The Life Of JonBenet Murder Suspect

John Mark Karr Was Obsessed With Ramsey Case; Has A History With Kids

(AP)  After his brief work in the classroom, Karr sold used cars.

Marion County Probate Judge Annette Bozeman said Karr was in her office frequently, working on car titles, sometimes accompanied by Lara. "He was a very polite fellow, but he was a little unusual," she said.

Bozeman recalls a young man with hair down to his shoulders who told her Lara had not gone to the hospital to deliver their three children. "It seems he delivered his children at home," she said.

In 2000, Karr, who had taken classes at a college in Alabama, received a bachelor of science degree in liberal arts from Regents College, now Excelsior College, a distance-learning school based in Albany, N.Y.

He moved his family to California about the same time and in 2001, Karr found work as substitute teacher. But that came to an abrupt end when Karr, then 36, was arrested on five misdemeanor counts of possession of child pornography, according to the Sonoma County sheriff's office.

That is not the story Karr's father, Wexford Karr, says he was told at the time.

In an interview Wednesday with The Denver Post from his home in Atlanta, he said his son, told him he was being held in California as part of the investigation of the Ramsey case.

Wexford Karr said his son's intrigue with the Ramsey murder was the start of his troubles. That fascination began with voracious research for a college paper that so impressed a professor that the man suggested he write a book, Wexford Karr said.

Two days after Karr was arrested on the pornography charges, his wife filed for divorce.

In the affidavit filed with her divorce petition, Lara Karr said her husband "was told by one school in or about '97 or '98 that he would not be asked to continue to serve as a substitute teacher because he had a tendency to be too affectionate with children."

Karr pleaded not guilty to the California charges and after a series of court hearings, he was released from jail that October, ordered to report to a probation officer and avoid child pornography, children and places where children congregate, such as schools, beaches and parks.

In November of that year, a judge issued a restraining order for Karr to stay at least 100 yards away from his ex-wife and children — ages 8, 9 and 10 at the time — for three years.

In December 2001, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he violated the terms of his supervised release.

By that time, however, according to Karr's online resumes, he was again working with children, this time overseas.

He told prospective employers that, from 2001 to 2002, he taught English to grade-school children in Seoul, South Korea, and then in Heemstede, the Netherlands. From 2002 to 2003, Karr wrote, he worked as a private teacher and caregiver in Germany and the Netherlands.

Executives at the language schools on whose Web sites Karr posted his resume said Thursday said they did not recall him.

After leaving Europe, Karr told employers, he had made his way first to Costa Rica, teaching English to business people. But Mark Henker, the owner of the school where Karr says he worked, said Thursday the only John he's had working with him over the last few years went by a different name. Costa Rica immigration officials say a John Karr left Costa Rica on Aug. 3, 2004, crossing the border into Nicaragua by land.

Karr's resume, though, said his next stop was Honduras, where he claims to have returned to teaching students at an English school until 2005.

Then Karr arrived in Bangkok earlier this year and found work teaching second grade, a job he started just Tuesday.

But coincident with Karr's self-described hopscotch between jobs and countries, he also apparently began lengthy e-mail contact with a professor at the University of Colorado, Michael Tracey, who had investigated the Ramsey case, and with JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey.

Tracey told the AP that the correspondence began when Karr contacted him about his documentary on the case and stretched over four years. Karr never revealed his name. In May, Tracey said, he alerted the district attorney's office about the e-mail. He declined to provide a more thorough explanation.

Now investigators will rely on the e-mail, DNA gathered at the scene of the murder, and Karr's own statements to determine the truth.

[kmontroy]

I do not believe that John Karr is responsible for the death of Jonbonet Ramsey. Of all the 'holes' in his story and taking what he says and what the autopsy report has said doesn't match up. Plus even his ex wife claims he was with her on that fateful night. In my opinion this case will never be solved, whomever IS responsible will go to the grave with the secret. Yes I believe he has some psychological problems, and has some child pornography issues that the law needs to deal with. But his mannerism and what he has said doesn't add up to being the killer.

[tcredille76]

I am from Hamilton, AL where John Mark Karr is from. I did not know him personally but I know several people from here who did. Some say he was very different and creepy and others say he was normal. When this news came about, it SHOCKED our little town of around 7,000 people. One week ago we were just a normal little town in Alabama. Now we can't go to town without news media being everywhere. No one around here never would have thought something like this would happen. All I have to say is that it does not matter where this guy is from or who he is...if he did it, let there be justice. If he is the guy, then great, the killer was found. If not, I hope and pray this nightmare will be over for the Ramsey family real soon cause everyone here in Hamilton, along with the rest of the nation, wants justice served. This person or persons will have to face God on judgement day and he will give the biggest punishment of all!!! May God Bless the Ramsey family and trust in God that he will soon put this nightmare to rest.

I don't have reason to believe that he committed the crime. He is so anxious to admit and prove that he did it. I think that he was so obsessed with the case that maybe he has fathomed some belief that he was involved, when he really was not. His ex-wife stated he was at least 4 states away with her at the time of the murder. I think the mother was involved, still do. Your child was just beaten, raped and murdered in your basement (why she was alone?) and you don't cry or show any emotion? That just doesn't seem like the reaction a devasted mother of a beauty queen would have.

[dmamel]

We have been given a detailed history of Karr including exact dates he left one country or arrived in another. However, I have not read anything that puts Karr in Colorado, period, let alone at the time of the crime. One of his ex-wives has also said, for whatever it is worth, he was in Alabama at that time. It was exciting to think the perpetrator was in custody but, based on what little we know, I can't see a conviction forthcoming.

[princess052]

Does anyone has any idea about the name of the schools where he was employed..specifically in HOnduras?

[heartsick]

With heart felt respect to the parents - absolutely they need to know that they have the right guy - but for the rest of us, ultimately, Karr is a pedophile, and therefore should be shot. Period.
When a child is violated, a death takes place, though not always physical.

[ralan40]

All good points! Take a close look at his quotes only, though. If he confessed, why isn't his confession in quotes?
"I was with her when she died".."It was an accident". I see no quotes attributed to what they say he did. The only connection I see is that he lived near the Ramseys in GA and they moved after JB was born. He appears to be woven a little bit too much into this story.
Or it could be an "emotionally challenged" person obsessed with the murder case. But he couldn't be doing this to "get out of asian prison". It is reported that he's been writing to people for months prior to this...including MOM. I believe we have to fight the urge to rule anything out. Until then, all the Media is doing is what we are. Guessing

[china3us]

Certainly the guy is eager to confess. Have you ever seen prisons in Thailand???? No TV, no weightlifting room, no beds (only grass mats), bugs, rats, mosquitoes, no Air Conditioning......The guy knows if he confesses, he has a good chance of being extradited back to the US. Here the prisons are more like resorts.

[becka8]

Personally, i have been all about this case since it happened, this lil 6 yr old lost her life for what? I personally dont believe it was this guy, i believe he knows who it is, and hes taking the fall for someone else because for some reason he doesnt feel his life is worth anything anymore, but things arent adding up. I do no believe Mr. Karr did it. I hope they find the right person and take him down. I feel bad for the family to have to go this long without knowing the truth.

[efarrellu2]

I am annoyed that the media keeps calling John Mark Karr a "teacher". From what I understand, John Mark Karr is a substitute teacher. There is a BIG difference between a substitute teacher and a highly qualified teacher. (Please refer to the NCLB requirements) As a highly qualified teaching professional, I resent the fact that the media keeps calling this man a teacher. From what I understand, he took a few classes at a community college and did not even GRADUATE with a degree.