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. At least 100,000 may not even be living where they say they are.

"The sex offender registry provides this false sense of security we are monitoring and doing something with the sex offenders out there," said Robin Sax, a former Los Angeles county prosecutor.

And monitoring doesn't always work. Even with home inspections, Phillip Garrido was still able to hide Jaycee Dugard in his backyard for 18 years. Last November in Cleveland, 11 bodies were found in the house of another registered sex offender being monitored by police.

If convicted, John Gardner will now spend the rest of his life behind bars -- but some say if the system were tougher he'd already be there.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/03/eveningnews/main6264100.shtml

I'm glad to see that outrage over these repeat sex offenders not being monitored properly and being free to roam the streets is growing. Many of us on this site have expressed this outrage many times since the story of convicted sex offenders murdering women and children repeats itself over and over again. Even People had an article about the justice system failing Chelsea. I hope lawmakers hear our pleas and pass tougher laws against sex offenders immediately.

Justice4all wrote:
Experts say there are not enough parole officers to monitor the more than 700,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. At least 100,000 may not even be living where they say they are.
"The sex offender registry provides this false sense of security we are monitoring and doing something with the sex offenders out there," said Robin Sax, a former Los Angeles county prosecutor.

700,000 registered sex offenders.
Not to mention those who are yet to be caught.
700,000! That is huge. I am speechless.

pi-girl wrote:

Justice4all wrote:
Experts say there are not enough parole officers to monitor the more than 700,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. At least 100,000 may not even be living where they say they are.
"The sex offender registry provides this false sense of security we are monitoring and doing something with the sex offenders out there," said Robin Sax, a former Los Angeles county prosecutor.

700,000 registered sex offenders.
Not to mention those who are yet to be caught.
700,000! That is huge. I am speechless.

And not to mention those who are NOT registered!!!!

I did appreciate Marc Klaas last night pointing out that the govt is leaving citizens NO CHOICE but vigilante justice in an effort to protect our families - that's exactly what this is coming to if they don't get a handle on the situation.... He mentioned that Amber Dubois' family and friends of the family actually staked out Gardner because they were so convinced that he was the perp in that case - and as it turns out, they were probably right. Either Gardner or his mother lived less than a mile from where Amber was taken... and THAT is the scary part to me - alot of these perps will attack not from their own homebase, but from their parents home - so therefore, THAT address wouldn't belong to a SO, but to their family - how are we going to be able to track that??? There is a SO's family that lives on my street - the SO doesn't live there, but he comes to visit his parents, they have graciously told me about it - so I can be alert when I see his vehicle there at his parents, but not all family members are so open. I would say that more often, they will hide the fact that their son is a SO rather than warn their neighbors... so while registering the SO at his residence is necessary, i just want to point out that it will not fix the problem...

It's interesting to know that the Dubois family and friends had staked Gardner out. I'd say their instincts were probably right. How many other lives has he destroyed?

Sex offender laws didn't protect Chelsea King

Suspect in murder complied with Megan's Law requirments

By Kristina Lee FOX 5 San Diego Staff
8:13 AM PST, March 4, 2010

 
SAN DIEGO - A sex offender who registered his addresses in compliance with Megan's Law is accused of murdering Poway High senior Chelsea King, bringing into question the effectiveness of recent laws meant to control convicted sex predators.

According to public records, Gardner was convicted of assaulting and molesting a girl in 2000. He was sentenced to six years in prison and served five before he was released in September 2005. He was on probation until 2008.

Read more: http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-sex-offender-law,0,2422495.story

Raw video: Suspect John Albert Gardner III Pleads Not Guilty

Cali wrote:Nancy Graceless had one of the most disgusting shows tonight, playing off this tragedy and feigning innocence about scientific terms that she must have heard time and time again in her exploitation of breaking news.
She airs a call to a doctor in CA and asks what condition the body would be in. The doctor went on to explain, then said that the time of death could be determined by microorganisms and NG does her "Doctor, Doctor, Doctor - I'm a JD not an MD, explain". So the doctor explains explicitly, graphically as NG had requested, that it inclludes "deterioration of the body and what organisms, insects, bacteria are on the skin and growing in the body". Then NG appears shocked and says "When I think about the King family hearing this"... and takes a call from: Sheba in IL.
I forced myself to listen to her show tonight, knowing full well that she would "play dumb" and speak with her "experts" whom she could control and interrupt as often as she pleased. Her rants have become so predictable..and I wonder when the network will pull her plug.

