August 21, 2006
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John Mark Karr
The news media spent the last few days doubting whether John Mark Karr was really the killer of JonBenet Ramsey. I want to turn to the reaction of the family. A few family members were releasing statements. The statements were troubling. They made statements like “We don’t want to jump to conclusions.” “We don’t want the same thing to happen to him that happened to us.” Is that the response of a person who lost their child?
It seems like it would be difficult to make such a neutral statement when someone is confessing to your child’s murder. You might say I think he is lying and he is one sick man. You may say I am not sure but I want to find out. You might even say I know he did it.
But instead the family and friends say John Ramsey is basically saying that we don’t want the same thing to happen to him that happened to us. That at all levels appears strange to me.
Do you share the media’s skepticism that this guy really did it?
Comments (136)
I have no clue who did it anymore.
…that does seem strange, though, and hey, I got first!
yes but i don’t think their reaction is weird. it has been long enough that they have probably done their grieving and are able to be rational about it.
FRY HIM ANYWAY! We already know that he already messed with little kids.
He’s a KNOWN pedophile! LOCK HIM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY! Bastard.
hmm…his confession doesn’t match the other evidence of the crime therefore it’s very unlikely that he is the killer and it is probably just a publicity stunt.
and i don’t think you sleep.
I don’t know as I don’t have enough information yet….
I think that “normal” reactions to a tragedy (or matters associated to it) are hard to gauge. We don’t always behave “as expected” under normal circumstances much less something like this…. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt – I’m not in his shoes, so I don’t know what he is thinking.
Share the skepticism? Nope. I have a much deeper level of skepticism that we will ever know anything even resembling the true and complete story of JonBenet Ramsey’s death. Her parents are, once again, acting quite strangely. If this man did kill their child, how did he get into their basement to do so? None of it makes sense at all, and never will.
I think it’s been so long for them and such a struggle that maybe they are able to step back from the emotional situation and be very neutral. That being said, we (the public) also don’t know what their advisors are telling them to say. Many people in this situation don’t even write their statements themselves.
I honestly don’t really care
BTW this guy is freaky-looking!!!
To be honest with you Dan, this is the first time I’ve seen his face and I haven’t really watched the news in the last 2 or 3 years. But by looking at his picture, i could tell you that he has the molester “look”…I know that this may sound strange, but you can see a lot of similarities with these guys (ask anyone who has done some prison time). I’d say he did it.
At first blush, yes, I do have my doubts as to whether he really did it. It may be that he’s just a really sick man who wishes he did it, in which case he should be put away in a mental hospital for the rest of his life. But I’ll reserve my final opinion until we hear more about what the investigation produces.
yeah, they probably have stuff that they’re being told to say.
as far as whether that man did it or not. no clue. but if you’re messed up enough to confess to it, then he’s probably done stuff just as bad and feels the need to confess to something?
I don’t think he did it. I think he was coerced into confessing. Yeah, he’s crazy, but I don’t think he did it.
Yeah…..I don’t think he did it either. I think he wishes he would have done it. I do think he’s guilty of other crimes though.
I agree that their response is troubling. To me, it says, “We’ve known all along who killed her and we’ll never tell.”
That man looks disturbed!
Hard to say whether he did it or not. Hopefully they’ll get it figured out. He is definitely one sick individual though, whether he’s guilty of this crime or not. :(
Actually, I do. Especially when the man’s ex- says there’s no way he was near Boulder… He seems psycho to me, and this may be a waste of attention. Let the DNA tests prove or disprove. He may just be a nut case.
I just find it funny how the US media likes to act as Judge, Jury and Executioner. Often trying people (before a grand jury of the public) even before they are to report for their respective trials.
yeah
I think the guy was in trouble with the law in CAmbodia and doesn’t want to be punished under THEIR laws. So…he made it up so that he would be sxradicted to the US where he would get 3 hots and a cot until they figure out that he made the whole thing up. Thats not to say that he’s not a sick man, but he’ll get treated far better here than there.
I’ll have no opinion until the DNA testing is done.
Hmmm =-/
I do share some doubts…some things just dont make sense…like John saying he picked Jonbenet up from school when it was holiday vacation…but i totaly agree that the family is a bit…odd…it’s all fishy too me…i think they (the family) know wayyy more than we think
Honestly I don’t think he did it. He statements are contradictary to the evidence. He dropped her off after school? It was Xmas day there is no school. He never said he killed her. “I was with her when she died”. He may have molested kids but probaly little boys. He looks like he’s on something. He’s sick alright but is he sick enough to kill?
