BREAKING NEWS: Arrest Made in Jon Benet Ramsey Case

[Julius]

Press Release: JonBenet Ramsey Homicide



Mary Lacy, Boulder District Attorney confirms that there has been an arrest in Bangkok, Thailand for the December 26, 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey. The suspect was arrested on August 16, 2006 following several months of a focused and complex investigation. John and Patsy Ramsey both were consulted during the course of the investigation. The Ramsey family has been notified of the arrest.

The District Attorney’s Office has scheduled a news conference at 10 am MDT Thursday, August 17, 2006 at the Justice Center, 6th and Canyon Blvd., Boulder, Colorado. The location of the news conference will be outdoors in the southwest corner of the public parking lot across the street from the Justice Center. Parking at the site is limited and members of the media are encouraged to prioritize the vehicles at this location.

In order to disseminate information that may be ethically released and handle inquiries from the media, we are providing a media request number: 303-441-3842. Information will be disseminated on a regular basis by means of a listserv. If you would like to receive press releases, please sign up at the bottom of the Boulder District Attorney's home page at www.co.boulder.co.us/da . No additional interviews will be provided. We will provide the public with accurate information as early as possible under our legal and ethical restrictions
. Text of a statement from John Ramsey, the father of JonBenet Ramsey, released Wednesday after authorities confirmed the arrest of a suspect in the girl's slaying:

"I want to have only very limited comment on today's arrest because I feel it is extremely important to not only let the justice system operate to its conclusion in an orderly manner, but also to avoid feeding the type of media speculation that my wife and I were subjected to for so many years.

"I do want to say, however, that the investigation of the individual arrested today in connection with JonBenet's death was discussed with Patsy and me by the Boulder district attorney's office prior to Patsy's death in June. So Patsy was aware that authorities were close to making an arrest in the case and had she lived to see this day, would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for the efforts of Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacy and the members of her investigative team." Thoughts on this big news?

[80sTrivia]

Wow... after ten years, I never thought an arrest would be made in JonBenet's death... sad to think her mother died before hearing the news and that JonBenet would be sixteen-years-old had she lived...

[Brent88]

Hi.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=180586

:p

[James"Thunder"Early]

Well, thank god this finally happened, it's a good thing it won't go unsolved.

[Central Perk]

It's good that it appears someone has been caught in the case. However, I don't like how its already taken up so much time on the news channels. There are far more important stories to dedicate more time toward.

[bossradio93]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/jonbenet_ramsey (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/jonbenet_ramsey)

Suspect arrested in JonBenet Ramsey case

By CATHERINE TSAI, Associated Press Writer

5 minutes ago

BOULDER, Colo. - A former schoolteacher was arrested Wednesday in Thailand in the slaying of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey — a surprise breakthrough in a lurid, decade-old murder mystery that had cast a cloud of suspicion over her own parents.

Federal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the suspect as John Mark Karr, a 42-year-old American, and one law enforcement official told The Associated Press that Boulder police had tracked him down online.

The Ramsey family's attorney in Atlanta pronounced the arrest vindication for JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey. Patsy Ramsey died of ovarian cancer on June 24.

"John and Patsy lived their lives knowing they were innocent, trying to raise a son despite the furor around them," Lin Wood said. "The story of this family is a story of courage, and story of an American injustice and tragedy that ultimately people will have to look back on and hopefully learn from."

The attorney said the Ramseys learned about the suspect a least a month before Patsy Ramsey's death. "It's been a very long 10 years, and I'm just sorry Patsy isn't here for me to hug her neck," Wood said.

Karr was a teacher who once lived in Conyers, Ga., according to Wood. The attorney said the Ramseys gave police information about Karr before he was identified as a suspect.

Wood would not say how the Ramseys knew Karr. But JonBenet was born in Atlanta in 1990, and the Ramseys lived in the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody for several years before moving to Colorado in 1991.

A source close to the investigation said Karr confessed to elements of the crime. Also, a law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Karr had been communicating periodically with somebody in Boulder who had been following the case and cooperating with law enforcement officials.

District Attorney Mary Lacy said the arrest followed several months of work, but she said no details would be released until Thursday.

Karr was being held in Bangkok on unrelated sex charges, authorities said. CBS reported he will be brought back to the United States this weekend.

JonBenet was found beaten and strangled in the basement of the family's home in Boulder on Dec. 26, 1996. Patsy Ramsey reported finding a ransom note in the house demanding $118,000 for her daughter.

The image of blonde-haired little JonBenet in a cowgirl costume and other beauty pageant outfits has haunted TV talk shows ever since, helping feed myriad theories about her killer, and the case became one of the most sensational unsolved murder cases in the nation.

Over the years, some experts suggested that investigators had botched the case so thoroughly that it might never be solved.

Investigators at one point said JonBenet's parents were under an "umbrella of suspicion" in the slaying. And some news accounts cast suspicion on JonBenet's older brother. But the Ramseys insisted an intruder killed their daughter, and no one was ever charged.

In the months after the slaying, Patsy Ramsey went before the cameras, vigorously defending herself and her husband, chastising the media and blasting local law enforcement as incompetent.

In a statement Wednesday, John Ramsey said: "Patsy was aware that authorities were close to making an arrest in the case, and had she lived to see this day, would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder."

The Ramseys moved back to Atlanta after their daughter's slaying.

Wood lashed out at the frenzy that long surrounded the case, and he accused the media of "the most obscene false accusations." "I think the public's mind was so poisoned against this family that no one was able for too many years to look at the evidence," he said.

Patsy Ramsey's sister, Pam Paugh, of Roswell, Ga., said the family was celebrating the news of the arrest. "We are elated. We are elated. If this is, in fact, the killer, then we have a very heinous killer off the streets to never harm another child," Paugh said.

Lib Waters of Marietta, Ga., visited the gravesites of Patsy and JonBenet Ramsey in the Atlanta suburb immediately after hearing news reports about the arrest.

Waters, who described herself as a longtime friend of the Ramsey family, taped a piece of notebook paper to JonBenet Ramsey's headstone that read: "Dearest Patsy, Justice has come for you and Jon. Rest in peace."

In 2003, a federal judge in Atlanta concluded that the evidence she reviewed suggested an intruder killed JonBenet. That opinion came with the judge's decision to dismiss a libel and slander lawsuit against the Ramseys by a freelance journalist, whom the Ramseys had named as a suspect in their daughter's murder. The Boulder district attorney at the time said she agreed with the judge's declaration.

"Today is additional vindication of the family," Wood said.

Wood said he and the Ramseys "have been totally amazed and impressed with the professionalism of law enforcement" under Lacy's direction. Lacy became district attorney in 2001.

Author Lawrence Schiller, who wrote the 1999 book "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" about the case, said Wednesday he understood the man had been on a list of sexual offenders who were suspects for a long time.

"There are a lot of facts about her actual death that the public does not know." Schiller said. "If he did confess to some facts of the murder, to reveal those facts of the case, that would finish the puzzle."

Among the facts he said were not generally known was the murder weapon and what the killer did with it.

Bob Grant, a former Adams County district attorney who worked on the case, said there was never enough evidence to convince him that any potential suspect could be successfully prosecuted.

"I wasn't convinced it was an inside job, nor was I convinced it was an outside job," he said. "All the outside suspects were cleared after exhaustive investigation, and there were a whole lot of outside suspects."

___

Associated Press Writers Suzanne Gamboa and Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington contributed to this report.

Yahoo! News/AP-August 16, 2006

[Stuck In The '70's]

It's good that it appears someone has been caught in the case. However, I don't like how its already taken up so much time on the news channels. There are far more important stories to dedicate more time toward.
Considering how the media went after the Ramsey's for years over this, I think it's the least they can do.

[Central Perk]

Considering how the media went after the Ramsey's for years over this, I think it's the least they can do.

It really isn't fair how the media targeted the Ramsey family with little to no evidence even attacking their son. However, I think the media gets way too caught up in these salacious stories and should focus on more important events. Give it some time, but don't bring out analyst, pundits, and the kitchen sink and devote constant coverage to it.

[Lamont]

perhaps this will serve as a lesson to us not to be so quick to judge
the ramseys had their lives ruined by the cloud of suspicion

[Ireneparalegal]

perhaps this will serve as a lesson to us not to be so quick to judge
the ramseys had their lives ruined by the cloud of suspicion
Thank you. They were hounded and made to feel like murderers and yet, they held their heads up high and didn't allow anyone to break them down. I wonder how much of this played a part in Patty Ramsey's condition which eventually killed her? The stress? That alone can do a whole lot of damage.

[PrettyinPink55]

I'm so glad this case has been resolved and that justice is being served!

[Janice]

I never ever believed, for a second, that the Ramsey's had anything to do with their daughter's murder.

[Janice]

Considering how the media went after the Ramsey's for years over this, I think it's the least they can do.
Excellent point.

[Karen*]

Wow. I hope justice is served.

[Buffyboy323]

Wow! This is great news. So is it offcial? Is this THE guy? Any statement as to why he would do something like that?

I didn't even know her mom died. I thought it was just a horrible rumor, since I do remember seeing it on the cover of the Enquiror or something like that. Sad, really.

Alot of people in my family believed it was the parents who killed her, for money. They even got me to agree for a short while.

And it's a real shame that Patsy Ramsey won't get to see her daughter's killer brougt to justice. :(

[Superstar]

I hope he is the killer, and he'll be locked up for a long time.

[80sTrivia]

Perhaps this will serve as a lesson to us not to be so quick to judge
the Ramseys had their lives ruined by the cloud of suspicion.

This is so very, very true...

