

Court TV's Beth Karas discusses the arrest of suspect John Mark Karr
August 17, 2006
Court TV Host: Beth Karas is here with us now to discuss the arrest of a suspect in Thailand for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey.
Question from rrsafety1: Beth, is there any information AT ALL that places JMK in the Boulder area during the time in question. I don't mean from the DA's office, but information gathered by news organizations that show in any way that JMK had the opportunity to kill JonBenet??
Beth Karas: Not that I am aware of at this time.
Question from ctv_warhorse2: Reports are that Mr. Karr was arrested for a sex crime, what was the crime? Does he have a criminal record in the US?
Beth Karas: He has five misdemeanor counts pending in northern California for possession of child pornography. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has said he has a record in Alabama and Georgia also, but I do not know those details yet. He's skipped out on the California case in late 2001 and may have left the country at that time. That was in December 2001.
Question from Trisha: Beth, how long will it be before we know concrete evidence? Will they keep it all sealed?
Beth Karas: It may be months before we have answers to a lot of our questions The District Attorney is keeping her hand close.
Question from jd: Are Karr's human rights being protected in Thailand during his interrogations?
Beth Karas: It's my understanding that Karr is being turned over to U.S. officials. He's not being held on any Thai charges. It appears that his rights are being protected. No lawyer, however, has surfaced yet to say that he or she is representing Karr.
Question from Lori: HI Beth, Do you know if it's true that Karr was emailing Patsy?
Beth Karas: The Ramsey attorney, Linn Wood, has confirmed that Karr wrote to Patsy Ramsey and that she immediately forwarded everything to investigators. His statement was that he tried to correspond, in writing, but she did not respond and handed the information over to investigators.
Question from Miriam1: Beth, what do you think of the validity of the confession from Karr?
Beth Karas: Until there something, some forensic evidence linking Karr to the crime scene, his confession is not enough.
Question from MayInNJ: Beth, did the Ramsey family ever meet this guy and was he ever on a suspect list?
Beth Karas: As far as we know he was never on the police radar in this case until the last month. John Ramsey said yesterday that he didn't believe that he knew him.
Question from NicNYC: It has been reported today (on MSNBC) that Karr told Thai interrogators that he picked JonBenet up at her school and brought her to the family's basement? Additionally, the Ramsey family has always stated she was with them all day. Furthermore, the family had just gotten home from a Christmas gathering. Therefore, have you heard anything to corroborate this alleged statement by Karr?
Beth Karas: No, I havent heard anything to corroborate that.
Question from tara: Beth, when is Karr expected to be back in the states?
Beth Karas: We don't know. Probably next week, but we don't know if it will be early or late next week.
Question from tribe: Didn't Thai police arrest Karr because of the warrant out of California?
Beth Karas: No, they arrested him from the Boulder warrant, for murder.
Question from Del: Beth, what kind of child pornography?
Beth Karas: We don't know the details, but it's my understanding that they found it on the computer. But I'm going to the Bay area next week on Dyleski's trial and intend to snoop around, so I may have more answers next week.
Question from ForensicChic: Beth, I heard that Karr was in trouble in Thailand . Do you think he could be making up his story so he can get back to American soil?
Beth Karas: That's one theory, but it's my understanding that he's not being held on any Thai charges, so it's not clear whether he really is in any trouble in Thailand. I have to run now to get ready to go on-air. Thanks, everyone.
Court TV Host: Thanks, Beth.

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