Among the gated homes, anger and fear over Chelsea King's killing

[alienlovechild 75]

But the park had changed. Down a worn path and around a bend was where Chelsea King, a high school senior from nearby Poway, was believed to have been attacked, killed and buried in a shallow grave. Her presumed death -- the coroner has yet to positively identify the body -- has shaken people in a place where many felt sheltered against the grimmer side of life.

"Nobody's safe. Nobody's privileged. Everybody's vulnerable," said Coleen Huang, 48, who has walked the trails for years. "This was so extreme. A girl living in a gated community. The all-American girl, attacked out in broad daylight, on a run."

John Albert Gardner III, 30, was charged Wednesday afternoon with murdering the straight-A student, cross-country runner and French horn player. He was also charged with assault in a December 2009 attack on a 22-year-old woman in the same park. Gardner was ordered held without bail and could face the death penalty if convicted.

The words "Chelseas blood is on you. Move out" had been spray-painted in red on the garage door of Gardner's mother's house in neighboring Rancho Bernardo.

San Diego police said Gardner's mother and stepfather have left the city. Many residents said the family didn't deserve any sympathy, and criticized law enforcement officials for failing to keep Gardner away from their community.

Gardner admitted assaulting and molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2000. He served five years of a six-year sentence and wore a global positioning device during his parole term, which ended in 2008. Police also suspect that Gardner might be linked to the disappearance last year of Amber Dubois, 14, last seen at a bus stop outside her high school in nearby Escondido.

Gardner's residence is in Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, according to the Megan's Law website, but last week he had been visiting his mother at her Rancho Bernardo home, just south of Lake Hodges. Some believe he may have been living with his mother, unbeknown to authorities.

The judges, prosecutors and police followed the letter of the law but failed in their moral responsibility, said James Fisher, 59, a real estate consultant who lives near the park. "We know there aren't enough people to monitor the activity of these offenders. We're not stupid, but we are extremely disturbed and frustrated."

Outside the downtown San Diego courthouse where Gardner was arraigned, protesters held up signs: "Castrate rapists." "Chelsea's Law: One Strike." "No parole for molesters."

Poway High Principal Scott Fisher said people felt that Gardner was able to spend time in the area because of a weakness in Megan's Law.

"You should be able to go out and jog at 2:30 in the afternoon in our own community. We've got to do something about this law because for our kids, their lives have changed forever," the principal said. "We think there's a loophole in that law that has got to be closed."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ch...0,2666344.story

[Peikko 1,575]

This is a really tragic story and naturally it's on our local news. Poor girl, and there might be at least one other victim.

[Danno 1,228]

SUch a sad event in with such loss.

If that guy did it, there is only one justice that is fitting.

[Darnell 8,479]

Coleen's right, ya know. Maybe she'll start packing a pistol, or a crossbow pistol?

[SuperDuper! 230]

SUch a sad event in with such loss.

If that guy did it, there is only one justice that is fitting.

Yea, like putting him in the general prison population, and not some special protected cell block. Let real justice take place there!

[scandal 951]

She lived in Naperville, a Chicago suburb, for about 10 years.

The local paper had local reports from schoolmates and neighbors who knew her here.

Sad story.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

How about we keep guys like this in jail and let out the non-violent drug offenders.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How about we keep guys like this in jail and let out the non-violent drug offenders.

Excellent idea.