[Penny Lane]

It was an accident! He didn't mean to kill her! He's so sorry.puke:

[Janice]

Suspect in JonBenet Case 'So Very Sorry'

Calls Death of Child Beauty Queen an 'Accident'


BANGKOK, Thailand (Aug. 17) - A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old's death "an accident," a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case. "I am so very sorry for what happened to JonBenet," he told The Associated Press.
John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told a news conference in Bangkok.
"I was with JonBenet when she died," Karr told reporters afterward, visibly nervous and stuttering as he spoke. "Her death was an accident."
Asked if he was innocent of the crime, Karr said: "No."
Later, as he was escorted to his guesthouse to pick up his belongings, he told the AP: "I am so very sorry for what happened to JonBenet. It's very important for me that everyone knows that I love her very much, that her death was unintentional, that it was an accident."
Asked what happened when JonBenet died, he said: "It would take several hours to describe that. It's a very involved series of events that would involve a lot of time. It's very painful for me to talk about it."
Karr also told the AP he contacted JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, before her death in June and that he wrote her letters about "many things." He said he hoped that she received the letters.
Karr confessed to the killing after his arrest Wednesday at his downtown Bangkok guesthouse by Thai and American authorities, said Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsiskul, head of Thailand's immigration police.
He said Karr insisted his crime was not first-degree murder but that JonBenet died during a kidnapping attempt that went awry.
"He said it was second-degree murder. He said it was unintentional," Suwat said.
"He said he loved this child, that he was in love her. He said she was very pretty, a pageant queen. She was the school star, she was very cute and sweet," Suwat said.
Karr declined to say what his connection was to the Ramsey family. Dressed in a turquoise polo shirt and khaki trousers, he appeared ashen with an expressionless look on his face.
An attorney for the Ramsey family said Wednesday that Karr once lived near the family in Conyers, Ga.
JonBenet was found beaten and strangled in the basement of the family's home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996.
But a Petaluma, Calif., woman who said she was Karr's ex-wife told KGO-TV in San Francisco that she was with him in Alabama at the time of JonBenet's death. Lara Karr said her ex-husband spent a lot of time reading up on the cases of Ramsey and Polly Klaas, who was abducted from her Petaluma home and slain in 1993.Wednesday's arrest was a surprise development in one of America's most lurid murder cases, which had left a cloud of suspicion over her family after years went by with no arrests. Some feared the case would never be solved.
Striking video images of the blonde-haired girl in child beauty pageants helped propel the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States.
A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Karr had been communicating periodically with somebody in Boulder who had been following the case and cooperating with law enforcement officials.
A University of Colorado spokesman, Barrie Hartman, said journalism professor Michael Tracey communicated with Karr over several months and contacted police. The university spokesman said he didn't know what prompted Tracey to become suspicious of Karr.
Tracey produced a documentary in 2004 called "Who Killed JonBenet?" A woman who answered the phone at a number under his name said he didn't live there anymore; his office phone mailbox was full.
DNA was found beneath JonBenet's fingernails and inside her underwear, but Lin Wood, the family's longtime attorney, said two years ago that detectives were unable to match it to anyone in an FBI database. It was not known whether investigators had any DNA evidence against Karr.
The Ramseys learned that police were investigating Karr at least a month before Patsy Ramsey's death in June of ovarian cancer, the family said.
In a statement Wednesday, father John Ramsey said that if his wife had lived to see Karr's arrest, she "would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder."
Suwat quoted Karr as saying he tried to kidnap JonBenet for a $118,000 ransom but that his plan went awry and he strangled her. Patsy Ramsey reported finding a ransom note in the house demanding $118,000 for her daughter.
Investigators said at one point that JonBenet's parents were under an "umbrella of suspicion" in the slaying, and some news accounts cast suspicion on JonBenet's older brother, Burke. But the Ramseys insisted an intruder killed their daughter, and no one was ever charged.
Over the years, some experts suggested that investigators had botched the case so thoroughly that it might never be solved. The Ramseys moved back to Atlanta after their daughter's slaying.
"It's been a very long 10 years, and I'm just sorry Patsy isn't here for me to hug her neck," said Wood, the family attorney.
"John and Patsy lived their lives knowing they were innocent, trying to raise a son despite the furor around them," Wood told MSNBC.
Suwat said U.S. authorities informed Thai police on Aug. 11 that an arrest warrant had been issued for Karr on charges of premeditated murder. The warrant was sent to Thai police on Wednesday.
"Through investigation we were able to determine where his residence was and the Thais arrested him," Hurst said. "He did not resist. He did express surprise."
Hurst said Karr has been "very cooperative" with authorities and that he's shown a "variety of emotions."
Suwat said Karr arrived in Bangkok on June 6 from Malaysia to look for a teaching job. It was not clear whether he had gotten a job, the police officer said.
Karr's visa has been revoked as an "undesirable person" given the accusations against him, and U.S. authorities were expected to take him to the United States in the next few days, Suwat said.
Hurst, with the department's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok, said that Karr had left the United States several years ago and had not returned.
The immigration and customs office had assisted the Boulder County District Attorney's Office and the Royal Thai Police in the investigation.
The suspect, who has been in Thailand five times over the past two years, was being detained by immigration police pending arrival of U.S. officials, Suwat said.
When asked how he could travel for so many years in Asia, and whether he was independently wealthy, Hurst responded, "We're asking the same questions."
Police said Karr had been living in a dormitory-style guesthouse called The Blooms in a neighborhood of massage parlors and travel agents that cater to expatriate residents and sex tourists. The nine-story hotel offers rooms for as short as three-hour rentals.
The district attorney in Boulder, Mary Lacy, said the arrest followed several months of work.
She said Karr, who had traveled extensively across the world, may also be connected to a prior case in Santa Rosa County, Calif. She did not provide further details.
Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse confirmed the child pornography charges and arrest warrant against a John Mark Karr, though she cautioned that she didn't know if he was the same person held Bangkok. State records show Karr lost his teaching credential in 2002.

[sweetdiggity]

It was an accident! He didn't mean to kill her! He's so sorry.puke:

puke:
Accident my ass! :mad:
I hope that pervert gets what he deserves in prison!

[Janice]

Here's me, over three years ago, stating that I believe that the Ramseys are innocent. :wave:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61062&highlight=ramsey

[Chocoholic]

"He said he loved this child, that he was in love her. He said she was very pretty, a pageant queen. She was the school star, she was very cute and sweet," Suwat said.


I have always believed that some sicko who saw her at one of her beauty pageants was responsible for her death. I'm glad they finally found this creep. God bless JonBenet.

[Central Perk]

But a Petaluma, Calif., woman who said she was Karr's ex-wife told KGO-TV in San Francisco that she was with him in Alabama at the time of JonBenet's death. Lara Karr said her ex-husband spent a lot of time reading up on the cases of Ramsey and Polly Klaas, who was abducted from her Petaluma home and slain in 1993.

This is troubling news. Hopefully, it isn't true.

[Janice]

Greta Van Susteran had the alleged killer's brother on the phone last night, and he was saying his brother was probably with them when the crime was committed. First the brother said he was close with his brother, then said he didn't know he was split with his wife. He didn't know he was in Thailand.

Luckily they have DNA from JonBonet. I think and hope it matches this guy's. For now, I'm taking him at his word.

[Brent88]

This guy is wacked... I hope the DNA ties him to it, otherwise I could see the case being like O.J.

[sweetdiggity]

PETALUMA, California (AP) -- John Mark Karr displayed a deep fascination with JonBenet Ramsey for years before he was arrested in her death on Thursday in Thailand.

Karr, who told reporters Thursday that he was "with JonBenet when she died" but that "her death was an accident," began teaching children in Georgia and Alabama before he became a substitute in Petaluma, a wine country town where he lived until 2001 with his wife and three sons.

The Denver Post reported that Karr, 41, had faced child pornography charges. His father, Wexford Karr of Atlanta, told the newspaper his son had told him he was behind bars in connection with the Ramsey case.

Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse confirmed the pornography charges and an outstanding arrest warrant against a John M. Karr, though she said she didn't know if he was the same person held in JonBenet's 1996 death in the child's Colorado home.

Lara Karr of Petaluma, who divorced Karr in 2001, told KGO-TV in San Francisco that he often spent time reading up on the cases of Ramsey and Petaluma resident Polly Klaas, who was abducted and slain in 1993.

His father told The Denver Post that while Karr was in college as an adult, a professor encouraged him to write a book about the Ramsey case after being impressed with a school paper.

"He researched everything he could about her," Wexford Karr said.John Karr spoke with JonBenet's grandparents, but the Ramseys refused an interview, Wexford Karr said.

He said he feared his son may have been dead before hearing about the arrest in Thailand because he hadn't heard from him in several years.

John Karr declined Thursday to say what his connection was to the Ramsey family.

An attorney for the Ramseys said Karr once lived near the family in Conyers, Georgia, but the Ramseys moved to Colorado when JonBenet was a baby.

The head of Thailand's immigration police, Gen. Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, quoted Karr as saying that he tried to kidnap JonBenet for $118,000 ransom but that the plan went awry and he strangled her. "He said he was in love with the child, she was a pageant queen," Suwat said.

Two resumes posted online with Karr's name and picture offered possible clues to his whereabouts after he left California.

Starting in 2001, one resume said, Karr was a private teacher and caregiver in Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Costa Rica and Honduras, almost always working with young children. The other resume was less detailed.

The longer resume said that in Germany he cared for two girls, ages 5 and 8, and a boy, 10, getting them ready for school and helping with homework.

"At days end, I made sure the children had their evening bath, then put them to bed and read to them before they went to sleep," the resume said.

From 2004-05, the resume said, he worked as a second-grade teacher in Honduras.

The authenticity of the resumes could not be confirmed. An English institute removed the shorter resume from its Web site Thursday in response to a reporter's query, citing concerns about bad publicity. A call to the administrator of the site with the longer resume was not immediately returned Thursday.

Karr, a short, thin blond with a Southern accent, had a valid California teaching credential and passed the background check that included submitting his fingerprints to the Department of Justice to make sure he had no criminal record, Sonoma County school officials said.

But his desire to teach didn't translate into ability, according to one administrator.

