'The world has changed,' Poway official says as town mourns Chelsea King

The Poway City Council cut short its regular meeting Tuesday evening so that those present could attend a candlelight vigil for Chelsea King, whose body was believed to have been found in a shallow grave near the lakeside park where the teenager had gone running last week.

"Poway is a tiny town. We are 50,000 now. When things like that happen, it rocks the soul of the community," Councilmember Betty Rexford said Wednesday.

She said the community has been grappling for some time with the issues that come with urban growth.

"They call it a city in the country," Rexford said.

When she moved to Poway 40 years ago, there was only one traffic light, she said. Children could enjoy the lake and trails in relative safety. Now, she said, parents are wondering whether they should allow their children to go to the mall alone.

"The world has changed," said Rexford, who worries about her two teenage granddaughters. "It is kind of scary that as a society we have to be looking over our shoulders all the time."

But she said the community had rallied around King's family. Already a city with a strong volunteer tradition, she said thousands helped search for the 17-year-old Poway High School senior.

"It does your heart good that you have a community that, when something happens to their own, they come together," she said. "It was just an outpouring of love and support."

Authorities have linked the suspect in the case, John Albert Gardner III, a 30-year-old registered sex offender, to an attack in December on another young female jogger in the same park.

"I think right now people are numb," Rexford said. "They don't know what to do. But everyone is angry."

-- Alexandra Zavis

Photos: (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times / March 2, 2010) Top: An estimated 4,000 people gathered at St. Michael's Church in Poway on Tuesday for a vigil for Chelsea King. Brent King and his wife, Kelly, and their son thank a gathering of about 4,000 people at St. Michael's Church for their help and prayers.

Comments

[kaz]

Rest in peace, Angel. Society and the justice system failed you and I am very sorry for this tragedy and your family.

[gale]

This is so sad. I lost my little sister when she was 6 years old in 1962 to someone who had been released earlier than expected from child molestation charges. My parents never recovered. I pray that the Kings hold each other tight and surround themselves with good friends who understand. Unfortunately, I cannot type here what I would like to see done to John Albert Gardner III. He and Rodney Alcala belong in the same hell together.

[TheBigPicture]

What about this convicted child molester who is going back to prison for a very long time...I don't see people shedding tears for him...

Of course this young girl viciously lost her life, but this murderer has to go back to prison and live with other child molesters and murderers, well, until he shows the Parole Board remorse for his new crime, then he'll be out again...But until then, life probably won't be very happy for him...why the double standard...

When he gets out, he'll remain unemployed and he'll commit a large amount of petty crime and of course when he can't control his impulses, he'll savagely victimize some other unsuspecting person...

[Kiljoy616]

Society has not changed, its just that now we hear about what people have been doing for so long. Kids have been getting killed by sick demented adults since humans have been around, this article makes it sound like its something new.

Sure if the population is only 1000 people maybe your kids are safe but 50,000 is a lot of people and there is always going to be a few mental cases in a group of that size.

Better to train your kids to fight and carry a weapon and stop saying that its not safe any more. Its never been that safe or do people think back in the 1700 it was safe for young women?

[kaz]

TheBigPicture, I don't understand your point about "I don't see people shedding tears for him (the accused)". Why should we shed a tear for him? I hope he doesn't leave prison alive or at the very least, they should inject him and all other predators like him with estrogen or something to remove his testosterone. Basically, chemically neuter him and remove any and all sex drive.

[Chris B]

Wow not only am I saddened to hear her fate, I am also sad at the reply I read. No need for that here let the people mourn a young girl who walked into the hands of a heartless individual who had no sympathy for her. Your rant is unappreciated.

[nightqueen]

The world hasn't changed, men have victimized women for years and years.

[Scott]

It bothers me a whole lot everytime I hear or read about these innocent children having these things happen to them and the sad part of it is i don't think it has to be this way but over time all the bleeding hearts and scumbag lowlife attorney's who will do anything for a buck have fought to take real punishment out of society,I am sorry for the family's loss of this beautiful child and believe swift and harsh justice should be exacted on this individual with DNA and all it shouldn't take long to get to the bottom of the matter then the only thing that would remain is doing the right thing!

[Old Timer]

How ironic that this councilwoman, who the reporter fails to mention has been accused of abusing her office and is facing a recall, tries to use this tragedy to sound like she cares about her town. If she cared about anyone other than herself and her political future she would have resigned months ago when the rest of the Poway City Council voted unanimously to ask her to step down.

Typical two faced politician.