Arrest Made in Chelsea King Disappearance; Search for Teen Continues

17 year old Poway High School student Chelsea King was reported missing last Thursday when she did not return from school.  Her car was found parked near Rancho Bernardo/Lake Hodges where she often ran.  Searchers combed the area and lake Friday and Saturday to no avail.  Local investigators worked with San Diego police to determine whether her disappearance was connected to an assault reported by a woman last December in the same area.

An arrest was made Sunday afternoon after evidence was discovered that linked John Albert Gardner to Chelsea’s disappearance.  Gardner, a Lake Elsinore resident, is a registered sex offender with a conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years.  The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department did not reveal what the evidence was.  The search is still underway to find Chelsea and family and neighbors continue to hope for her return.

Chelsea is white, 5 feet 5 inches and 115 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

She is due to graduate from Poway High School this spring, and is a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony and a straight-A student, and has served as a peer counselor at the school.

Depuites asked anyone with information on the girl’s whereabouts to call the sheriff’s department at (858) 565-5200.