Sex Offender Arrested in Chelsea King Case

registered California sex offender has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl who vanished last week and is still missing. Police arrested John Albert Gardner III in connection with the disappearance of Chelsea King.
Police said physical evidence led them to arrest Gardner three days after the teen vanished.

King, of Poway, disappeared from Rancho Bernardo Community Park on Thursday, Feb. 25. Volunteers are continuing to search the park area and nearby Lake Hodges. The focus of the search for King has been focused on the park area.

Gardner (left) was arrested on a city street in Escondido on Sunday. Investigators said he was being questioned about the King disappearance, but he is also a suspect in the Dec. 27 disappearance of a jogger in the same park. He is also a suspect, police said, in the disappearance of 14-year-old Amber Dubois who vanished while walking to Escondido High School in 2009.

As of late Sunday, no charges had been filed against Gardner.

"This investigation is ongoing and specific criminal charges are still being determined," Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters.

Brent and Kelly, Chelsea's parents, reported her missing after she failed to return from a jog in the park. Her car was found in the park parking lot. Her cell phone was found inside the car, police reports said.