Original Article
09/13/2010
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Letter to the Editor
Surprisingly, last week I received a letter in my mailbox from
Chelsea King's and
Amber Dubois' killer,
John Gardner. I initially wrote him many months ago to ask him to explain how he morphed into a habitual killer.
In a California courtroom, Gardner admitted to killing King and Dubois after he sexually assaulted them. He is now back in prison where he rightfully belongs. But in his letter he talks about how as a Registered Sex Offender,
he tried to get help from a multitude of organizations. He states, "
When my life started to fall apart I tried to find help, drug treatment, AA/NA, Welfare, County Mental Health. When they found out my history (which is required information), they turned me away or didn't try to help."
As most sex offenders will tell you, being on a public registry is one of the most humiliating things that one can endure in his/her life. It is wrong to abuse anyone against their will, but so many offenders on the registry had consensual sex; were in possession of child pornography; or for other non-aggravated crimes. Of course this wasn't the case with Gardner. He also mentions that he had a mental disorder: "
I don't even know exactly which things [contributed to my killing spree] but a combination of many bad things happening to me mixed with my bi-polar depression set me off in a go out with a bang attitude (like suicide). But since I felt like my life was over I just did whatever I wanted which unfortunately was to hurt someone else as much as I hurt."
Briefly he mentioned being assigned to a new parole officer and "
all went to hell" for him. His first two years on parole were met with minor violations. But it appears from the letter that the parole officer played a detrimental part in Gardner's struggle to successfully move forward with his life.
A few times that he states he didn't want to disclose too much because of a book that was coming out to be released by author,
Caitlin Rother. But he further mentioned that he was interviewed by CBS 8 out of San Diego, CA. In the interview Gardner is quoted as saying, "
I had public defenders in that little box that they always put me in, and when they came after court -- because you have to plead not guilty for some reason to everything before you can even plead guilty, I guess -- I was telling them I just want to plead guilty and want everyone to know how bad that I felt," Gardner said.
It is evident, from Gardner's point of view, that he was trying to get help that was never provided. Many sex offenders are excluded not only from jobs but also from stable housing, tax-funded programs and facilities.
No one enjoys being humiliated or ostracized from their peers. As humans we are social creatures and despite our emotional disgust with sex offenders, we need to treat them with dignity, support, and treatment.
King and Dubois could possibly be alive today had Gardner received comprehensive support and assistance along with forgiveness at the time when he was crying out for help.
