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.