Community Corner

Parole Hearing for Craig Peyer Scheduled Wednesday

The former Poway resident was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Cara Knott in 1988.

Hearing Scheduled for Craig Peyer

A parole hearing is scheduled Wednesday for a former California Highway Officer convicted of strangling a 20-year-old San Diego State student during a 1986 traffic stop.

Craig Peyer, 61, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Cara Knott and was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. Wednesday marks the third time Peyer has asked the California Board of Parole Hearings to grant him a parole date.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If denied parole, Peyer would not be eligible again for anywhere from three to 15 years, authorities said.

According to authorities, Peyer, who lived in Poway at the time, followed Knott for 10 miles the night of Dec. 27, 1986, before pulling her over on Interstate 15 at the Mercy Road exit.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the traffic stop became long, personal and uncomfortable, Knott tried to escape and was strangled.

Peyer, then 36, moved the woman's body to a nearby bridge and threw her over it.

He became a suspect when several other young women reported bizarre behavior from a CHP officer who had pulled them over at the same exit and detained them for between 30 minutes and two hours.

Peyer's first trial ended in a hung jury. He was convicted in 1988 after a second trial.

Knott's mother, Joyce, as well as three siblings are expected to attend today's parole hearing for Peyer.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis also plans to attend.

Indoor Marijuana Farm Discovered

Authorities Wednesday investigated a sophisticated indoor marijuana farm discovered at a house in rural Valley Center by deputies responding to an allegation of animal abuse, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies went to the house in the vicinity of Key Creek Road about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to assist animal control officers who received a report of a dog being beaten, San Diego County sheriff's Lt. Hank Turner said in a statement.

While checking outside the house for a suspect in the dog beating case, deputies noticed marijuana plants inside, Turner said.

More than 100 plants, an indoor irrigation system, lighting and other equipment for cultivating marijuana was seized. The street value of the cannabis when fully mature is about $300,000 and the equipment cost about $20,000, Turner said.

Four people were detained pending further investigation, according to Turner.

There was no immediate report on the fate of the dog.

Tuesday was not the first time deputies were called to the house. There was a recent home invasion robbery at the same residence, Turner said.

USS Milius to Leave San Diego

The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius is scheduled to depart San Diego Wednesday for a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and Middle East.

About 280 enlisted personnel and officers will be aboard as it performs maritime security while on deployment, according to the Navy. The 505-foot vessel last deployed in 2010, when it guarded an Iraqi oil terminal.

"Milius expects to conduct maritime security and ballistic missile defense operations during the deployment," Cmdr. Nikki Bufkin, the ship's skipper, said before the destroyer put to sea. "As a multi-mission AEGIS (ballistic missile defense system) destroyer, Milius is prepared to execute a full range of missions in support of U.S., partner and coalition objectives."

The Milius is named for the late Capt. Paul Milius, a pilot who ordered his crew to bail out of a damaged aircraft over Laos in 1968. Milius was able to get out of the stricken airplane, but he was declared missing in action and his body was never found.

-City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here