Bail Lowered for Suspect in Slaying of Mira Mesa Student

Bail was reduced Tuesday to $300,000 from $500,000 for Mark Radke, who is accused of murder in the Jan. 21 slaying of a Mira Mesa High School student.

The ruling by San Diego Superior Court Judge Wayne Peterson brought tears to some members of the family of the victim, 16-year-old Jeffrey Rudiger. Radke’s parents were also in the courtroom.

A bailiff was forced to separate the two families after the session when a member of Rudiger’s family approached Radke’s parents and angry words were exchanged.

Peterson set the start of the trial for Aug. 15. Radke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The body of Rudiger, a popular student at Mira Mesa High, was found handcuffed and partly dressed.

“The case is a circumstantial evidence case without a motive,” said Radke’s attorney, Douglas Brown.

Brown had requested that bail be reduced to $100,000, and mentioned as a comparison the $60,000 bail set for Pablo Agrio, a San Diego police officer charged with killing his wife, and the $250,000 bail set for former California Highway Patrol Officer Craig Peyer, accused of killing a young woman.

Brown said Radke, if released, would live with his parents in Mira Mesa. He said Radke had no history of violence and no record.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Lamborn asked that bail stay at $500,000. He said Radke had “an explosive” character trait and is a danger to the community.

Lamborn said the victim was hit 26 times with a blunt object, probably a hammer, and cut with several knives. His body was found Jan. 22 in an alley in Scripps Ranch.