Bob Raines, superintendent and principal at Wilson Elementary School outside Petaluma, twice hired Karr as a substitute in second- and fourth-grade classes in 2001. After observing him, Raines said he concluded Karr hadn't been trained, had poor skills keeping classes focused and was ineffective.

"He just seemed like somebody who thought he wanted to be a teacher," Raines said. "After a few days, I could see it just wasn't for him."

He instructed his secretary not to call Karr again unless they were desperate.

A couple months later, Sonoma sheriff's officials sent a letter to school officials saying Karr had been arrested, said Carl Wong, the Sonoma County superintendent of schools.

John and Lara Karr's former Petaluma neighbor, Sylvia Ross, said she occasionally asked him over to her house to fix her computer.

"Personality-wise, I think there was a little kink that I saw," said Ross, a retired schoolteacher and real estate agent. He was "too friendly, too talkative, too inquisitive."

A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that while overseas Karr had been communicating periodically with somebody in Boulder who was cooperating with law enforcement officials.

A spokesman for the University of Colorado, Barrie Hartman, confirmed that journalism professor Michael Tracey, communicated with Karr over several months and contacted police.

2006 The Associated Press.

[Superstar]

He's sorry? That freak says he's "so sorry" and thats supposed to make things better? If he really was sorry, he would have confessed 10 years ago. I hope that asswipe dies in a prison cell.

[Penny Lane]

puke:
Accident my ass! :mad:
I hope that pervert gets what he deserves in prison!


He never meant to kill her. He just wanted to beat and rape her. What's so bad about that?:crazy:

[Ireneparalegal]

This is troubling news. Hopefully, it isn't true.
I'm worried too. I mean, how many sickos out there say they committed a crime but THEY NEVER DID...they just want the acknowledgement? I don't know, I just hope the cops aren't just arresting someone "JUST TO ARREST SOMEONE" and make it look good for themselves. This better not be the case or all hell is going to break loose.:mad:

[Central Perk]

His father told The Denver Post that while Karr was in college as an adult, a professor encouraged him to write a book about the Ramsey case after being impressed with a school paper.

"He researched everything he could about her," Wexford Karr said.


This statement and the statement before that he was with his family in Alabama during the time of the muder are making me skeptical. Maybe he's just a looney who wanted to get out of Thailand and get 15 minutes of fame, I don't really know. I really hope he is the murderer so this case can be closed once and for all.

[Stuck In The '70's]

If he was in Alabama at the time, it should be easy to prove. It was Christmas after all. You would think the investigators would have checked it all out.And nobody knows what they have on him besides the confession. I'm sure it's a lot more.

[Brad Russ]

Look what they did to the poor Ramsey family for years, basically condemning them, and accusing them of murdering their child on little, or no evidence. Look how all the late night talk shows made fun of them, and belittled them for years and years. Now they find out that it had absolutely nothing to do with them, and poor Patsy, who suffered for years not only because of the loss of her daughter, but with cancer, and with being called a murderer, never even got the chance to see the real killer be revealed. The news media and everyone else who made the poor Ramsey's out to be the killers, should be absolutely ashamed of themselves!!! As someone already mentioned, I hope Patsy Ramsey is looking down from Heaven with Jon Benet right now, and seeing the truth FINALLY come out.

[Brent88]

If he was in Alabama at the time, it should be easy to prove. It was Christmas after all. You would think the investigators would have checked it all out.And nobody knows what they have on him besides the confession. I'm sure it's a lot more.

Hopefully. I want this guy to be the guy so the family can have justice, I just am not convinced right now. The DNA should tell us a lot...

[Ireneparalegal]

This statement and the statement before that he was with his family in Alabama during the time of the muder are making me skeptical. Maybe he's just a looney who wanted to get out of Thailand and get 15 minutes of fame, I don't really know. I really hope he is the murderer so this case can be closed once and for all.
That is my big worry. I agree with you.

As far as Patsy, she was told abt two months before she died that this man was being looked into and it looked promising, so Patsy had knowledge before her death of this man. So sad she couldn't be here to see him actually get arrested. I just hope the police aren't goofing it up again.

[sweetdiggity]

Confession in JonBenet Case Questioned
By CATHERINE TSAI
2 hours ago

BOULDER, Colo. - For a moment, it seemed the decade-old mystery surrounding the slaying of a child beauty queen had been solved. But authorities Thursday cautioned against rushing to judge the schoolteacher who made a stunning confession that he killed JonBenet Ramsey.

For now, the only public evidence against John Mark Karr are his own words. And questions have already been raised about the details of his story, including whether he drugged the girl, sexually assaulted her or was even in Colorado at the time of the slaying.

Those questions led some to wonder whether Karr was the answer to the long-unsolved slaying or a disturbed wannabe trying to insert himself into a high-profile case.

"We should all heed the poignant advice of John Ramsey," Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy, quoting the little girl's father. "Do not jump to conclusions, do not rush to judgment, do not speculate. Let the justice system take its course."

Paraded before a raucous crush of reporters in Bangkok, Thailand, the sullen Karr told how he loved JonBenet, was with her when she died but that her death was an accident. And while vague on the details _ "it would take several hours" _ he answered flatly when asked if he was innocent: "No."

"The bottom line is that they now have a confession and until and unless they can corroborate that confession with either physical evidence or strong circumstantial evidence, that's all they have," said Scott Robinson, a Denver attorney who has followed the case from the beginning.

Added former Denver prosecutor Craig Silverman: "I have to believe they have more than this kooky confession."

Karr told investigators he drugged and sexually assaulted the little girl before accidentally killing her in her Boulder home, according to a senior Thai police officer who was briefed about the interview with U.S. authorities.

Yet JonBenet's autopsy report found no evidence of drugs, saying her death was caused by strangulation after a beating that included a fractured skull. And while it describes vaginal injuries, it makes no conclusions about whether she was raped.

Karr's ex-wife told TV reporters she cannot defend him, then insisted he was with her in Alabama during Christmas 1996, when JonBenet's battered body was found in the basement of her home. And authorities have not said whether Karr could have written the detailed ransom note found in the Ramsey home, with its demand for $118,000 (the bonus that had recently been awarded to the girl's father, John Ramsey).

Even the Colorado professor who swapped four years' worth of e-mails with Karr and brought him to the attention of prosecutors in May refused to characterize the suspect either as killer or kook.

"I don't know that he's guilty," said Michael Tracey, who teaches journalism at the University of Colorado. "Obviously, I went to the district attorney for a reason, but let him have his day in court and let JonBenet have her day in court and let's see how it plays out."

Karr himself added to the mystery, telling The Associated Press in Bangkok that JonBenet's death was "not what it seems to be."

Asked what happened when JonBenet died, he said: "It would take several hours to describe that. It's a very involved series of events that would involve a lot of time. It's very painful for me to talk about it."

Any previous relationship between Karr and the Ramseys remained a mystery Thursday, though both have ties to suburban Atlanta. District Attorney Lacy refused to discuss the case during a brief news conference and suggested Karr's arrest may have been forced by concern over public safety and fears the suspect might flee.

"There are circumstances that exist in any case that mandate an arrest before an investigation is complete," Lacy said.

Karr, 41, was arrested at a Bangkok apartment Wednesday, a day after he began teaching second grade at an international school, Lacy said.

Hours later, Thai authorities sat him before a crowded room of news crews. Karr stunned reporters by admitting: "I was with JonBenet when she died. Her death was an accident."

"I am so very sorry for what happened to JonBenet," Karr told the AP.

Legal experts said DNA evidence will likely be key: DNA was found beneath JonBenet's fingernails and inside her underwear and authorities have never said whether it matches anyone in an FBI database. U.S. and Thai officials did not directly answer a question at a news conference about whether there was DNA evidence connecting Karr to the crime.

Karr was given a mouth-swab DNA test in Bangkok, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. The results of that test were not immediately known. Karr will be given another DNA test when he returns to the United States in the next several days, the official said.

Karr will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told reporters in Bangkok.

Lin Wood, the Ramsey family's longtime attorney in Atlanta, said Karr went to great lengths to conceal his identity in e-mails to the university professor, going so far as to use a computer server in Canada.

Asked if authorities could tell whether Karr had firsthand knowledge of the murder or had just picked up information from news accounts, Wood said: "There is information about the murder that has never been publicly disclosed." He did not elaborate.

Karr's ex-wife, Lara Karr, was quoted by San Francisco television station KGO saying she was with her former husband in Alabama at the time of JonBenet's killing and she does not believe he was involved in the homicide.

Denver attorney Larry Pozner, past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said there were "serious questions" about the case.

"I hope we have found the murderer of JonBenet, but I have not heard the evidence that compels that conclusion," he said.

Karr's description of the case as an accident also rang false to experts.

"It's hard to imagine a more intentional, deliberate murder than hitting a little girl in the head so hard that she had almost a foot-long fracture in her skull and then deliberately fashioning a garrotte to twist until it buries in her neck and slowly stops her breathing," said Silverman, the former Denver prosecutor. "This has always been a case of deliberate murder."

___

Associated Press writers Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington and Chase Squires in Boulder, Colo., contributed to this report.

[Pavan]

*** SHOW TOPIC CHANGE***



“PRIMETIME” TO REPORT ON ARREST IN JONBENET RAMSEY CASE



“Primetime” Airs Thursday, August 17, 10-11 pm





Tonight’s “Primetime” will report on yesterday's dramatic arrest in the decade old JonBenet Ramsey murder case, providing viewers with the most up-to-date news of the former school teacher and suspect, John Mark Karr, who authorities say has confessed to the killing, though claims it was an accident. Anchored by Chris Cuomo, the hour will feature reports by Cynthia McFadden, Jim Avila and Bob Brown and will cover topics including a history of the crime, previous theories of what happened and how the Ramsey family feels about the recent developments. This report pre-empts the previously announced topics airing on “Primetime.” “PRIMETIME” airs on THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.) on the ABC Television Network.