I don’t think you sleep either =)
I think we shouldn’t trash the Ramseys for their reaction to this development. We have not walked in their shoes so how can we judge how they should or should not react. If Carr is not the murderer I think it is just another blow to a family who has been through enough hell in this life.
I do not know what the Ramsey’s went through but I am sure it was humiliating after their loss(assuning they had nothing to do with the murder). I think their statement shows that they do not want someone else to be treated unfairly,I think it is a gracious statement.They have time enough to issue angry, venting statements when they know for certain if he is guilty or not.
I don’t think he did it. It seems to convenient…
I finally get to answer a question in the top 50 and I have no idea what you are talking about.
who knows…waiting for the hardcore evidence
RYC: lol oh yeah! this world would def be better if everyone had a higher dose! haha
I have no idea if the guy did it. But to the real point, after what the media did to the family of JonBenet Ramsey, it is not usual at all that they would have no faith in anything being reported. Their reaction is not strange at all, considering the fact that the last time the media thought they had the killer, it was them.
is it odd for someone who went through such an accusation falsely not to want the same to happen to someone else? I share Mr. Ramsey’s sentiments.
skeptical…yes
What interests me about the case is if it turns out Karr did it then a lot of people owe the ramseys an apology.
I think he just always like little girls, I mean he married twice to females that were young. 13 and 16 who would let there daughters get married that young. I think hes in a fantasy land wishing. I really dont think he did it.
No, I think he is doing it for the free press to make money on talk shows so that he can get a sex change operation. He still has to be guilty of something. He is a Perv.
I think it’s a pretty “Christian” thing for them to do. I’m not sure of their religion, or if they even have one, but…I guess I don’t think it’s strange at all. I would call it honorable. They have been in a living hell these past 10 years with everyone thinking that they are murders, and yet they have been slow to pass judgement. We could all benefit from their example.
I’m not sure…he seems a little crazy to me…maybe he thinks he really did it but he didn’t and he’s just crazy enough to believe that he did.
Isn’t hiss tory just totally bogus? I mean, isn;t there a witness claiming he was in a different state that day? And didn’t he claim to pick her up from school on the day of her murder, when it was actually christmas and there was no school? If the story is THAT weak then I don’t understand how he can be seriously investigated.
I do also think that 10 yrs may be enough time to put some perspective on things. You can never get over the loss of your child, but 10 yrs does give you enough time to grieve so that, after you faced the nightmare of everyone thinking you killed your own kid, you might be able to see that this other guy seems to mostly have some mental issues but seems innocent (of this murder at least) and that you don’t want people jumping to conclusions.
If it were my child, I’d want to make sure we got the RIGHT person, not just whoever happenbed to come along and make a few claims
yes, and I don’t think the families reaction is weird. I rather think it is kind. As much as they would want to find thier child’s murderer, they too know what it is like to be pressured, interrogated, and suspect.
he is scary man… idk if he did it or whatever but he scares me. Yeah anywho… if he didn’t do it he does have warrents out in the U.S. that have to be dealt with.
No because I don’t care.
Maybe the Ramseys don’t want to get their hopes up?
Personally I think he’s a creepy guy but that doesn’t mean he did it. He could just want the attention? Though that seems pretty drastic.
If she’d been killed only a year ago, I could see a different reaction. but it’s been almost 10 years now and you have to think that everyone who knows them assumes they killed their own daughter, I mean their lives have been ruined by speculation, true or not, so it could be possible that after 10 years of that they really don’t want someone else going through that needlessly. I would think that if they were guilty, they would jump at the chance to clear their name. The whole thing is just bizzare anyway.
I think the family’s attitude is rather admirable, especially considering the amount of stress they’ve been under.
As for the media’s skepticism… well, a lot of the initial evidence pointed to this guy, but I think it’s absolutely crucial to evaluate the case from all angles until they’re absolutely positive.
That is a little odd…
i really don’t think he did it. nothing adds up.
Yes. He is one perverted sick jerk. But as usual the media is totally irresponsible in their reporting. Just report the facts ‘mam, just the facts. I don’t trust anyone in connection with this case…not the family….not the proscecutor …. not the media …. and certainly not this Karr freak. I don’t think he did it, but that is just a gut feeling on my part.
If he’s a known pedophile, we should just string him up by his toenails anyways, and have that be the end of that. I think that this all became too easy for the Ramsay case. No, I don’t think they have the killer.
