( CNN ) -- Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil outside a San Diego , California , church in honor of a teenage girl missing since Thursday . The vigil was held just hours after authorities said they found human remains in an area where they had been searching for 17-year-old Chelsea King . `` There is strong likelihood that we have found Chelsea , '' San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said at a news conference . The remains were found in a shallow grave along the shoreline of a tributary south of a lake in Rancho Bernardo Community Park , authorities said . Searchers have been combing the edge of Lake Hodges for any clue into the disappearance of King , a cross-country runner who often ran along the park 's trails . The last reported sighting of the high school senior was at school Thursday , according to sheriff 's department spokeswoman Susan Plese . Her car , with her cell phone inside , was found at the park , Plese said . Police arrested 30-year-old John Albert Gardner III on Sunday in connection with the disappearance . Gardner is being held in the San Diego Central Jail on rape and first-degree murder charges , according to jail records available online Tuesday night . Gardner is due to appear in court later Wednesday . Follow local coverage on KGTV . Gore said the body was found in a heavily wooded area not visible from nearby homes . A shoe had been found earlier in the same area . He said King 's parents have been informed of the discovery . `` They were holding out hope as we all were that we would find Chelsea alive , '' he said . `` This is our worst fears that we would find her as we did today . '' At Tuesday night 's vigil , friends and family were expected to speak about King and play some of her favorite songs . Gore said he expected to have positive identification of the body by Wednesday . Gardner , a registered sex offender , is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday , according to San Diego County district attorney 's spokesman Steve Walker .
Hundreds gather for a candlelight vigil to honor teen girl missing since Thursday . Human remains found in shallow grave in park where Chelsea King was known to run . TL;DR John Albert Gardner III , 30 , is being held on rape and first-degree murder charges .