Community Corner

Gardner: 'I'm the Most Dangerous Type of Sexual Predator'

In an interview with CBS, the convicted murderer of Amber Dubois and Chelsea King says he would kill again.

(Editor's Note: Though Chelsea King, Amber Dubois or John Gardner did not live in the Mount Helix Patch coverage area, this story affected people all over San Diego.)

John Gardner III admitted he would kill again in an exclusive interview with CBS' 48 Hours Mystery Saturday night. 

Gardner pleaded guilty to killing Amber Dubois, 14, of Escondido in February 2009 and Chelsea King, 17, of Poway in February 2010. He was sentenced in May to two life terms without parole. He also was sentenced to an additional 33 years to life in prison for assaulting Candice Moncayo near Lake Hodges in December 2009. Moncayo, a college student, was able to escape Gardner.

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At the time of his arrest, Gardner, then 30, was a convicted sex offender on parole with a 10-year criminal record. He had recently spent six years in prison for beating and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

"I'm the most dangerous type of sexual predator. I will kill. I know I will," said Gardner, now 31,  who is serving his sentences at Corcoran State Prison. "I am the type that needs to be locked up forever."

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The CBS episode followed the story of Dubois' disappearance and the efforts to find her. It also included an interview with her murderer.

Gardner said that he has been violent since he was a child. Throughout his life, he said he has taken 16 to 20 different medications—medications that are usually prescribed to control severe psychiatric disorders.

"I've done things to my family members that hurt them. I've hit people. I've beaten people. I've done a lot of things that I regret in my life and that I wish I could take back, but I still do the same things over and over again," he said. "I'm on meds right now, and you can see the anger in my eyes just trying to talk."

During the interview, Gardner explained how he abducted and murdered Dubois. According to Gardner, he was driving in the neighborhood at about 7 a.m. when he spotted her walking down an empty side street. He threatened her with a visible knife and also said he had a gun to get Dubois in his car.

"She actually looked at me in kind of shock and disbelief and asked me if I was kidding," Gardner said.

He drove Dubois to a remote area in Pala. Gardner explained that he turned the music on during the 40-minute ride to the Native American reservation because Dubois "wanted to hear music so she could pretend she wasn't there."

Gardner said the memories of his victims are like "torture."

"I'm going to torture myself more with the memories that I have and how much I beat myself up about it than death itself. And I'll probably—it's either going to be that or I end up killing myself, one of the two," Gardner said. "I can't stand to be confined. I'm like an animal. Just like they said. I'm an animal."

Gardner also said he regrets his actions. San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis doesn't believe him.

"I don't think any sociopath is capable of remorse," said Dumanis during the one-hour program.

In fact, Dumanis believes the tears he shed during his trial were an act. She said "the true Gardner came out" when Moncayo gave her statement during his trial.

The jogger was able to escape Gardner by punching him in the nose. Rage flashed across Gardner's face when she asked "How's your nose?" during her statement. He then appeared to say "she didn't hit me" to one of his attorneys.

Despite the chilling words of the convicted murderer and the heart-wrenching interviews with Dubois' parents, the CBS program ended on an uplifting note. Today, Dubois' mother is trying to concentrate on raising her 7-year-old daughter.

"I'll never forget, you know," said Carrie McGonigle. "I'm taking things slow, you know, enjoying time with Allison, Amber's little sister. ... We can only go one day at a time."


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