JonBenet Cops Tipped To Karr In 2001

(CBS/AP)  As John Mark Karr sits in a Los Angeles jail awaiting extradition to Colorado to face charges in the 1996 murder of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey, there have been several developments in the case.

Wednesday, police in California revealed that they noticed five years ago that Karr had a fascination with the JonBenet slaying, and told Boulder police at that time what they knew.

Sonoma County, Calif., police say Karr was also focused on several other cases involving children, including 1993's highly publicized abduction and murder of Polly Klaas of Petaluma, Calif.

Also Wednesday, an ex-wife of Karr, who married him when she was just 13 years old, said in an ABC "Good Morning America" interview that he used to tell her about fantasies he had about little girls. Quientana Ray also alleges that she was drugged and things were done to her without her knowledge.

Her parents, appearing on the same broadcast, said they discovered letters Karr wrote to their daughter that were signed "S.B.T.C." — the same initials found on a ransom note left in the Ramseys' home on the day JonBenet was killed.

They did not show the letters during the interview and it is not clear whether they still have them.

Karr's family is also in the spotlight – after hiring an actor, author and producer to represent them in any media deals and use the cash to help them find a top attorney to represent Karr.

Karr told reporters in Thailand last week that he was with JonBenet when she died and that it was an accident. His family contends he was with them in Georgia at the time of the Colorado killing.

Police investigating the JonBenet murder have yet to reveal the nature of the evidence that caused them to charge Karr with felony murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and sexual assault on a child.

Last week was the first time the public first heard his name as a suspect in the JonBenet killing. Within hours, it came out that police had been watching him in Thailand for months – and arrested him, according to one report, when they became worried he might pose a danger to children in that country.

It now turns out that Karr's name surfaced a lot earlier: in 2001, when Sonoma County detectives investigating Karr as part of a child pornography case phoned police in Colorado – to tell them of Karr's "apparent fascination" with the JonBenet Ramsey murder.

A statement released Wednesday by the Sonoma County sheriff's office says Karr did not appear then to have any special knowledge of the Ramsey murder.

Karr remains in custody in Los Angeles, where he was transported after his arrest in Thailand. He's awaiting transfer to Colorado to face murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges in the Ramsey case. That might not happen until early next week, according to attorney Jamie Harmon, who is representing Karr along with Patience Van Zandt, who also represented him in 2001 when he was accused of possession of child pornography.

Larry Garrison, the actor, author and producer hired by Karr's father and brother to represent the family in any media deals - says that while the family's film and book rights are secured, no money has changed hands yet.

"They proclaim his innocence," says Garrison. "They feel he was not there at the time, that some of the statements made by the press are absurd."

The Karr family, he says, "are spiritually coming from the right place... They're not looking for money for themselves. They're looking to support John's boys' college education and to make sure all legal fees are covered."

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[semituf]

Well, here we go again,you good, God-fearing,hard-working folks who foot the bills of the "greatest country on earth"...DUE PROCESS of LAW. Our jutstice system is laughable to many foreigners. They know how to 'beat it' any day. It seems our law is on the side of guilty; especially if 'they' stand to gain fame and fortune finally, at the long long bitter end of a defence of the most despicable peopele and deeds one could imagine.DUE PROCESS of LAW....kinda sounds like 'do **** 'em all '...

[grouchomarc-2009]

Wonder if anyone ever investigated all the members of the Boulder police agenncies to see if any of them ever had any prior child abuse/pediphile/pornography issues?
Could certainly explain why so much botching has gone on for so many years. Perhaps it's the Chief...
a small city i once lived in had a fire marshall who whould start fires during the night so that he could solve them. The difference here is that, perhaps someone in the Boulder law inforcement doesn't want it solved!

[rwoodall2]

This man is sick. He definately has a reputation for preying on young girls. He is a sexual predator and needs to be off the streets.

Wheather he did it or not, im not sure but he doesn't need to be wandering around preying on young girls thats for sure.

[juliehg-2009]

Remember now, innocent until proven guilty. Then again, that's what they said about Scott Peterson.

[bfroggy-2009]

Who cares.

[tomflint69]

I agree with apdepetris. Further, Karr was also trying to change his *** and face surgery. This is also somewhat suspicious of him. and he not only married a 13 year old gal but also married another under age girl and separated her. She also told about Mr. Karr to be "slightly" mentally loose.

[ronniehm]

I think in this case his family is acting as his agent. That's against the law.

[apdepetris]

I believe there is already a law in place that people convicted of a crime are not allowed to profit from it i.e. movies, book deals, etc. His family is another story. I guess his family's hearts are in the right place with providing for his kids and things but it does seem a little weird.

As for saying Karr is just unusual and not unbalanced or wrong come on now. The guy married a 13 year old - that seems pretty wrong to me. Whether he committed the crime or not, he definately has a thing for little girls which is just creepy.