Aug 24, 2006 8:04 am US/Eastern
Karr Discussed JonBenet Murder In 2001
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
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Information about Karr was provided in 2001 to the investigating agencies in all those states, including Colorado, and there were follow-up discussions, the release said. (File)
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John Mark Karr first came to the attention of California officials five years ago when he emerged as a potential suspect in the murder of a 12-year-old girl and showed an "apparent fascination" with the murders of JonBenet Ramsey and Polly Klaas.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, which launched an investigation that would ultimately lead to Karr being charged with child pornography, made the disclosure in a statement Wednesday.
"In a few instances while he seemed to be wondering about the JonBenet Ramsey murder, he made uncertain allusions to placing himself in the killer's role," according to a statement by Lt. Dave Edmonds.
"However, we never uncovered any 'confession' statements, overt murder evidence, or other indications that John Karr possessed secret knowledge that only the murderer of JonBenet Ramsey would know."
The Sonoma department also noted Karr made references to two other crimes in two different states, including the 1993 murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas in Petaluma and a child molestation.
Information about Karr was provided in 2001 to the investigating agencies in all those states, including Colorado, and there were follow-up discussions, the release said.
Boulder police referred questions to the district attorney's office. A spokeswoman for that office did not return after-hours calls Wednesday.
The 2001 investigation is the earliest known time that Karr was brought to the attention of authorities investigating the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet in her Boulder County, Colo., home.
Ultimately, Karr, who did not appear to be a viable suspect in the 1997 murder of a 12-year-old named Georgia Moses, was charged with possession of child pornography. He fled and an arrest warrant was issued, but authorities said they were unable to locate him.
"During the course of our investigation in 2001, we learned of Karr's apparent fascination with the 1993 murder of Polly Klaas in Petaluma, and the 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado. In some writings, Karr presented ideas about what the murderers of Polly Klaas and JonBenet Ramsey must have thought and felt," the statement said.
Karr remained jailed in Los Angeles on Thursday awaiting transport to Colorado, which has issued a murder warrant for his arrest. He told reporters in Thailand, where he was detained last week, that he was with JonBenet when she died and that it was an accident.
Karr's family contends he was with them in Georgia at the time of the Colorado killing, while an ex-wife has said she believes Karr was likely with her in Alabama. Neither she or the family have offered definitive proof.
Beyond first-degree murder, the counts against Karr in a sealed probable-cause arrest warrant include murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault on a child.
In other developments Wednesday, Karr's relatives offered up the book and film rights to the family's story in hopes of raising money for a high-powered attorney to defend Karr against charges that he killed JonBenet.
"They're not looking for money for themselves," said Larry Garrison, a producer the family hired to represent them in media deals. "They're looking to support John's boys' college education and to make sure all legal fees are covered."
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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