Wow. I never thought I’d see this day:
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.
Patsy is dead and I doubt John was in Thailand. Which means that the suspect is someone else and the Boulder DA spent the last ten years accusing these parents of raping and killing their little girl.
Update #1: Its definitely not the parents. CBS News reports that the suspect is a 41 year old schoolteacher who was being held in Thailand on unrelated sex charges.
Update #2: CNN has updated the article quoted above and the suspect now has a name:
A law enforcement source identified the suspect as 41-year-old John Mark Carr, a one-time 2nd-grade school teacher.
Update # 3: John Ramsey has released a statement:
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.”
Update # 4: Andrew Cohen at the Washington Post says that the Ramsey family is owed an apology:
Whether John Mark Karr ultimately is convicted or not of the most famous tabloid crime since O.J. Simpson stalked the night, the first thing that ought to happen is that the authorities should hold a press conference and publicly name from A to Z all those quick-to-judge people who so loudly and repeatedly and with creepy glee accused John and Patsy Ramsey of murdering their beautiful little child in 1996.
More coverage at Outside The Beltway
August 17th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
THE *key* to answering the guilt question will be a comparison of the DNA found under JonBenet’s fingernails and in her underwear with that of John Mark Karr. If the DNA doesn’t match, he is NOT the killer. His ex-wife, Lara Karr, also gave him an alibi, saying they were in Alabama the night the murder took place. She has NO reason to even open her mouth to help the guy. After all, she divorced him after he was charged for child pornography back in 2001 (a charge that is still outstanding).
I just watched part of a news broadcast with John Mark Karr — including his verbal statements that were quoted by the Associated Press earlier. My guess is that he’s a psycho who studied the case so long he has personalized it. In his psychopathic, pedophile mind, he’s is sorry JonBenet died — and feels guilty because he couldn’t do anything to stop the murder. He has studied the case and now fantasizes about being a part of it. His comment, “In every way, it’s not at all what it seems to be.” also tells me he’s dellusional.
It’s also pretty clear to me that this guy is gay. Therefore, he wouldn’t have fallen “in love” with JonBenet Ramsey, nor would he have drugged her to have sex with her — which, btw, doesn’t fit crime scene evidence at all. Karr is likely mentally unstable — which is pretty clear from the video interview, too.
I’m going to go ahead and prematurely conclude that John Mark Karr is NOT JonBenet Ramsey’s killer, but he is probably guilty of other crimes — such has child molestation, being a purveyor of child pornography and possibly kidnapping of young boys for the purpose of sexual abuse.
There’s more info, including quotes, on my blog. THANKS for the story! Keep up the good work.
August 17th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I agree that the DNA will be the determining factor here….and its still unclear to me how Karr could’ve been in Boulder in December 1996.
I did note that he was apparently convicted some time ago of a child pornography offense, though, so its possible he’s a pedophile.
August 17th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
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