Gardner pleads guilty in exchange for no DP

Wow. This doesn't happen often enough.

Here's another link. This one says he pleaded guilty to rape and murder.http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_b2f456fc-499e-11df-b81f-001cc4c002e0.html

Both sets of parents were in the courtroom and sobbing quietly as they had to hear how their daughters died and how soon after meeting up with JG, they were killed.
My heart breaks for those parents.

Both Families will be speaking shortly.

http://www.10news.com/video/1501336...nd_break&ts=T&tmi=sand_break_1_04020104162010

Amity said:

Both Families will be speaking shortly.

http://www.10news.com/video/1501336...nd_break&ts=T&tmi=sand_break_1_04020104162010

Click to expand...

At least the parents will not have to go through the further pain of a trial.

I would like to see in dead. but I agree that the parents should not have to go through
a trial.

From KNSD:


At the hearing, Gardner admitted he raped, strangled and killed Chelsea within an hour before dragging her body to a shallow grave.
Gardner also admitted to raping and killing Amber one and a half hours after he met her.

Source: He Killed Both of Them | NBC San Diego

Gardner will be sentenced June 1 at 1.30 p.m.

Source: He Killed Both of Them | NBC San Diego

I posted [ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101770"]a new thread[/ame] that may also be of interest. KFI has access to many documents, including search warrants of things that were being looked for and/or found in JAG's home.

I know OF these cases, saw them on NG but haven't followed them. Did we know he killed both of them? I thought he was arrested for killing one of them but did he agree about the other one as part of the plea deal? TIA

He should be thankful he will spend his entire life behind bars from this day forward. Amen. Gardner strangled Chelsea, and stabbed Amber to death. In other states he may have received the DP.

I think this is for the best, if you take everything into consideration. I couldn't bear to watch both girl's parents and family have to relive this through a long trial - Chelsea and Amber wouldn't want that either. Bless the parents, families, and support teams for they have already done a great deal to make changes start happening.

According to KNSD 7/39 news at 4:

Stating this is a rare development to have him change the plea in two cases (Chelsea and the jogger) and then to plead guilty in Amber's, as well.

It was about a 20 minute process of admitting he was admitting to a "voluntary" and "informed" plea to the charges.

It's two consecutive life sentences with no eligibility for parole and no ability to appeal. Sentencing for June 1st.

Parents consulted and agreed with Bonnie Dumanis (DA) to plea.

Gag order may be lifted after sentencing.

They believe it was, in part, to remove pressure of his mother, that he agreed to change his plea. Something in a letter to a "woman friend" (I believe it's one of the one linked by KFI) that said he may have demonstrated some compassion for the families.

From the families - emotional, intensity, and anger were evident.

Complete presser video, will come in a minute, I'll type it up.

Presser with Bonnie Dumanis (DA) and authorities and the families:

Soul of the community has been shaken and wrapped their arms and hearts around the families and will continue to do so.

The families now are having to face the reality of what JAG plead guilty to today. He will be sentenced on June 1st and has waived rights to appeal.

She thanks the Sheriffs who handled Chelsea's case and finding her so persistently, and then EPD in Amber's case. LE has been working non-stop and we have them to thank for the quick resolution to this (Chelsea's) case. She also thanks the Deputy DA who was working this case.

March 3rd 1 count of murder w/ special circumstances was filed making him eligible for the DP, and the count against him for in the case against the jogger. At that point, they didn't have concrete evidence linking him to any other crime.

On March 5th JAG led authorities to the body of Amber. The one condition was they couldn't use that against him in court. But they could use crime scene information against him. There was not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, apart from JAG's cooperation, to pursue charges of murder against him in Amber's case.

No agreements were made like that in Chelsea's case.

He submitted a signed change of plea form in Chelsea and the jogger's case, and also Amber. A factual basis for the plea is needed and was offered. By accepting a guilty plea, they got a charger for murder against Amber that they would not have gotten otherwise.

It was a hard decision since they had the evidence and solid case in Chelsea's case and with death penalty, but given the death sentence in CA being a "hollow sentence" in CA right now, and what it would mean for the King family, and knowing that this agreement would mean guilty in Amber's case, as well, they felt this was the best thing for everyone involved (family wise).

The agreement of guilty without the possibility of parole means he will die in court. No further comment will be able to be made until after the sentencing on June 1st. The families will be able to give their victim impact statement then.

Nothing can replace their children, but today is another step in the journey. It only closes the legal chapter, though.

Each family will make a brief statement.

Mo Dubois:

Thanks everyone for being here, thanks the DA's office for their diligence, and the LE who put so much time into the investigations. This turn of events was a surprise when they learned of it yesterday (Thursday). He is thankful for a resolution and getting justice and closure in Amber's case. He thanks the community of SD for their support for both families, and asks for privacy and time to grieve and thanks for their understanding.

Brent King:

We stand here because of a despicable and evil act commited against our beautiful daughter Chelsea, our family, and our community. The community whether to give our blessing to the proposal was torturous. First choice was the DP, but in CA, that has become an empty promise.

For that reason, and the following, they support life without parole and appeal. 1) A multi year court preceding will have a destructive impact on our son; 2) Our community can heal and have closure sooner; 3) We couldn't imagine having a confession of Amber's murder and that not seeing the light of day if we didn't agree; 4) Without needing to be devoted to a trial, they can raise their son and work on bringing change in California.

There is nothing satisfying about this moment, it's just another unbearable moment in this process.

DA Bonnie Dumanis couldn't take questions because of the gag order, and they asked again for privacy for the families.

if leading them to the body doesnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt then i dont know what kinda messed up legal system we really have here.

kbl8201 said:

if leading them to the body doesnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt then i dont know what kinda messed up legal system we really have here.

Click to expand...

But, as she went on to say, the one condition was they couldn't use that against him in court. But they could use crime scene information against him. There was not enough found at the crime scene or afterward to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, apart from JAG's cooperation, to pursue charges of murder against him in Amber's case.

Wow. I am truly surprised here. I never expected him to plea. In CA people are rarely put to death and he would be so far down the list he really had no worries. As long as the families are ok with it, so am I.

kbl8201 said:

if leading them to the body doesnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt then i dont know what kinda messed up legal system we really have here.

Click to expand...

The agreement was (brokered by an independent attorney) that if he led them to the body they could not use that fact against him.

>>On March 5th JAG led authorities to the body of Amber. The one condition was they couldn't use that against him in court. But they could use crime scene information against him. There was not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, apart from JAG's cooperation, to pursue charges of murder against him in Amber's case.<<

oh we so called that!

You know, back in February of 2009, right after Amber went missing, John Gardner's name come up on the radar scope of at least one forum regarding Amber Dubois. I also read somewhere (I'll see if I can dig that up, but a lot of articles I saw a few months ago are going "missing' on the web) that Amber's mother told EPC to check him out, but Amber was not believed by EPC to have been abducted and Amber's mother was told not to bother registered sex offenders. ( I read this somewhere, but don't quote it as gospel until I can find the reference)

Makes you wonder who else he might have attacked before and/or after Amber besides Chelsea. There were several reports of assaults in the area that have not been solved. How many missing teenagers are there in the area?