Sources: Arrest made in JonBenet Ramsey case

[ace3g]

Authorities have made an arrest in the JonBenet Ramsey case, law enforcement sources told CNN on Wedesday.

An investigator with the Boulder County, Colorado, District Attorney's office traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, and is bringing a suspect back to the United States, CNN's Denver affiliate KUSA reported.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday morning and has confessed to certain elements of the crime that are unknown to the general public, KUSA reported.

Prosecutors have not confirmed the identity of the suspect, but expect to hold a press conference later today.

JonBenet's beaten and strangled body was found in the basement of the family home in Boulder, Colorado, the day after Christmas in 1996. She was 6.

A grand jury investigation into the death of the child beauty pageant winner ended without charges in 1999.

The investigation focused a spotlight on the child's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey. Patsy Ramsey died in June.

The Ramseys said an intruder committed the crime, but they remained the subject of suspicion and speculation.

"The Ramseys left Colorado and had a house in Charlevoix, Michigan, where John Ramsey unsuccessfully ran for office in 2004, and in Atlanta, Georgia.

Link (http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/16/ramsey.arrest/index.html)

Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14379566/)

[Mixability]

It's hard for me to believe the parents weren't involved in some way or another.

[ace3g]

yeah I was just reading about this to, crazy and weird thing about this, is that a suspect is found RIGHT after the death of the mother. Very Suspicious atleast in my opinion. It is good they have someone under arrest for the murder though after so many years and hopefully some more questions about the case can be answered

[tlongII]

I don't know why, but this case has troubled me more than any other I can remember. I'm very curious to hear who they have arrested and what evidence they had.

[Kori Ellis]

I'm very curious to hear who they have arrested and what evidence they had.

Me too.

I never believed the parents weren't involved no matter how adamant they were.

I didn't even realize Patsy Ramsey had died recently. Kind of weird that the arrest comes so soon after her death.

[jman3000]

I wonder when they will find the real killers in the O.J. Simpson case?

:shootme

[sa_butta]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48177

[Jimcs50]

The parents were not involved.

[1Parker1]

That is the weirdest arrest...anyone catch Nightline and the Barbara Walters interview with the father? Apparently, they had everyone from the Canadian police to the Thai police working on this case. And Pat Ramsey knew that the police had a serious suspect in mind before she died.

Also interesting, whoever this guy they arrested...apparantly he admited to killing JonBenet...however he said that it was an "accident" that he really was just doing it for ransom $$$ and that he was infatuated with her beauty.

[SpursWoman]

Suspect in JonBenet Case 'So Very Sorry'
Calls Death of Child Beauty Queen an 'Accident'
By ALISA TANG, AP

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.


8/17/2006 08:40:28


Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

[PeterBurns]

I think this sick freak is lying...

[Kori Ellis]

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.


Asked if he knew the suspect, John Ramsey told KUSA-TV: "To the best of my knowledge, no."

:wtf

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I think this sick freak is lying...

There have been reports (so I've read, so take it at that value), that say Karr was not in Colorado on Christmas 1996 and there are photos to prove it.

I hope to God the journos question every aspect of every remark by everybody involved.

Since this broke right before budget meetings yesterday, and a high editor came to our city desk to ask the night editor to consider going with JonBenet on the front page, we had a little discussion amongst three reporters.




Apparently, it's mush safer to be poor and minority in this country since it'd seem that nothing but rich, white girls are all that are kidnapped and murdered.

Wait, we didn't put Al-Zarqawi high on the front page, but we're going to put JonBenet. That's a sad commentary on the state of journalism.


And just to make it known, the paper used the standard JonBenet photo in the left rail as a tip to Page 4A. Almost (if not all) local front page.

[1Parker1]

I think this sick freak is lying...

:tu Yea...there's something fishy with the "comments" made by him in the article.

[Kori Ellis]

There have been reports (so I've read, so take it at that value), that say Karr was not in Colorado on Christmas 1996 and there are photos to prove it.



Yeah his ex-wife says he was in Alabama when she was killed. :wtf

Could this be a crazy guy who, for some reason, believes he killed her and he really didn't?

This is so weird.

[Kori Ellis]

Karr's ex-wife, Lara Karr, told KGO-TV in California that she was with her former husband in Alabama at the time of JonBenet's killing and she does not believe her former husband was involved in the homicide.

[1Parker1]

Yeah his ex-wife says he was in Alabama when she was killed. :wtf

Could this be a crazy guy who, for some reason, believes he killed her and he really didn't?

This is so weird.

Yea...and also, notice he doesn't say he killed her...He says "he was there when she died." Also, it just seems like this suspect came out of the blue. I guess we'll know for sure once the DNA evidence comes out and if it's a match...

