San Diego says goodbye to 14-year-old Amber Dubois

San Diego residents once again had to say goodbye to another teenager in less than a week. Tonight Escondido residents, friends and family attended a vigil for slain teenager Amber Dubois at Escondido High School.


Hundreds of tearful students stood in the school quad holding candles and listening to a handful of speakers offer kind words in order to provide some closure in the 13-month saga.


Well-wishers described Amber as a nice and quiet girl who always helped classmates and had an infinite amount of love for animals – especially endangered species. Students remembered her stunning blue eyes and said pictures never did her eyes justice.


Escondido High School Principal, Rich Watkins said the students would wear certain colors each day the rest of the week to honor Amber and Chelsea King (Poway High School, senior who was murdered last week).


“Tomorrow the students will wear red,” Watkins said. “The students will also have a message for police.” The student body will wear orange on Wednesday, green on Thursday and will finish the school week with black.
The school motto “loyal, strong and true” displayed yet another community that wrapped its arms around a young girl, whose life was taken much to soon.


Escondido Chief of Police, Jim Maher, also spoke to the mourners. “You can’t get complete closure, but these events help. The Escondido Police Department is working with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the FBI to bring closure to the case and justice for Amber.”


Finally, Amber’s father, Maurice Dubois spoke to the vigil attendees. “We have a moment in life to change a child’s life.” And although Amber is gone, law enforcement asked the Dubois family to let them conduct their thorough investigation.


According to a statement released by Escondido police Lt. Craig Carter, the convicted sex offender charged with the slaying of King remains the focus of the investigation into the slaying of Escondido teenager Amber.
Amber’s skeletal remains were located on Saturday in a rural part of the north county community of Pala. Crews are working around the clock to uncover any evidence to tie Gardner or find the DNA needed to find Amber’s killer.


Amber’s father said this would be the last time the family would speak publically until they have gone through the grieving process and in the not-so-distant future the Dubois and King families would unite to focus on getting tougher sexual-predator laws on the books.


The King family released a statement on Chelsea’s Light facebook page; “We have spoken with the Dubois family and our hearts go out to them in this time of deep sadness. We share their indescribable grief for the loss of Amber’s precious young life.”


Thousands of comments have been made on the social website page. “My husband and I grew up in Poway we are so sorry to hear of your tragic loss. We have been following the story closely. My husband, Charley Hoffman and PGA Tour Player will be wearing an orange ribbon in Chelsea's honor this week at the Puerto Rico Open. He is asking follow golfers to support Chelsea's Light as well by wearing a ribbon. Even some of his follow golfers playing at Doral this week have agreed to show their support,” Stacy Vasil Hoffman’s message read.


For Amber Dubois website; http://www.bringhomeamber.com/


For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner