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Amber's remains found; father thanks supporters
Police say discovery near Pala ends 13-month search for Escondido teen
Originally published March 7, 2010 at 9:15 p.m., updated March 7, 2010 at 10:45 p.m
<snipped>
The remains were found west of Pala Temecula Road, about three miles north of the historic Pala Mission — the same area where the remains of 7-year-old Leticia Hernandez were discovered 15 months after she disappeared from her Oceanside home in 1989.
Amber’s mother, Carrie McGonigle, appeared disconsolate and did not speak to reporters at the news conference. McGonigle had granted dozens of interviews since her daughter went missing in the hope of generating clues by keeping the case in the limelight.
In the Amber case Sunday night, Escondido police had perimeter tape set up west of Pala Temecula Road. Pala Creek runs to the east of it.
Investigators have openly questioned whether Gardner might be responsible in Amber’s disappearance. Bill Garcia, a private investigator hired by Amber’s family shortly after she disappeared, said he was told by a person with firsthand knowledge of the case that the tip about the location of the remains did not come from Gardner.
“The entire Chelsea King event emotionally pulled at somebody who had this information,” Garcia said. “They’ve seen the community in a lot of pain. Someone who had been afraid to say something finally came forward.”
Garcia said he has long suspected the remains might be in the Pala area, because any abductor would have wanted to get away from high-traffic areas quickly, and many of the back roads out of Escondido lead into the Pauma Valley area. “We’ve spent a lot of time in the past year, working that canyon,” Garcia said. “It’s no mystery to me that’s where she was found.”
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has consistently refused to discuss the case against Gardner since he was arrested Feb. 28. Dumanis’ spokesman declined to comment Sunday on any possible connection between Amber and Gardner.
Legal experts say it would not be out of the question for a defendant facing the death penalty to cooperate with prosecutors and divulge key information in exchange for a life sentence. But those deals usually take longer than a few days to work out.
“It’s possible but it’s not likely,” said San Diego defense attorney Kerry Steigerwalt, who has followed both cases but is not involved in either one. “There are so many variables that would have had to come together in a short period of time.” In the hours immediately following Gardner’s arrest at Hernandez Hide-A-Way in Del Dios, authorities said the suspect was refusing to cooperate with interrogators.
Last night, the woodsy site where the body was found was guarded by a lone Escondido police officer who declined to comment.
Authorities gathered Sunday night at the site of the discovery of Amber Dubois’ remains, about three miles north of the Pala Mission.
Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher was joined by Amber Dubois’ parents, Carrie McGonigle and Moe Dubois, at a news conference Sunday where officials announced the remains of the teen, who had been missing 13 months, were found.
Scott Pfaucht (right) was among the volunteers who gathered in May to search for missing 14-year-old Amber Dubois in an area north of Escondido. Amber had vanished a few months earlier.
Video
ress conference about remains of Amber Dubois found in Pala 3:27
http://www.signonsandiego.com/video/?bcpid=34444171001&bctid=70621522001
Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/07/site-ambers-remains-north-pala-mission/
Police say discovery near Pala ends 13-month search for Escondido teen
Originally published March 7, 2010 at 9:15 p.m., updated March 7, 2010 at 10:45 p.m
<snipped>
The remains were found west of Pala Temecula Road, about three miles north of the historic Pala Mission — the same area where the remains of 7-year-old Leticia Hernandez were discovered 15 months after she disappeared from her Oceanside home in 1989.
Amber’s mother, Carrie McGonigle, appeared disconsolate and did not speak to reporters at the news conference. McGonigle had granted dozens of interviews since her daughter went missing in the hope of generating clues by keeping the case in the limelight.
In the Amber case Sunday night, Escondido police had perimeter tape set up west of Pala Temecula Road. Pala Creek runs to the east of it.
Investigators have openly questioned whether Gardner might be responsible in Amber’s disappearance. Bill Garcia, a private investigator hired by Amber’s family shortly after she disappeared, said he was told by a person with firsthand knowledge of the case that the tip about the location of the remains did not come from Gardner.
“The entire Chelsea King event emotionally pulled at somebody who had this information,” Garcia said. “They’ve seen the community in a lot of pain. Someone who had been afraid to say something finally came forward.”
Garcia said he has long suspected the remains might be in the Pala area, because any abductor would have wanted to get away from high-traffic areas quickly, and many of the back roads out of Escondido lead into the Pauma Valley area. “We’ve spent a lot of time in the past year, working that canyon,” Garcia said. “It’s no mystery to me that’s where she was found.”
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has consistently refused to discuss the case against Gardner since he was arrested Feb. 28. Dumanis’ spokesman declined to comment Sunday on any possible connection between Amber and Gardner.
Legal experts say it would not be out of the question for a defendant facing the death penalty to cooperate with prosecutors and divulge key information in exchange for a life sentence. But those deals usually take longer than a few days to work out.
“It’s possible but it’s not likely,” said San Diego defense attorney Kerry Steigerwalt, who has followed both cases but is not involved in either one. “There are so many variables that would have had to come together in a short period of time.” In the hours immediately following Gardner’s arrest at Hernandez Hide-A-Way in Del Dios, authorities said the suspect was refusing to cooperate with interrogators.
Last night, the woodsy site where the body was found was guarded by a lone Escondido police officer who declined to comment.
Authorities gathered Sunday night at the site of the discovery of Amber Dubois’ remains, about three miles north of the Pala Mission.
Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher was joined by Amber Dubois’ parents, Carrie McGonigle and Moe Dubois, at a news conference Sunday where officials announced the remains of the teen, who had been missing 13 months, were found.
Scott Pfaucht (right) was among the volunteers who gathered in May to search for missing 14-year-old Amber Dubois in an area north of Escondido. Amber had vanished a few months earlier.
Video
ress conference about remains of Amber Dubois found in Pala 3:27http://www.signonsandiego.com/video/?bcpid=34444171001&bctid=70621522001
Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/07/site-ambers-remains-north-pala-mission/