[1Parker1]

Just curious, but for those of you who think that the parents were somehow involved in the murder...what do you all think would be their motive?

[Kori Ellis]

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 Wednesday 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.

[tlongII]

This has got to be the strangest case I've ever heard of. I don't understand what kind of motive her parents could have had either, unless her dad was a sick son-of-a-bitch. Every time I would see film of Jon-Benet it would remind me of my niece.

[Fillmoe]

this whole time i thought it was the parents. next thing you know they are gonna find nicole simpsons killer......

[T Park]

Very strange.

Very very strange.

It sounds almost like a fiction murder mystery written by Michael Connelly.

[T Park]

I wonder when they will find the real killers in the O.J. Simpson case?

They had the real killer and he was let go...

[Jimcs50]

this whole time i thought it was the parents. next thing you know they are gonna find nicole simpsons killer......

How can you think it was the parents??? All the physical evidence and common sense eliminated them. It was always known that it was an outsider.

[tlongII]

How can you think it was the parents??? All the physical evidence and common sense eliminated them. It was always known that it was an outsider.

Virtually everyone thought one of or both of the parents had something to do with it. I'm still not convinced they didn't.

[Mixability]

Just curious, but for those of you who think that the parents were somehow involved in the murder...what do you all think would be their motive?

No motive in my opinion, just kinda like an advanced form of Munchausens(sp) syndrome?

[2Blonde]

I don't think it was the parents.

[1Parker1]

No motive in my opinion, just kinda like an advanced form of Munchausens(sp) syndrome?

Never heard of that...what is it?

[Mixability]

Never heard of that...what is it?

I think its where you make your kid to be sick all the time for attention. Maybe they killed her for the fame of it, sick, I know, but just my opinion.

[PAWW]

I never thought the parents actually killed her but they had something to do with covering it up, I'm convinced of that. I don't think this guy did it, it just doesn't add up to me. Tha fact that he is suddenly a suspect after Patsy dies is also suspicous.

[T Park]

Ive always found it hard to believe, this girl was raped and murdered in the basement, and the parents had ZERO idea about it.

[1Parker1]

In the basement? I thought it was in her room?

What was she doing sleeping in the basement at night...?

[ObiwanGinobili]

Munchausens is when you make yourself sick to gain attention.
Munchausens by proxy is when you make a realative - most often a child - sick to gain attention for yourself. But there have been some case where the one intentionaly sickened was an older relative

[Duncan Fan]

Ive always found it hard to believe, this girl was raped and murdered in the basement, and the parents had ZERO idea about it.

That is what I was thinking.. MSNBC had a story quoting him as saying he picked her up from school and took her to her basement.. What kid is in school the day after Christmas..Too many holes in this story. There is no way this guy would suddenly confess after getting away with it for ten years. I want to know how he can get in and out without leaving any trace. If he was that good, he wouldn't be confessing now..

[Jimcs50]

In the basement? I thought it was in her room?

What was she doing sleeping in the basement at night...? They had used a stun gun on her in her room and then carried her to the basement. Had the parents been involved, the stun gun would not have been needed...tlong!!!

All the physical evidence , the fibers from the rope, the DNA, the tape had no lonkage to any family member or came from the house.

[tlongII]

They had used a stun gun on her in her room and then carried her to the basement. Had the parents been involved, the stun gun would not have been needed...tlong!!!

All the physical evidence , the fibers from the rope, the DNA, the tape had no lonkage to any family member or came from the house.

I never heard anything about a stun gun. Link?

[SpursWoman]

I watched a long special on it recently, and they said there was no signs that anyone forced her out of her bedroom, so it had to have been someone she knew. I didn't hear anything about a stun gun either. :wtf

Did anyone else find it odd that Pat Ramsey...in pretty much every interview...referred to her daughter as "JonBenet", and not "my daughter"? The one that got me especially was "I did not kill JonBenet." It just seems weird to me, as a mother, that she wouldn't have said: "I did not kill my daughter". That gave me the creeps.

[2Blonde]

I never heard anything about a stun gun. Link?Here is some more info on evidence. this link also has stuff about the stun gun and lots of interesting stuff about Jon & Patsy Ramsey and how cooperative they were and basically were railroaded. If you click on the links just to the right in the article there sections where it will address all aspects of the case. It is very interesting.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/ramsey/book_9.html

[Mixability]

Did anyone else find it odd that Pat Ramsey...in pretty much every interview...referred to her daughter as "JonBenet", and not "my daughter"? The one that got me especially was "I did not kill JonBenet." It just seems weird to me, as a mother, that she wouldn't have said: "I did not kill my daughter". That gave me the creeps.

That would make me think that her daughter was nothing more than a possession to her. A big money-making possession for that matter. Karmas a bitch, whoever did it will get theirs.