by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 17, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

ix-year-old beauty princess JonBenét Ramsey's murder Dec. 26, 1996 stunned the nation, creating one of the most celebrated unsolved murders in U.S. history. Strangled and possibly sexually assaulted in the basement of her home, Boulder, Co. Police focused heavily on JonBenét's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, yet they were never charged, fueling speculation about police incompetence or corruption. JonBenét's murder and the maelstrom of controversy surrounding the investigation filled the tabloids and daily talk show for years. Thursday's surprise announcement that an unknown suspect, John Mark Karr, confessed to the killing and was under arrest in Bangkok, Thailand, threw the media for a loop, reopening a dormant media feeding frenzy. Boulder D.A. Mary Lacy confirmed that the current investigation went for months leading to Karr's arrest.

      Lacy was quick to caution against jumping to conclusions about whether the case was indeed solved. There was no confirmation about any DNA or any other evidence linking Karr to the crime, despite his apparent confession. “Do not jump to conclusions; do not speculate. Analysis continues hour-to-hour,” said Lacy, thrilled by the possible breakthrough yet cautious that recent events could unravel. “I was with JonBenét when she died,” Karr confessed to the media, insisting, “Her death was accidental.” What gives the story teeth is Karr's sordid history, ejected in 2001from the Sonoma School District, charged with five counts of possessing child pornography. Karr no-showed at trial and fled the area, according to Sonoma County Sheriff Sgt. Rob Giordano. Karr was arrested Aug. 16 in Bangkok, notorious for the child sex trade and a magnet for pedophiles.

      For two years leading up to Karr's arrest, he corresponded with University of Colorado journalism professor Michael Tracey, an expert on JonBenét, known for his documentaries. When Karr's e-mails in recent weeks became more disturbed, Tracey contacted the Boulder D.A., who, in turn, began coordinating with U.S. and Bangkok authorities. Both John and Patsy Ramsey consulted with the D.A. about the possible lead, prior to Patsy's death from ovarian cancer June 24. Police records indicate Karr had a criminal record for sexually-related crimes near his homes in Alabama and Georgia. While these facts hint at Karr's motive, the D.A. hasn't confirmed any direct evidence linking him to the crime. Mentally disordered publicity-hounds sometimes confess to crimes they didn't commit for attention. Murders and sexual assaults usually leave DNA and other direct evidence.

      Boulder police collected plenty of DNA at JonBenét's crime scene. Despite convicted in the press, no DNA or other physical evidence connected the Ramsey's to the crime scene. Though the $18,000 ransom note was written on the Ramsey's paper and the handwriting resembled Patsy, FBI handwriting experts couldn't pin the note on the Ramseys. “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 pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder,” said John Ramsey, cautioning the press against jumping to conclusions. Karr's ex-wife already told San Francisco's KGO-TV that her ex-husband spent Christmas 1996 with her in Petaluma, Calif., throwing cold water on Karr's confession. She recalled her ex-husband's obsession with the murders of JonBenét and Polly Klass.

      Determining whether Karr's confession was real or a hoax is no easy matter. Unless Karr's DNA or other evidence matches samples at the crime scene, it's going to be difficult accepting his confession. Karr's ex-wife has no motive giving him an alibi, since the two have been divorced since 2002. Judging by Karr's sexual history and problems with the School Board, there's little doubt he was fixated on JonBenét. Whether he raped and killed her is another story. Many schizophrenics and psychotics suffer from delusions and hallucinations stemming from unpardonable guilt and grandiosity. Believing he was JonBenét's killer may give Karr the pathetic self-importance he lacks in real life. Law enforcement officials tend to take things on face value, not realizing that there are many reasons why mentally disordered individuals fabricate and make false confessions.

      Law enforcement agencies get many false leads in the course of criminal investigations. While false confessions are more rare, they do occur in high-profile cases likely to bring the kind of notoriety unknown to otherwise useless and boring individuals. If Karr's ex-wife gave an accurate report that she spent Christmas 1996 with her ex-husband, then the D.A. must have compelling DNA or other direct evidence linking Karr to the crime. “It was someone who had to know the family, where they lived, had to know her bedroom and to know to move her body downstairs,” said renowned forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee, raising doubts about Karr's recent confession. There's no evidence Karr was anywhere near Boulder at the time of JonBenét's death. Confessions from mentally disordered sex offenders require more than delusions and bizarre sexual histories to have credibility.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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