That is entirely possible.The reporter says that his friends supported him at first and then he admitted attacking the 13 yo girl. The friend says that they were all hurt that he had lied to them and it was a betrayal to them.IMO "admitting" = pleading guilty
I haven't read/heard anything in which anyone says he told them directly that he did what he was charged with doing.
Often when people plea out they tell their friends that they didn't do it and they took a plea for such and such reason. As a matter of fact that is exactly what the relative said that they were told by the family and he believed it. What i am saying is that this is the first time I have ever heard reference to the fact that he may have actually told people he did it. No more no less. This is not to be confused with taking responsibility or anything else LOL.
I am not confusing taking responsibility for a crime and admitting to a crime. They are different animals entirely.To be clear, according to the psychiatrist he wouldn't take responsibility for it. It was all a misunderstanding, he was too affectionate, etc.
Pleading to deals is not same as admitting, taking responsibility, showing remorse, etc., all which he did not do, which is why psychiatrist rightly labelled him as continued high risk to young girls.
As for finding Amber's remains, I suspect that as soon as Gardner was arrested, all phone (including any cell tower pings still on hand) and financial records (purchases at convenience stores, etc.) were subpeonaed and areas that he was familiar with could be determined. Police pointedly stated that Gardner was not cooperating and terminology was lead, not tip, IIRC, which is consistent with internally developed evidence.
Also wording I saw was that police found the body. It would be extremely unusual for police to have been given a tip and someone led them to the body and not have any terminology in reports that hinted of it.
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I toally agree about the lead and have said as much.
The more interesting part of the interview was the fact the Gardner took his friends to secluded spots and was known for finding them. The point there was that perhaps someone remembered a recent spot and mentioned it to the police or any of your scenarios will work too. Any one of these things could have been a lead.
For the record, imo I think the lead came from something that was developed after he was linked to the King murder. perhaps it was something new and perhaps it was something old that had not been followed up on until gardner's name surfaced.