[Julius]

What about the other networks? Aug. 17, 2006 News Conference

News conference participants, left to right:

Jeff Copp, Special Agent in Charge, Denver, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (wearing pinstripe, dark suit)
Tom Bennett, Chief Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office (wearing solid black suit, silver moustache)
Mary Lacy, District Attorney
Pete Maguire, First Assistant District Attorney (light colored suit, glasses)
Bill Nagel, Assistant District Attorney (dark suit, gray full beard)

Statement from Mary Lacy:

Good morning.

As you are now aware, John Mark Karr, 41 years old, was arrested for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey yesterday morning at approximately 6:00 am in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Karr was living in Bangkok. He began his employment as a second grade teacher in a Bangkok international school on Tuesday of this week.

Mr. Karr has traveled extensively since leaving the United States several years ago. The District Attorneys’ Office in conjunction with many other law enforcement agencies have spent the past few months locating, identifying and yesterday, arresting Mr. Karr. Much work has been done in those efforts. There is much more work that needs to be done now that the suspect is in custody. Our preference would have been to complete that work out of the public eye. That is obviously not possible this morning.

You all have many questions that you are anxious to have answered. John Karr is presumed innocent. We are rightfully constrained by the code of professional conduct and the presumption of innocence from answering those questions today.

What I can tell you in a generic sense is that in all serious cases, we work hard with law enforcement not to make an arrest until the investigation is substantially complete. That optimal situation best protects the rights of the suspect. There are circumstances that may exist in any case which mandate an arrest before an investigation is complete. The primary reason is public safety. A secondary reason is fear of flight. In short, exigent circumstances can drive the timing of an arrest. I am not commenting on the particular nature of this investigation or arrest.

There is a great deal of speculation and a desire for quick answer. We should all heed the poignant advice John Ramsey gave yesterday. Do not jump to judgment. Do not speculate. Let the justice system take its course.

Let us continue to do our job thoroughly. The analysis of the evidence in this case continues on a day-by-day basis.

What I can and very much want to share with you is a deep appreciation for the hard work, total cooperation and dedication of many individuals and agencies across this country and in Thailand. You can surely imagine the logistical difficulty of conducting an international investigation of this nature, particularly when their day is our night and our night is their day.

Our role in the investigation of JonBenet Ramsey’s murder has been to follow up on all legitimate leads that we have received from law enforcement and concerned citizens. There have been many, particularly around dates of interest such as anniversaries. John and Patsy Ramsey have cooperated fully with each and every request that we have forwarded to them.

I would like to briefly introduce to you my chief investigator Tom Bennett, who continues to lead our investigative efforts. Also my top assistants Peter Maguire and Bill Nagel who have worked closely with Tom and his unit. Each of them join me today in extending our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals and agencies that have assisted us, in particular,

The Royal Thailand Police, Bangkok, Thailand

Department of Special Investigations, Bangkok, Thailand

Chief Edwin Williams and Sgt. Cameron Rowe of the Roswell, Georgia, Police Department

Steve Paganucci of the Atlanta FBI and the Atlanta field office of the FBI

The Atlanta Police Department

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Department

Gary Phillips, SA assigned to the US Embassy with ICE under the EPT of Homeland Security

Ann Hurst, ICE

Taekuk Cho, ICE

Dan Kelly, Special Agent with the FBI in Bangkok

Jeff Copp, Special Agent in Charge, and Tony Rouco, SA, of ICE in Denver, CO

True Rowan with OIA in Washington D.C.

Chris Sonderby with OIA in Bangkok

At every level in Thailand, law enforcement joined forces to provide 24 hour assistance to our investigators here and in Bangkok seven days a week. We are overwhelmed by the selfless dedication and hard work of these individuals and agencies. We cannot adequately express our thanks.

I also wish to thank Chief Mark Beckner of the Boulder Police Department who has offered to provide any and all assistance that we may require as the investigation moves onto home ground. We are grateful for the professional and cooperative relationships that we enjoy with his department at every level and look forward to working together.

And finally, to our man on the ground in Bangkok who has worked tirelessly for us since leaving Denver International Airport for Thailand with little more than four hours notice a week ago Monday……….thank you to District Attorney Investigator Mark Spray, come on home. Tom can use your help here. We need to get you two back in the same time zone.

Please allow me to introduce special agent Jeff Copp with the Denver Office of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security.

Media Information line: 303-441-3842

Ramsey Information line: 303-441-1636 . Statement from Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner

The Boulder Police Department is pleased with the recent development in the JonBenet Ramsey homicide investigation. Investigators are hopeful that the arrest of suspect John Karr will lead to bringing closure to this tragic crime.
Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacy has asked the Boulder Police Department to assist with additional investigation that must yet be completed. Police Chief Mark Beckner has agreed to assist in anyway possible.

“We are cautiously optimistic with this development in the case and will certainly help as requested,” stated Chief Beckner. “We know that there are still many questions that need to be answered and we are ready to assist in finding those answers.”
It is unknown at this time as to what police investigators will be asked to do or how many will be assigned to assist with the follow-up investigation.

Note to Media: Chief Beckner will not be providing any interviews. You can go to any of the news websites to view video of today's Press Conference. http://www.co.boulder.co.us/da/

[Pavan]

The other networks are not airing anything regarding it tonight. Nightline will probably have something on it, too, tonight. I'm sure the morning shows (GMA, Early Show, Today) will have segments, but Primetime is doing a whole hour on it tonight at 10.

[Ireneparalegal]

The other networks are not airing anything regarding it tonight. Nightline will probably have something on it, too, tonight. I'm sure the morning shows (GMA, Early Show, Today) will have segments, but Primetime is doing a whole hour on it tonight at 10.
Just like when she was murdered, the media will be on this like flies on s**t.

I hope the family is bracing themselves for the flood of media that again, comes their way.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Just like when she was murdered, the media will be on this like flies on s**t.

I hope the family is bracing themselves for the flood of media that again, comes their way.
The problem with the media is all they do is speculate. They bring on all these so called experts and they don't know anything more than anybody else.

[Jonathan]

Exactly, and that causes a lot of heartaches and pains.

[Central Perk]

I really wish the media wouldn't have overhyped and jumped on this guy so quickly. I feel like maybe there should have been more skepitcal reporting and they should have talked with this guy's family members. I mean it seriously gets everyone's hopes up. In all honesty though, I really hope that investigators have more evidence than a confession so this case can be put to rest. This guy said he had sex with JonBenet, but supposedly there wasn't any evidence that she was raped. I really don't know what to think now.

[Pavan]

The psychic the Ramsey family hired years ago drew a drawing of the killer and looks sort of like Karr. Hmm... but who knows. Primetime said Karr was in Alabama or something that night. They will do a DNA test to see if it matches from that night.

[Ireneparalegal]

The thing that concerns me is this guy spent countless hours, days, weeks researching her murder for a paper he was asked to work on. One lawyer today stated he may have been so engrossed in the life and death of Jon Benet, that he may be dillusional and believe himself to be the killer of someone whom he has come to "love".

He responded when asked a lot of questions...he responded with things that are pretty common knowledge abt her death, however, when asked how he broke into the home of Jon Benet, he stated, "No comment"...Why???? He answered all kinds of other questions, why not that??

The police have kept silent abt how the person gained access to the home of Jon Benet...

[sweetdiggity]

The thing that concerns me is this guy spent countless hours, days, weeks researching her murder for a paper he was asked to work on. One lawyer today stated he may have been so engrossed in the life and death of Jon Benet, that he may be dillusional and believe himself to be the killer of someone whom he has come to "love".

He responded when asked a lot of questions...he responded with things that are pretty common knowledge abt her death, however, when asked how he broke into the home of Jon Benet, he stated, "No comment"...Why???? He answered all kinds of other questions, why not that??

The police have kept silent abt how the person gained access to the home of Jon Benet...

Exactly!! Good point.
This guy does seem delusional. He's 'not all there.'

If he researched and knows so much about the case, it's odd that he claims that he "drugged and had sex with Jon Benet." That's inconsistent with the autopsy report...ohno: No drugs were found in her system, he should know that. Now he's making things up? Seems like a psycho looking for attention.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Exactly!! Good point.
This guy does seem delusional. He's 'not all there.'

If he researched and knows so much about the case, it's odd that he claims that he "drugged and had sex with Jon Benet." That's inconsistent with the autopsy report...ohno: No drugs were found in her system, he should know that. Now he's making things up? Seems like a psycho looking for attention.
or he's going for an insanity defense.

[sweetdiggity]

Messages to Colorado University professor paint a disturbing picture of Karr




It was the day before Christmas Eve 2005 when John Mark Karr sent an e-mail to University of Colorado professor Michael Tracey, seeking a strange favor.
He asked Tracey to visit JonBenet Ramsey's old house in Boulder and read aloud an ode he called JonBenet, My Love.

"JonBenet, my love, my life. I love you and shall forever love you. I pray that you can hear my voice calling out to you from my darkness - this darkness that now separates us," it read, in part.

The e-mail was part of a small sample of the often lurid and disturbing correspondence between a person that investigators believe to be Karr and Tracey. The e-mails were obtained Thursday by the Rocky Mountain News from a source close to the investigation.

None includes any statements from Karr about his possible role in JonBenet's death. They do, however, include several interesting - and sometimes bizarre - exchanges between the two, including one in which Karr expresses concern that Tracey has obtained a photograph of him; another in which Karr said he was under federal investigation for "child murder and child molestation" in four states; and one in which the two traded views on the Peter Pan-related film Finding Neverland.

Karr was arrested in Thailand early Wednesday on a warrant naming him as the suspect in the unsolved murder of 6-year-old JonBenet in 1996. He is expected to be extradited to the United States next week.

In one of the e-mails obtained by the News, Karr brought up the legal travails of pop singer Michael Jackson, long under scrutiny for what seemed by his critics to be unusually close relationships with young boys.

