San Diego
Mark Radke, 21, is set to be arraigned in San Diego Municipal Court today in the stabbing and beating death of Jeffrey Vance Rudiger, 16, a fellow employee at the Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater in Scripps Ranch.
Radke was arrested Wednesday at his Mira Mesa home on suspicion of murder in the Jan. 22 slaying of the Mira Mesa High School junior.
Police Lt. Phil Jarvis said evidence has been gathered linking Radke to the murder scene and Rudiger to Radke’s car. Rudiger’s body was found behind an office building; he had been beaten, stabbed and handcuffed.
Radke had been working at Chuck E. Cheese as a technician in the pizza restaurant’s video arcade. At the time of his death, Rudiger had given notice at the restaurant and taken a job in a hair-styling parlor.
Co-workers at Chuck E. Cheese described Radke as quiet and nonviolent. “There was no anger in the guy at all,” said one. “He was real quiet and mellow and kept to himself. He was a nice guy.”
Police offered no motive for the slaying.
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