Official says killer of 2 Calif. teens told of other ‘assault-type’ crimes but no murders

Official: California killer told of other crimes

SAN DIEGO — A man who pleaded guilty to raping and murdering two teenage girls has admitted involvement in other “assault-type” crimes but did not implicate himself in additional killings, authorities said Monday.

John Albert Gardner III spoke with investigators for more than two hours after he was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the attacks on 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois, San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Brugos said.

“He didn’t shed a lot of light, but he did speak about other cases,” said Brugos, who declined to elaborate about victims or provide other details.

The remarks came during a news conference involving a number of San Diego County’s top law enforcement officials who had repeatedly refused to answer questions about the case since Gardner, 31, was arrested Feb. 28 in suburban Escondido.

Sheriff Bill Gore said the news conference was intended to fill in the blanks, but authorities revealed little new information about the case that sparked widespread calls to change the way California tracks and punishes child sex predators.