"I will tell you that I can understand people like Michael Jackson and feel sympathy when he suffers as he has," Karr wrote. He added that he, himself, "is trapped in a world that does not understand." :rolleyes:

The News reported exclusively Wednesday that Tracey and Karr have swapped hundreds of e-mails during a four-year span, and that it was the content of those e-mails that gave rise to Tracey's suspicions about Karr's potential involvement in JonBenet's killing.

Tracey, in turn, passed his concerns on to investigators working the case privately. They, in turn, would later take it to prosecutors at the Boulder District Attorney's Office.

Tracey declined to comment on the e-mails obtained by the News Thursday, and a statement provided by a CU spokesman said Tracey would continue to decline interview requests "until he feels the time is right."

"Tracey said it is important now that people respect the judicial process and make no judgments about the guilt or innocence of the suspect until more information is available," the CU statement said.

It also said that Tracey wants to resume writing a book about the 10-year-old investigation and is planning to produce additional documentaries on the case, beyond the three he has already completed.

In a related development Thursday, the Daily Camera reported that Tracey shared details of his research into the Ramsey case with students months before he alerted authorities.

The paper reported former students as saying that someone sent Tracey a childhood picture of himself holding a white Santa Claus teddy bear and purportedly taken on a Christmas morning. The stuffed animal was apparently just like the one that mysteriously showed up in JonBenet's bedroom and stumped the family and investigators.

One of e-mails obtained by the News began with Karr chiding Tracey for failing to respond to an earlier message entitled, "Pretty Little Boy."

That e-mail included what appears to be a back-and-forth exchange - a passage from Tracey and an answer from Karr. However, it appears that Karr took a Tracey e-mail and then inserted his answers after each paragraph.

At one point, Tracey wrote to Karr, "I'm also curious as to why you feel that talking to me is dangerous and that you have shared too much."

Karr wrote back: "I was the subject of at lease (sic) a four-state federal investigation for child murder and child molestation. These people were not finished with me when I left the U.S. I cannot return. Since you have never been through something like this in your own life, you cannot know the paranoia it causes. You mentioned you have access to my photograph after talking to you for at least two years. I have reason to be concerned. Consider, if you will, post-traumatic stress."

A later e-mail included "Resend of Pretty Little Boy" in its subject line.

Again, it appeared to include a back-and-forth exchange.

"This is a letter that was sent on October 10th," Karr wrote. "I have found that you are easily overwhelmed and, when so, you seem to stop responding altogether. That being said, I am also responding to your last mail and will prepare a short message for JonBenet for Christmas night. Please check your mail each day prior to Christmas. Don't stop responding now."

Karr then wrote about his anger that a third person had provided Tracey with a photograph of him. "You NEVER said he HAD a photo of me," Karr wrote. "This changes everything. You have everything but my name and fingerprints. This comes as a major blow. Why did you not tell me this in the past?"

At another point, Karr responded to Tracey's challenge to follow through on his pledge to be "intense and thorough."

"Oh, Michael," Karr wrote, "I was referring to you - not me. I AM intense and thorough. I wanted you to be more intense and thorough in your responses to me. Your desire from me is that I cut to the chase and be specific about locations, names and all the other elements that journalist (sic) look for in a story. I am sorry that this is not the way I express myself about this matter."

Karr wrote later that his father was a "strong influence but rarely around," and then responded to Tracey's question about whether his "fascination with little girls - which clearly has a strong erotic component - is a way of going back."

"Maybe I am not going back but have simply stayed consistent," Karr wrote. "My peer group has not changed since I was a little boy, and girls were the people I was with always. Referring to them as a peer group is somewhat incorrect, but might also be the very definition of what they continue to be in my life."

At another point, Tracey wrote, "You told me once that your mother tended to raise you as a girl. This must have had a powerful effect on your developing sexuality - confusion maybe?"

Karr responded: "Michael, I will not discuss my sexuality as if it is a psychological disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In my case, I disagree with that totally, and if this is to be the way we progress in discussing it, I might as well stop while I am ahead.

"On the other hand, if you would like to learn something about my sexuality on an intellectual, nonjudgmental, nontraditional and nonpsychological way, I would love to share. It would help you understand a lot about my connection with JonBenet and possibly about the case. Shall we?"

Tracey also wrote to Karr about the movie Finding Neverland, which was about the author of Peter Pan.
"I can only say," Karr wrote, "that I can relate very well to children and the way they think and feel. I think you are asking if I am much a 'Peter Pan.' In many ways, the answer is yes. In other ways, I suppose it is no because I am trapped in a world that does not understand."

In his words

• Excerpts from e-mails written by John Mark Karr to University of Colorado journalism professor Michael Tracey:

"I am tortured mostly because of my present situation. I appreciate that you would refer to my childhood. It was unique . . . "

"I will tell you that I can understand people like Michael Jackson and feel sympathy when he suffers as he has. I do think that he is sexually attracted to certain children but could never divulge this. He made an attempt when he talked of sleeping with little boys but was completely misunderstood. I think he made an assertion and quickly had to back down. On the other hand, his comments might have had nothing to do with having the type of sex one might equate with the sense of the term, sex."

"Again, I was talking about you in reference to more intensity. The investigation was Federal. It involved four states. Knowing now that you have my photo, I am not keen on telling you of the specific states. I lost every friend, contact and family member as a result of this investigation. Some of my closest little girls were questioned by the authorities which broke my heart into pieces. I will never have contact with anyone in my past ever again. I lost my identity when this happened. This was the easy part. The worst was yet to come."

"I 'want' to tell you much though I cannot due to the fact that it has been revealed to me that you now know what I look like. This is a blow to our conversations and to my sharing. Had I known this earlier, I would have shared less - I am sure of it. With that said, I still responded to your mail in full . . .

"Sometimes little girls are closer to me than with their parents or any other person in their lives. When I refer to myself as JonBenet's Closest, maybe now you understand."

"I am interested in telling you anything that does not cost me everything as it did in the past."


By Todd Hartman and Kevin Vaughan, © 2006 Rocky Mountain News
August 18, 2006

[Janice]

Source: Karr knew murder scene secrets

BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- John Mark Karr gave authorities graphic details about the condition of JonBenet Ramsey's body that have been kept secret from public for a decade, a law enforcement source told CNN on Friday.

Those details were known only to the medical examiner and the investigators probing the December 26, 1996 murder of the six-year-old beauty queen.

Meanwhile, Ramsey family attorney Lin Wood told The Associated Press that Patsy Ramsey, the child's mother, agreed to meet with the man who claimed to be JonBenet's killer to help investigators.

But Patsy Ramsey died of ovarian cancer in June before the meeting took place, the AP said.

Karr has said he believed Patsy Ramsey had read his correspondence expressing remorse for JonBenets' death before she died.

These developments have futher complicated accounts of the high profile murder mystery.

Despite Karr's startling confession in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case, many questions remain to be answered before authorities can say the case has been solved.

One of those questions was raised by Karr's former wife, Lara Karr, who says Karr was with her in Alabama or Georgia on December 26, 1996, the day JonBenet's body was found in the basement of the Ramsey home in Boulder, Colorado.

Lara Karr's attorney, Michael Rains, said his client "sincerely believes there was no Christmas ... anytime between 1989 and 2000 when they were married ... when her husband was not with her and her family at Christmastime." (Watch forensic pathologist describe some of the holes in Karr's story -- 4:13 (http://javascript<b></b>:cnnVideo('play','/video/tech/2006/08/18/wecht.jonbenet.forensics.ap','2006/08/25');))

In his confession in Bangkok, Thailand, Karr said: "I loved JonBenet and she died accidentally."

But evidence from the Colorado crime scene suggests otherwise. JonBenet's death was violent, investigators found. She was struck in the head and strangled.

And at least publicly, Karr has not given details about how he got into the Ramsey house and, if he did so, how he found his away around the sprawling house, which has been described as a maze of rooms, hallways and closets.

Even police overlooked the storage room where JonBenet's body was found during their first search of the residence, after the girl was reported missing.

Karr's connection to Colorado is also vague. Although his e-mail correspondence with a University of Colorado journalism professor led to his arrest in Thailand, authorities said, they have produced no evidence to show Karr was ever in Colorado.

The Rocky Mountain News published on its Web site Friday excerpts of what investigators say they believe are e-mails between Karr and professor Michael Tracey, including one that read: "JonBenet, my love, my life. I love you and shall forever love you. I pray that you can hear my voice calling out to you from my darkness..." (Read paper's account of e-mails (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4926302,00.html)http://i.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.3/misc/icon.offsite.gif)

Another question is Karr's familiarity with the Ramsey family.

JonBenet's father, John Ramsey, said in an interview Wednesday that he did not know Karr. But a ransom note, found in the Boulder home after JonBenet went missing, addresses John Ramsey in a familiar tone, repeatedly using his first name and calling him a "fat cat."

The ransom note demanded $118,000, the amount he had received in a company bonus before his daughter was killed.

At a news conference Thursday, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said the case is still under investigation. "There is much more work that needs to be done now that the suspect is in custody."

"John Karr is presumed innocent," Lacy said. "Do not jump to judgment. Do not speculate. Let the justice system take its course."

The professor who put authorities on the trail of Karr took a similar tack.
"I don't know that he's guilty," Tracey told The Associated Press.

"Obviously, I went to the district attorney for a reason, but let him have his day in court and let JonBenet have her day in court and let's see how it plays out."

Karr started work as teacher Tuesday

JonBenet's body was found in the basement of her family's Colorado home on December 26, 1996. Autopsy results showed she received a massive blow to the head and was strangled with a rope that the killer tightened by twisting an attached paintbrush handle. An autopsy did not detect any drugs in her system.

U.S. and Thai officials are working on clearing Karr's return to the United States, although no date for the transfer has been set.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Thai authorities worked closely on the case for two months before Karr's arrest on Wednesday, Hurst said.

Officials in Bangkok said he had traveled to Thailand -- a country notorious for its child sex trade -- five times in the past two years.
Karr on Tuesday started a new job as a second-grade teacher at a school in Bangkok.

