Sheriff’s official says killer of 2 California teens tells of ‘assault-type’ crimes

Official: Calif teens’ killer tells of more crimes

SAN DIEGO — San Diego County authorities say a sex offender who raped and killed two teenage girls has told investigators about his involvement in other crimes.

Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Burgos said Monday that John Albert Gardner III spoke with investigators on Friday after being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Burgos says Gardner implicated himself in “assault-type” crimes but not any additional murders.

The information was revealed during a news conference by law enforcement officials who investigated the slayings of 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The mother of a teenage girl slain in California says the killer told her he trapped the 14-year-old on a fenced street and forced her into his car.

Carrie McGonigle, appearing Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” says John Gardner told her in a jailhouse meeting how he kidnapped her daughter Amber Dubois as she walked to school last year in San Diego County.

Authorities were scheduled to discuss the case at a Monday news conference.

McGonigle says Amber took a different route that day, and the Escondido street was fenced on both sides.

Gardner was sentenced to life in prison last week for the deaths of Dubois and 17-year-old Chelsea King.