John Albert Gardner III (born April 9, 1979) is an American convicted double murderer, rapist, and child molester.

Additionally, Gardner attempted to rape 22-year-old Candice Moncayo of San Diego County, and had been previously incarcerated for the molestation of a 13-year-old girl.

[17] King had disappeared on February 25, 2010, while she was jogging in the early evening at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park, near Lake Hodges.

[18] DNA evidence from King's clothing, along with a December 2009 attempted attack on a female jogger who managed to fight him off, led Escondido and San Diego police to patrol the area for a man fitting Gardner's description.

[19] On April 16, 2010, Gardner pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of both Dubois (who disappeared on February 13, 2009, and whose skeletal remains were found near the northern border of the Pala California Indian Reservation on March 6, 2010)[20] and King in 2010 after the prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.

In addition, Gardner also admitted and pleaded guilty to attempting to rape Candice Moncayo in December 2009, who was able to fight back and escape.

In their statements, they described the impact Gardner's crimes had on their lives and their determination to see to it that Chelsea's Law, which was introduced by Assemblymen Nathan Fletcher, was passed.

[23] As signed, Chelsea's Law mandates that some of the worst child molester offenders face lifetime prison sentences - a punishment previously reserved in California for murderers.