[sweetdiggity]

The psychic the Ramsey family hired years ago drew a drawing of the killer and looks sort of like Karr. Hmm... but who knows.


Here it is:

http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/9349/jbsuspectsketchgz3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Dead Psychic's Sketch Of JonBenet Killer Revisited
Same Psychic Helped Colorado Authorities In Hunt For Accused Serial Killer


DENVER -- Psychic Dorothy Allison believed she knew what JonBenet's killer looked like and provided a sketch to the Ramsey family, based on her visions.

The Ramsey family Web site published the sketch, asking the public, "Have you seen this man? This man may have been in the Boulder area in December 1996."

The sketch was also given to Boulder police, who continued to insist that nobody outside the family was likely involved in the crime.

A comparison of the sketch side-by-side with that of a picture of suspect John Karr appears to show remarkable resemblance.

Allison originally came up with the sketch during a 1998 appearance on the nationally syndicated Leeza Gibbons Show. Allison died a year later.

The Ramsey family Web site at www.ramseyfamily.com was used to publish press releases as well as ads and flyers the Ramseys sent out in search for their daughter's killer in the spring and fall of 1997. One of the flyers contained the sketch given by Allison. The Ramsey family let the domain name of the Web site expire in 2004.

Four years before JonBenet's death, Allison assisted El Paso County investigators in the investigation of the slaying of Heather Dawn Church.

''In 30 years, I've never had accurate information from a psychic,'' a veteran law enforcement officer told The Denver Post in 1995. ''But the information by Dorothy Allison was right on the money.''

Robert Browne was later arrested and convicted in the killing of Church. Last month he admitted killing as many as 49 people across the United States.

In another strange twist in the Ramsey case, the man who originally arrested Brown in the Church slaying joined the investigation team looking into the slaying of JonBenet. He said he always believed an intruder was responsible for the crime.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting

[Ireneparalegal]

Exactly!! Good point.
This guy does seem delusional. He's 'not all there.'

If he researched and knows so much about the case, it's odd that he claims that he "drugged and had sex with Jon Benet." That's inconsistent with the autopsy report...ohno: No drugs were found in her system, he should know that. Now he's making things up? Seems like a psycho looking for attention.
Thank you. And also, you are correct abt the drugs supposedly he injected into her or whatever manner he used...the autopsy doesn't say she had drugs in her system. So, why would he say he did that when the autopsy clearly shows there were no drugs?

As for the police now saying he is saying things that are consistent with things abt the crime that only the killer would know...hmmm, the police? After what they did to the Ramseys? I wouldn't take their word highly either. How do we know they aren't "using" this guy to just make an arrest and make-up for what they did to the family? Police corruption? Police mistakes? Even the DA stated in yesterdays news that no one should jump to conclusions and so forth.

[wimpydodo]

In all due respect to the Ramsey family, I can't get over how much this John Karr has the same features of young Jon Bonet. I think when this all comes to a head, this Karr could really be the biological father of Jon Benet. This would explain away some of the confusion about the $18,000 dollars in ransom note,Karr in house, if he's credible, etc.,ect. Is it possible Patsy and Karr had a dark secret they kept from John Ramsey? Or maybe they all knew the secret and things went haywire. I really think the authorities should order paternity tests to make sure this was John Ramsey's biological daughter (Jon benet). I hope I'm way off course for the Ramsey family's sake. It sounds like when Karr is making these statements he is speaking more like a father I think.


























john






















karr

[TJL]

I don't think this guy did it. I think he's a nut looking for attention.

[Superstar]

Source: Karr knew murder scene secrets

BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- John Mark Karr gave authorities graphic details about the condition of JonBenet Ramsey's body that have been kept secret from public for a decade, a law enforcement source told CNN on Friday.

Those details were known only to the medical examiner and the investigators probing the December 26, 1996 murder of the six-year-old beauty queen.

Meanwhile, Ramsey family attorney Lin Wood told The Associated Press that Patsy Ramsey, the child's mother, agreed to meet with the man who claimed to be JonBenet's killer to help investigators.

But Patsy Ramsey died of ovarian cancer in June before the meeting took place, the AP said.

Karr has said he believed Patsy Ramsey had read his correspondence expressing remorse for JonBenets' death before she died.

These developments have futher complicated accounts of the high profile murder mystery.

Despite Karr's startling confession in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case, many questions remain to be answered before authorities can say the case has been solved.

One of those questions was raised by Karr's former wife, Lara Karr, who says Karr was with her in Alabama or Georgia on December 26, 1996, the day JonBenet's body was found in the basement of the Ramsey home in Boulder, Colorado.

Lara Karr's attorney, Michael Rains, said his client "sincerely believes there was no Christmas ... anytime between 1989 and 2000 when they were married ... when her husband was not with her and her family at Christmastime." (Watch forensic pathologist describe some of the holes in Karr's story -- 4:13 (http://javascript<b></b>:cnnVideo('play','/video/tech/2006/08/18/wecht.jonbenet.forensics.ap','2006/08/25');))

In his confession in Bangkok, Thailand, Karr said: "I loved JonBenet and she died accidentally."

But evidence from the Colorado crime scene suggests otherwise. JonBenet's death was violent, investigators found. She was struck in the head and strangled.

And at least publicly, Karr has not given details about how he got into the Ramsey house and, if he did so, how he found his away around the sprawling house, which has been described as a maze of rooms, hallways and closets.

Even police overlooked the storage room where JonBenet's body was found during their first search of the residence, after the girl was reported missing.

Karr's connection to Colorado is also vague. Although his e-mail correspondence with a University of Colorado journalism professor led to his arrest in Thailand, authorities said, they have produced no evidence to show Karr was ever in Colorado.

The Rocky Mountain News published on its Web site Friday excerpts of what investigators say they believe are e-mails between Karr and professor Michael Tracey, including one that read: "JonBenet, my love, my life. I love you and shall forever love you. I pray that you can hear my voice calling out to you from my darkness..." (Read paper's account of e-mails (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4926302,00.html)http://i.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.3/misc/icon.offsite.gif)

Another question is Karr's familiarity with the Ramsey family.

JonBenet's father, John Ramsey, said in an interview Wednesday that he did not know Karr. But a ransom note, found in the Boulder home after JonBenet went missing, addresses John Ramsey in a familiar tone, repeatedly using his first name and calling him a "fat cat."

The ransom note demanded $118,000, the amount he had received in a company bonus before his daughter was killed.

At a news conference Thursday, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said the case is still under investigation. "There is much more work that needs to be done now that the suspect is in custody."

"John Karr is presumed innocent," Lacy said. "Do not jump to judgment. Do not speculate. Let the justice system take its course."

The professor who put authorities on the trail of Karr took a similar tack.
"I don't know that he's guilty," Tracey told The Associated Press.

"Obviously, I went to the district attorney for a reason, but let him have his day in court and let JonBenet have her day in court and let's see how it plays out."

Karr started work as teacher Tuesday

JonBenet's body was found in the basement of her family's Colorado home on December 26, 1996. Autopsy results showed she received a massive blow to the head and was strangled with a rope that the killer tightened by twisting an attached paintbrush handle. An autopsy did not detect any drugs in her system.

U.S. and Thai officials are working on clearing Karr's return to the United States, although no date for the transfer has been set.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Thai authorities worked closely on the case for two months before Karr's arrest on Wednesday, Hurst said.

Officials in Bangkok said he had traveled to Thailand -- a country notorious for its child sex trade -- five times in the past two years.
Karr on Tuesday started a new job as a second-grade teacher at a school in Bangkok.
its kind of creepy that he says he did it...but there's absolutely no proof to show he was there. I'm beginning to agree with TJL...he's a nut who wants attention.

[Brent88]

WOW... that sketch is disturbingly accurate.

So far I've seen nothing to suggest he's ever even been to Colorado, much less was there at Christmas 1996. It makes no sense. If this guy didn't kill her it'll be the biggest hoax ever. :lol: :rolleyes:

[Pavan]

POSSIBLE JOHN MARK KARR CONNECTION TO
JON BENET RANSOM NOTE
“INSIDE EDITION” FINDS POTENTIAL LINK TO RAMSEY NOTE
MYSTERY

Airdate: Friday, August 18, 2006
Check local listings for times


New York, NY – August 18, 2006 – Inside Edition has obtained potential evidence of a link between John Mark Karr and the Jon Benet Ramsey murder case. John Mark Karr was taken into
custody earlier this week in Thailand as a suspect in the 1996 murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen.

Inside Edition has exclusively obtained a high school yearbook Karr signed in 1982. Karr signed off his note to a friend with the phrase that Karr “shall be the conqueror…” The initials of that phrase are “S.B.T.C.,” the same ones that appear at the end of the ransom note in the JonBenet Ramsey case. In that note, which demanded $118,000 from the Ramsey family, the author signs the 3-page note, “Victory! S.B.T.C.” Investigators were never able to figure out what those initials meant.

Inside Edition also obtained several handwriting samples from John Mark Karr – a job application and a long note he wrote to a friend – and asked handwriting expert Robert Baier to compare the samples to the ransom note. He found two striking similarities – one with the letter ‘D’ and another with the letter ‘A.’

Baier cautions that he would need many more samples of Karr’s handwriting to make a definitive judgment on whether Karr wrote the ransom note, but he says the samples do paint a picture of Karr’s personality. “He used mostly block printing,” says Baier. “People who do that put up a curtain. There are a lot of things about themselves they don’t want people to know.”

[sweetdiggity]

POSSIBLE JOHN MARK KARR CONNECTION TO
JON BENET RANSOM NOTE
“INSIDE EDITION” FINDS POTENTIAL LINK TO RAMSEY NOTE
MYSTERY

Airdate: Friday, August 18, 2006
Check local listings for times


New York, NY – August 18, 2006 – Inside Edition has obtained potential evidence of a link between John Mark Karr and the Jon Benet Ramsey murder case. John Mark Karr was taken into
custody earlier this week in Thailand as a suspect in the 1996 murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen.