I haven’t been following the whole JonBenet whatnot. It’s not up to me to decide.
I look at this guy’s face and can see that he is a definite creep. He himself admitted to it; if forensic evidence confirms it, then he should be killed in exactly the same way. Let some insane body builder drug him, rape him, then strangle him.
He looks like a killer, why not?
Different Media stations lie about different things
It’s nearly impossible to tell
Before I would give an opinion, I guesss I would want complete understanding of what was said and the context. Especially if my opinon were to influence the outcome of a decision that affects a person’s life. These are serious charges, and I would hope that the agency representing us is doing the job we ask them to do – fairly and thoroughly investigate the facts and make an informed decision. Entertainment, popularity, advertising dollars, and fame should not play a role. Boy, am I a nieve idealist, or what?
Well, it has been six years (I think?) since her death and possibly the need for a blame is not so demanding as it was when it occurred. In other words, they’re not so set on finding someone to throw in jail as they are making sure it’s the right man.
That’s my two cents, anyway. And yes, I share the skepticism.
suspicious, i dont know
Give him a chance. Wait for accurate results.
<33 Kimmy
Personally, I think he’s just making it up. Sure he’s guilty of a lot of things, but not the JonBenet thing. Or at least, that’s my opinion. In truth, I have no idea.
as they say in Maine, “Who can know the mind of a squid?”
Yes, I do, although I think he thinks he did it. We’ll know when the DNA results are in.
I do, but I also think that if it were my daughter that had been murdered, I’d be more apt to believe him and jump on the band wagon to bring him down, not brush it off… weird.
I don’t find it weird. If I’d spent as many years under the cloud of suspicion with all those horrible things being said about me, I’d be reluctant to rush to judgment, too. I also have no opinion on who actually did it.
I think it’s just retarded. I doubt he did it–his wife says he was with them. I think he’s just a weirdo sicko. But probably not the murderer.
He came out and said he did it…” I loved Jonbenet very much her death was an accident” First of all…no death that groosem is an accident…and second..HELLO! What more proof do you need than that??
I still think the parents killed her
Who knows anymore, it’s been 10 years, and I think anything is going to be hard to prove at this point. I don’t find it all that strange about the parents–like I said, it’s been 10 years, so they’ve had some time to deal with their grief and what not.
Since he knows details that weren’t released to the public, I think that if he didn’t do it, he knows who did.
I don’t think John Karr did it; it’s not unusual for people to confess to crimes they didn’t commit. I can also see why he would rather be in a Colorado jail than a Thai jail. Since 1976, Colorado has executed only one criminal; Thailand has executed over a hundred (granted, that’s comparing a state with a country, and the records I looked at ended in 2001).
We’ll have to see what the DNA results say. I always thought the Ramsey’s did it. I thought their reponse ten years ago was strange. Recent behavior seems explainable by the distance of time.
The guy is disturbed either way. I think they have more on him than they’re releasing to the press at this point.
Just found out I’m expecting my first child. I started a blogring for expecting parents or women who’ve been pregnant at some point. Support during this time is important. Anyone welcome, stop by.
I’m not going to speculate at who did it, but that guy is undeniably creepy looking
The family’s statement doesn’t sound weird in the context of murder. After already being dragged through the media, they don’t want anyone else to be wrongly accused. They should want something to be done with this guy though. It’s not safe to let him wander the streets. He’s already married a 12-year-old and claimed to be in love with a dead 6-year-old. The guy has problems… lots of them!
And yes, I share the media’s skepticism. I don’t think he killed her.
I was listening to teh GLenn Beck Radio show on Friday, and they had someone call up who was imitating Michael Jackson. He said,” Jsut look at the man, He’s guilty as sin!”
but, that does seem a very disturbing response to someone who confesses to ahving murdered your kid.
WE are jumping to conclusions.
I was pretty young when this all happened (12ish years)…so I don’t have a comment about this-
I just wanted to say that I feel special that Dan commented on my site!
You betcha.
definately think there is something wrong with the guy but I don’t think he did it.
I’m not sure who is the murderer anymore, but if you look at the facts about him, he’s a very creepy guy…
I don’t know anymore. But I think that he should be in jail….fucking wierdo.
Who cares? He’s a pedophile lock him up and throw away the key…
The media always lays into people before anything is actually known. I will believe he did it when his DNA is tested, not before.
I think he likes the attention. I am not sure he did it.
I find it odd that he was talking and admitting to the media before he even talked to the police. Attention-seeking me thinks.
well no one can be sure but DNA will prove everything what i dont get is why would he confess to somthing he didn’t do?
and why would the family have such strange reactions?
