San Diego County authorities believe that a body found near the Lake Hodges shoreline was that of missing teen Chelsea King.

“It’s with great sadness this afternoon that we discovered shortly after one o’clock human remains,” says San Diego County sheriff Bill Gore on Tuesday afternoon. “There’s a strong likelihood that we have found Chelsea.”

Chelsea King was reported missing back in February when she disappeared after going for a run after school.

“The body was found in an area not far from where we had previously discovered a piece of evidence, a shoe,” continued Gore. He went on to explain that the body was found in a shallow grave, approximately 10 feet from the shoreline of Lake Hodges.

John Albert Gardner III was arrested last Sunday in relation to the case, under suspicion of rape and murder. Gardner will also be investigated in relation to the disappearance of 14-year-old Amber Dubois last year, as well as on the assault of a female jogger last December.

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