-------------------------

Cali,

I have been too angry to write on this till today.. The other day, while talking on the Chelsea King case, she esposed a prior victim of Gardner.. A 13 yr old girl who was so violated it is hard to have heard whatr she wendured.. Thanks to NG every knows what that PIG did to her.. every explicit detail... Thank you for pointiing out what kind of level the likes of NG has stooped to this time. I was almost throwing things at her thru the TV.. I cudnt believe that she had that heinous detailed account of hwat he did to a 13 yr old girl, up on her screen in bold letters, and then when her producer took it down, NG actualy interrupted her guest to order Elizabeth to put it bak up....

Who does she think she is ?? How dare she violate that poor victim anymore than she aready is... How dare she exploit her traumatic assault?

I wrote Marc Klaas to advise him, and also CNN. She needs to be stopped.... I wondeer howmany innocent ppls lives she has rruined.... There are already enough victims of crime out there, that we dont need her adding insult to injury...

She is supposd to be an advocate???? She just victimized that girl who has prolly tried very hard to get past the brutal assault... If ppl cant see her as a sensationalistic monster, who only cares about how fat her paycheck is, maybe you need to this show in particular..

She shud be taken off her throne.. Her show is great but needs a gneuine host who cares about the ppl and not the money.. I suggested to Marc Klaas, that he should take over that show..

How dare she!

She dares because the ratings are still high enough to allow her to continue with the sham. Some people still "believe" that NG is an "expert" and that she is trying to help victims of crime. Some people still believe it if they see it in the news or read it in print. She appeals to many women who won't dare speak of what she discusses on her show. I think NG appeals to a lot of prudes - people with blinders over their eyes and blocked senses when something bad happens but they do get some sort of high on the gory details.

Chelsea King's Father: 'Justice System Failed' to Protect Daughter

Family of Killed High School Student Consoled by Friends and Community

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN
March 5, 2010



The criminal justice system failed to protect Chelsea King from being raped and murdered last week, when it allowed a convicted sex offender out of jail early and inadequately monitored him, her distraught father said today.

"It let our daughter down," Brent King said of the criminal justice system. "It let every child in this country down terribly. There's no doubt."

King and his wife Kelly were in the courtroom Wednesday when John Albert Gardner III pleaded not guilty to charges of raping and murdering 17-year-old Chelsea.

Gardner is a convicted sex offender who spent five years in prison for molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2000. When he was let out of prison early in 2005, one prison psychiatrist argued that Gardner should not be released, stating that he would continue to be a threat to girls and showed no remorse.

Chelsea's body was discovered Tuesday in a shallow grave near Lake Hodges, in the marshy park north of San Diego where she disappeared while running on Feb. 25. Gardner was arrested the following Monday, March 1.

Police now believe Gardner may be involved in a string of attempted abductions, and perhaps one other murder, going back at least a year ago.

"We want to assure that kids can be kids and be safe, and predators shouldn't be allowed to be within reach. They shouldn't be allowed to," King said during an appearance on the "Today" show.

King said the family had been embraced and buoyed by their community. Thursday was the first time the family left their home to get dinner together since Chelsea disappeared, choosing their 13-year-old son's favorite burrito shop.

"Everybody in the burrito shop pretty much came up and just gave us hugs and let us know that their prayers are with us, and that helps tremendously," King said.

Chelsea King's Friends Visiting Her Family

Chelsea's friends too have been visiting and supporting the family.

"To be able to wrap our arms around these kids, they're like our own children as well, and they're such a huge part of Chelsea's life and such a huge part of the joy that she found in every day," he said. "It's a gift, and I don't ever want to lose touch with any of these kids. They're very, very special and we love them dearly."

On Thursday police in Lake Elsinore said they were contacted by a 16-year-old girl who said she recognized Gardner as the man who tried to abduct her in October 2009. At the time the girl gave a description of a man fitting Gardner's description who approached her in his car as she was walking to a friend's house early in the morning. The man pointed a gun and demanded she get in his car, but the girl ran away.

Police had already connected Gardner to an attack on 23-year-old graduate student Candice Moncayo in December 2009 on the same jogging trail where Chelsea King died, and believe he could be responsible for the disappearance of Amber Dubois, 14, who vanished while on her way to school in Escondido in February 2009.

Moncayo reported being attacked on the same jogging path in the same park north of San Diego in which King went missing.

"I thought he was going to rape me," Moncayo said of the overweight man who tackled her. "So I told him he would have to kill me first."

Gardner is 6 foot 2 and weighs 230 pounds.

Moncayo elbowed her attacker in the face and was able to flee. She also contacted police about recognizing Gardner after his picture was flashed across the country following his arrest.

The family of Amber Dubois, who has never been found, also believes that Gardner, a sometimes self-employed electrician, is responsible for the girl's disappearance.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/chelsea-kings-father-justice-system-failed-protect-daughter/story?id=10019280