Peyer Makes Bond, Is Freed

California Highway Patrol Officer Craig Peyer, accused of murdering a San Diego State University student, posted $1 million bond and was released from County Jail Wednesday night, jail officials said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Roberts said Peyer was released at 9:20 p.m. His next court date is April 2. He is accused of strangling Cara Evelyn Knott on Dec. 27 near an isolated off-ramp of Interstate 15, then throwing her body off a bridge. He allegedly had pulled her car over while on patrol that night.

Peyer’s bail had been set at $500,000 but was raised to $1 million Jan. 27 by Municipal Court Judge Herbert J. Exarhos, who cited “substantial” new evidence in doubling the bail.

Peyer’s neighbors in Poway had organized a fund-raising drive to help him meet bail.

Lt. Roberts said that, because of the high amount of property that would have to be pledged to guarantee the bond, “I would assume that there are a lot of individuals involved in it.”

Peyer, 36, was arrested Jan. 15 and had been in jail since then.