Inside Edition has exclusively obtained a high school yearbook Karr signed in 1982. Karr signed off his note to a friend with the phrase that Karr “shall be the conqueror…” The initials of that phrase are “S.B.T.C.,” the same ones that appear at the end of the ransom note in the JonBenet Ramsey case. In that note, which demanded $118,000 from the Ramsey family, the author signs the 3-page note, “Victory! S.B.T.C.” Investigators were never able to figure out what those initials meant.



Interesting, and very creepy!!
I've never read the complete ransom note up until an hour ago. I was wondering what those initials meant myself!
The note itself is incredibly unnerving. :eek:

[The Shadow]

Michael Helgoth wrote the ransom note! His partner in crime raped and murdered JonBenet. JonBenet met Michael Helgoth on a family outing in the Summer of 1996. This is how Michael Helgoth and his partner "cased" the homes of Boulder's wealthiest families. They arrived at the Ramsey home early Christmas Day evening. JonBenet's killer was seen "knitting" at 5:30 P.M. He was tying small pieces of rope together, this net was later found on the forearms of JonBenet. The coroner said the knots were tied by a left handed man. Michael's partner was left-handed. I don't remember the man's name but Professor Michael Tracey mentions FIVE PEOPLE who warrant a second look. Michael Helgoth's partner AND roommate was listed as two or three on that list. S.anta B.arbara T.ennis C.lub is what S.B.T.C. Stands for. Victory! came from British made pants, Victory was the brand name! Both were left in the abandoned van! They had to walk to the nearest bus stop several blocks away in order to escape! Michael Helgoth owned the Hi-Tec hiking boots, they are seen in crime scene photographs next to his corpse. He was murdered over stolen property he wanted. He got a bullet for his trouble.

[Pavan]

JOHN MARK KARR BEGAN PROCEDURES FOR SEX CHANGE OPERATION

“He planned to do sex change, ” doctor confirms in exclusive on-camera interview with INSIDE EDITION

Airdate: Monday, August 21, 2006
Check local listings for times

New York, NY – August 21, 2006 – In another bizarre twist in the shadowy life of John Mark Karr, the man taken into custody in connection with the murder of 6-year-old Jon Benet Ramsey, a doctor in Bangkok tells Inside Edition he performed hair removal treatments on Karr in preparation for a sex change operation.
In an exclusive on-camera interview, the doctor, Setthakarn Atthakornpan, said Karr had four laser treatments at the Pruksa Laser Center between March and July of this year.

The doctor showed Inside Edition Karr's medical chart where he made a notation that says, “Plan to (female) transformation,” using the symbol for female. “He planned to do sex change,”
said the doctor.

Karr had already started taking hormones and had been meeting with a sex change specialist and psychologist, according to Dr. Setthakarn. He said Karr wanted all his beard hair follicles
removed and he requested feminine sideburns. The doctor says Karr was not an easy patient and constantly complained about the painful laser treatments, which cost him about $400.

The Inside Edition report also includes an interview with a doctor at the Pratunam PolyClinic in Bangkok, where Karr reportedly sought consultation on a sex change operation. Dr. Thep
Vechavisit would not confirm details about Karr citing patient confidentiality, but described the operations offered and provided a price list for cosmetic procedures including sex changes for just
$1,625. The clinic is a co-sponsor for the Miss International Queen Contest, a popular transsexual beauty pageant.

Inside the seedy storefront clinic, Inside Edition found a foul smelling, shabby reception area. The walls are covered with before-and-after pictures of patients who had received all types of
cosmetic procedures.

[Ireneparalegal]

Hmmmm, i thought he looked "hairless" on his face...

[MsOrange]

how can the doctor legally relase that information? what happened to doctor patient privliges??

not that i'm defending the guy, but i'm just curious.

[Ireneparalegal]

A doctor in Banghok is not held to the same standards ( I assume ) as doctors here in America.

[Central Perk]

The news media is devoting WAY WAY WAY too much time to this story.

[Ireneparalegal]

I am really doubting this guy's "confessions" more and more each day.

He is a pedophile. If he got to JonBenet to do horrific things to her, then why leave a ransom note?????????? A pedophile molests and/or kills children (remember Polly Klass?)...that is the "norm" for these *******
Not kidnapping them for ransom!!!!!
He claims his brother worked for the family. There hasn't been any proof that his brother worked for any member of the Ramsey family.

[sweetdiggity]

Ramsey suspect raised suspicions in 2001


By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA
Associated Press Writer


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The investigation into the man accused of killing 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey is still in the "very early stages," Colorado officials wrote in a court filing, arguing that releasing details about their evidence now could taint the extensive interviews they still need to conduct.

"It is crucial that people we interview provide information that is as accurate as possible, unaffected by influences other than their own resources and their best recollections," William F. Nagel, Boulder County assistant district attorney, wrote.

In his 41 years, John Mark Karr has left a long trail of potential witnesses.

He was removed from teaching jobs in other countries, married a 13-year-old girl against her parents' wishes, and allegedly bragged to his landlord's family in Costa Rica that he was sexually "like a wolf."




Karr first came to the attention of authorities in Colorado and California five years ago when he emerged as a potential suspect in the murder of a 12-year-old California girl.

During the investigation, which ultimately led to child pornography charges, Karr showed an "apparent fascination" with the 1996 killing of JonBenet in Boulder, Colo., and the 1993 murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas in Petaluma, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

"In a few instances while he seemed to be wondering about the JonBenet Ramsey murder, he made uncertain allusions to placing himself in the killer's role," according to a statement by Lt. Dave Edmonds.

"However, we never uncovered any 'confession' statements, overt murder evidence, or other indications that John Karr possessed secret knowledge that only the murderer of JonBenet Ramsey would know," the statement said.



The FBI helped Sonoma authorities with the investigation, and information about Karr was provided in 2001 to the investigating agencies in all those states - including Colorado.

Carolyn French, spokeswoman for Boulder County, Colo., District Attorney Mary Lacy, said Thursday that she could not comment on the report because it was "part of the investigative process and evidence."

Her office indicted in the court document filed Wednesday that its investigation of Karr in JonBenet's death is far from complete, and it described the case against Karr as being in the "very early stages."

The document says investigators discovered Karr's identity only five days before his arrest in Bangkok, and that authorities feared he might be tipped off if they didn't seize him right away.

The district attorney asked the court not to unseal the arrest-warrant affidavit, as media outlets requested, because it would reveal underlying evidence. It hinted that the incriminating e-mails that led to Karr's arrest have not yet been published.

"Our investigation into Mr. Karr is continuing, and there remains work to be done. That work includes extensive interviewing," the document states.

Karr remained jailed in Los Angeles on Thursday awaiting transport to Colorado.

He had told reporters in Thailand, where he was detained last week, that he was with JonBenet when she died and that it was an accident.

Karr's family contends he was with them in Georgia at the time of the Colorado killing, while an ex-wife has said she believes Karr was likely with her in Alabama. Neither she nor the family has offered definitive proof.

Beyond first-degree murder, the counts against Karr in a sealed probable-cause arrest warrant include murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault on a child. The charges were read aloud by a judge at an extradition hearing in Los Angeles.

More details emerged Thursday about Karr's past.

Karr worked as an English teacher in Costa Rica, where he bragged to his landlord's family that "sexually, I am like a wolf" and said he preferred girls to women, his former housemates told The Associated Press.

John Hall, 42, told the AP in an exclusive interview that he rented a room to Karr in 2004, but asked him to leave after about five weeks because Karr was saying "rude and inappropriate things" to his wife and stepdaughters, then 16 and 20.

Also, Karr received a license to run a day care out of his rural Alabama home in June 1997 after a background check turned up no problems, a state official said. Karr, who grew up in Hamilton, Ala., didn't receive any complaints before the two-year license expired in 1999, said John Bradford, a spokesman with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

The 2001 investigation in California was the earliest known time that Karr was brought to the attention of authorities investigating JonBenet's death.

Ultimately in the California investigation, Karr did not appear to be a viable suspect in the 1997 murder of a 12-year-old girl Georgia Moses. The investigation into her death led to charges of child pornography against Karr. He fled and an arrest warrant was issued, but authorities said they were unable to locate him.

---

Associated Press Writers Marcus Wohlsen in San Francisco, Dan Elliott in Denver, Harry R. Weber in Atlanta and Marianela Jimenez in San Jose, Costa Rica contributed to this report.

[sweetdiggity]

I am really doubting this guy's "confessions" more and more each day.

He is a pedophile. If he got to JonBenet to do horrific things to her, then why leave a ransom note?????????? A pedophile molests and/or kills children (remember Polly Klass?)...that is the "norm" for these *******
Not kidnapping them for ransom!!!!!
He claims his brother worked for the family. There hasn't been any proof that his brother worked for any member of the Ramsey family.

You're right. Did you see Polly Klass' father, Mark, when he said that if this guy is the killer, he's probably the first pedophile in history to leave a ransom note? :eek:

I have my doubts, too. I'm interested to see what's in the arrest-warrant affidavit that they won't release to the public yet. They're acting as if they really have something on him. I hope so.

[Ireneparalegal]

You're right. Did you see Polly Klass' father, Mark, when he said that if this guy is the killer, he's probably the first pedophile in history to leave a ransom note? :eek:

I have my doubts, too. I'm interested to see what's in the arrest-warrant affidavit that they won't release to the public yet. They're acting as if they really have something on him. I hope so.
Yes, I seen Mr. Klass on Nancy Grace. I love Nancy Grace. When he was on there he did say that and it is so damn true!!!!!! I have never in my years researching law ever came upon a case where a pedophile intended to kidnap a child FOR RANSOM...$$$ is not on their mind...SICK PERVERTS!!!!! I mean, this Karr guy is definitely a pedophile, no doubt abt that...

I too am curious as to what it is they have that makes them think he committed this crime. I so pray to God that the detectives in this matter aren't trying hard to "fix" their errors from the past.

Last night on Geraldo, Patty Ramsey's sister was on the show telling Geraldo how his former talk show blasted her sister and her family and even holding a mock "trial" where the audience came to the conclusion that the Ramsey's were guilty. Seeing how deeply wrong he was and his error in doing such tabloid "justice", Geraldo praised Patty's sister and apologized for blasting her family in the past.

[sweetdiggity]

Yes, I seen Mr. Klass on Nancy Grace. I love Nancy Grace. When he was on there he did say that and it is so damn true!!!!!! I have never in my years researching law ever came upon a case where a pedophile intended to kidnap a child FOR RANSOM...$$$ is not on their mind...SICK PERVERTS!!!!! I mean, this Karr guy is definitely a pedophile, no doubt abt that...

I too am curious as to what it is they have that makes them think he committed this crime. I so pray to God that the detectives in this matter aren't trying hard to "fix" their errors from the past.

Last night on Geraldo, Patty Ramsey's sister was on the show telling Geraldo how his former talk show blasted her sister and her family and even holding a mock "trial" where the audience came to the conclusion that the Ramsey's were guilty. Seeing how deeply wrong he was and his error in doing such tabloid "justice", Geraldo praised Patty's sister and apologized for blasting her family in the past.

I love Nancy Grace, too!! I'm watching it right now. They're saying that the DA wants the arrest warrant sealed until Sept. 7th. So maybe then we will learn more details about what they possibly have on this guy. Like you said, I hope they're not trying to "fix" anything, and that this is legit.

I agree, there's no doubt about him being a pedophile. It pisses me off that he got away with being a teacher, a nanny, and opened up his own daycare! :mad:

I didn't see Geraldo, sounds like it was good, though! I didn't know he once had a mock trial. That's terrible! I'm glad he apologized to her, she certainly deserved it. She, along with the rest of the family deserve many apologies from a lot of people.

[Ireneparalegal]

I love Nancy Grace, too!! I'm watching it right now. They're saying that the DA wants the arrest warrant sealed until Sept. 7th. So maybe then we will learn more details about what they possibly have on this guy. Like you said, I hope they're not trying to "fix" anything, and that this is legit.

I agree, there's no doubt about him being a pedophile. It pisses me off that he got away with being a teacher, a nanny, and opened up his own daycare! :mad:

I didn't see Geraldo, sounds like it was good, though! I didn't know he once had a mock trial. That's terrible! I'm glad he apologized to her, she certainly deserved it. She, along with the rest of the family deserve many apologies from a lot of people.
That family does deserve a lot of apologies...that statement is so damn true. Also on that Geraldo show they interviewed many people from Boulder, Colorado who stated they DON'T BELIEVE Karr killed JonBenet. It pissed me off though when one stupid 20-something broad said "JonBenet's parents killed her"...:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Brent88]

KUSA in Denver reports the DNA results are in and the DNA at the Ramsey murder scene DOES NOT match Karr's DNA.

[MsOrange]

KUSA in Denver reports the DNA results are in and the DNA at the Ramsey murder scene DOES NOT match Karr's DNA.
got a link to anything????

I hate to hear this, but I expected it.

[sweetdiggity]

got a link to anything????

I hate to hear this, but I expected it.

KUSA - 9NEWS has confirmed from two sources that the DNA taken from John Mark Karr does not match the DNA samples taken from the crime scene in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case.


Samples of Karr's saliva and hair were taken in Boulder after his arrival on Thursday. Those samples were tested over the weekend inside the Denver Police Department's Crime lab.

9NEWS has confirmed that Karr's DNA is ruled out as the foreign DNA left on JonBenet Ramsey's body when she was murdered in December 1996.

JonBenet was covered in a blanket when her body was found. Foreign hair fibers were found on that blanket and they did not match any of the Ramsey family or approximately 100 people that were tested.

Karr was taken into custody in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this month in connection with the murder. He arrived in Boulder Thursday afternoon on a probable cause warrant for charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault on a child.

Karr said at a press conference in Thailand he was with JonBenet when she died.

Karr is scheduled to be in court Monday afternoon for an advisement hearing.

9NEWS.com and 9NEWS at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. will have the latest on this developing story.

KUSA website (http://www.kusa.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=5647dd32-0abe-421a-01cb-49517318e6a4&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf)

[Brent88]

It's over.

9NEWS has also learned the Boulder County District Attorney's office will not file charges against Karr in connection with the Ramsey case.

http://www.kusa.com/

and we're back to square one. :rolleyes:

[sweetdiggity]

It's over.

9NEWS has also learned the Boulder County District Attorney's office will not file charges against Karr in connection with the Ramsey case.

http://www.kusa.com/

and we're back to square one. :rolleyes:

:mad: :mad: :mad: What a freakin' joke!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Ireneparalegal]

KUSA - 9NEWS has confirmed from two sources that the DNA taken from John Mark Karr does not match the DNA samples taken from the crime scene in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case.


Samples of Karr's saliva and hair were taken in Boulder after his arrival on Thursday. Those samples were tested over the weekend inside the Denver Police Department's Crime lab.

9NEWS has confirmed that Karr's DNA is ruled out as the foreign DNA left on JonBenet Ramsey's body when she was murdered in December 1996.

JonBenet was covered in a blanket when her body was found. Foreign hair fibers were found on that blanket and they did not match any of the Ramsey family or approximately 100 people that were tested.

Karr was taken into custody in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this month in connection with the murder. He arrived in Boulder Thursday afternoon on a probable cause warrant for charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault on a child.

Karr said at a press conference in Thailand he was with JonBenet when she died.

Karr is scheduled to be in court Monday afternoon for an advisement hearing.

9NEWS.com and 9NEWS at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. will have the latest on this developing story.

KUSA website (http://www.kusa.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=5647dd32-0abe-421a-01cb-49517318e6a4&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf)
If that is the case, then I was right, he is just someone who for some crazy reason is wanting attention. And like we discussed, he is a pedophile; pedophiles don't kidnap for ransom.

[MsOrange]

it's on CNN now

[Superstar]

This is unbelievable. That guy should be locked up anyway, for being demented.

[dlemond]

Why do wack jobs get their full name in print?
Does it give society a sense completion to fully point out the
freaks?

John Mark Karr

James Earl Ray

Mark David Chapman

Lee Harvey Oswald

John Wilkes Booth

I like it when people refuse to name nutjobs like John Lennon's assasin.

[theshark8777]

Well I'm sure part of it is so say your name happened to be Mark Chapman, or John Booth, you wouldnt want your name associated with that. Using the middle name narrows it down a little I guess. I do get your point though.

[PrettyinPink55]

This is absolutely crazy!!!!!

[Julius]

Press Release; the Release of John Mark Karr





Pursuant to the decision by the District Attorney’s Office to request that the arrest warrant be quashed by the District Court this afternoon, Mr. John Mark Karr was released from the custody of the Sheriff’s Office.



Mr. Karr had been transported from the Boulder County Jail to the Justice Center by Sheriff’s deputies and was being detained pending his scheduled court appearance when the Sheriff’s Office was notified that no local charges would be filed. It was the Sheriff’s Office’ understanding that Sonoma County, California, authorities did not plan to assert a hold on their outstanding misdemeanor warrants. As part of the routine process of releasing prisoners, Mr. Karr was queried via the NCIC-CCIC computer system at 2:15 p.m.; there were no entries requesting his detainer.



Shortly after Mr. Karr’s release from custody at 2:55 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office was informed that the Sonoma County District Attorney did indeed plan to file charges against Mr. Karr on five counts of possessing child pornography and was willing to extradite him to California. A NCIC computer entry had been made at 2:41 p.m. by the California authorities, presumably prompted by media reports of Mr. Karr’s impending release.



Though released from the Sheriff’s custody, Mr. Karr was still in the company of investigators from the District Attorney’s Office when the Sheriff’s Office was notified of Sonoma County’s intentions. Mr. Karr was taken back into custody by Sheriff’s deputies shortly before 4:00 p.m. He will be held at the Boulder County Jail pending extradition.



The Sheriff’s Office apologizes for any confusion that our initial press release may have caused.



This media release supersedes the one posted at 3:00 p.m. MDT this afternoon and may also be found on the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office’ web-site at: www.bouldersheriff.org

[Janice]

This case was unraveling from the beginning. They had as much evidence against him as they did against the Ramseys, which is none.

[Stuck In The '70's]

These people don't know what they're doing. If they actually did find the killer, a good defense attorney could probably get them off with all the mistakes that have been made in this case.

[*MIBabe03*]

It was obvious that this guy was a fruit cake. Think about it. He was in jail in Thailand for crimes against minors. Would you rather be tried for crimes in Thailand or in the U.S.? He made up the story so that he could get out of there.

[Ireneparalegal]

It was obvious that this guy was a fruit cake. Think about it. He was in jail in Thailand for crimes against minors. Would you rather be tried for crimes in Thailand or in the U.S.? He made up the story so that he could get out of there.
He was in the process of getting a very cheap sex change operation, so I highly doubt coming to the US was a motive, especially since he had a warrant for his arrest here in California. Why start with a sex-change process if only to stop?

[Central Perk]

The fact that Karr confessed and was corresponding with a professor for the case seems grounds for further investigation. An analyst on MSNBC said the only way in which they could obtain a DNA sample from Karr was to deport him from Thailand. The prosecutor should have made sure that Karr could be linked to being in Colorado at the time of the murder, however, the media largely overhyped this story and was all ready to proclaim him guilty. It's too bad this couldn't have been kept on the down-low and that so much media hysteria wasn't given to this guy.

[Ireneparalegal]

They could have easily obtained a DNA sample from Thailand. He wasn't resisting and he sure wasn't denying anything. This was a big hoopla to make it look good for somebody in Boulder. Besides, he was already being held and was going to be extradited to California.

[TJL]

I don't think this guy did it. I think he's a nut looking for attention.


Hmmm. I guess I was right.

;)