Um…i don’t know…
…
I don’t really know. I haven’t been following the whole thing. I barely even remember when the murder happened, I was too little. But the family’s casual remarks do seem rather strange.
death really messes with people’s heads, so there isn’t a real ‘normal’reaction to this situation. I dont know enough about the case yet to form an opinion, though.
The parents are the killer. Pat Ramsey died a murderer. This Karr guy isn’t the killer, but he needs to be put away a very long time for messing with children.
I don’t think he did it….crazy yes…murderer no.
Concerning the father’s response, after ten years, one has time to think things over and realize that the sort of quick vengeance popular right after such a crime is committed is not usually the best way of doing things.
Concerning the guy accused of doing it, according to the local paper, he confessed that he brought JonBenet home from school, drugged her, raped her, and then killed her by accident when he panicked. According to the official police investigation, school was closed for Christmas break, no drugs were found in her system, there was no conclusive evidence either way as to a raping, and she was killed with a garrote. It’s kind of hard to kill a person like that by accident.
Some things I’ve read about him said that he was obsessed with Jon Benet, and after she died, he researched every last detail and all sorts of stuff about her. Sometimes when someone is obsessed with someone to the point of mania, he will confess to the murder of the person he is obsessed with. In the twisted, maniacal, point of view of such people, to confess to the crime brings him closer to the person he was obsessed with, and even the risk of the death penalty is worth it.
i share the fact that i don’t want to see that f%$#*ng pencil neck on my computer screen ever, ever again.
We won’t know for sure until the investigation is done. But I still think someone did an inside job.
IS THAT THE GUY I SAW ON TV???
ARE YOU THAT GUY??
IS THAT YOU????
no im jk but seriously though that guy said he did it so i think that they should take advantage of that and just throw him in jail i mean thats what he is expecting to happen and if they just accept that he did it that will bring closure to the parents or guilt if they actually did it themselves or wahtever and also the best thing about it is that we wont have to hear about this gay ass case anymore
I haven’t been following this very closely, but I’ve seen a couple of segments about it. My dad said he thought there were some holes in his confession. If John’s wife is telling the truth, then, he has a really good alabi. I also heard that he was writing a book about child molesters, or jail life or something. I don’t know if one of his friends made that up to help his case, or something, but that seems like a possible reason for an innocent person to confess. It certainly looks like he wrote the ransom note. I looked at the picture on the screen of the ransom note, and part of it said: “Listen carefully! We, a group of individuals…” It implies that more than one person was involved, right? The initials fit his nickname or something, though. It’s all very strange. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t kill her, but if he didn’t, he should go to jail for interfering with a crimminal investigation. I’m interested to see what the DNA results are.
I don’t think her parents are acting strangely. I think they don’t want to be fried by the media again if they say the wrong thing about Karr. Plus, it’s been a decade. They can now think rationally instead of reacting emotionally.
I also think the family might have been experiencing denial, which, according to Monk, is the first stage of grief.
Yeah, I do. But I don’t deny that he looks really creepy euuurgh.
My friend’s dad said, “As my old college roommate would say, if he’s not guilty of this, he’s guilty of something else.”
Me being a paranoid conspiracy person, I’m now thinking they had a whole child pageant brothel ring in lilly white boulder and the whole bunch of them are sick sick SICK, this freakazoid and the whole family.
But who knows.
Whatever I think is irrelevant, but it just so happens that people with three names are known for highly publicized crimes. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, James Earl Ray, and even regular criminals have three names, we picked up our local newspaper and everybody busted for various crimes had three names. So based on this principle, he is guilty.
that’s very strange… how can you not jump to conclusions when he is confessing it to u? and even if he did do it, he is confessing so he obviously doesn’t care about you jumping to conclusions…
i guess the only explanation to their reaction might be that they don’t want to get their hopes up and have him really be innocent.
I believe her parents did it.
I think the family is showing compassion for a not proven guilty individual. They went through it themselves, and it will rip this mans life apart forever even if he is innocent.
I’d have to say I lean both ways. I honestl can’t pick whether he did it or not.
I’m a bit skeptical because his story does not line up with evidence. But if you gave me 10 years I could make up a story that is close enough to get me tried and far enough off to find me innocent. I think that is what he is doing and he will get found innocent and then not be able to be retried even though he probably did it.
The facts must speak for themselves when they come out. We are in no position to judge what JonBenets family says or does. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes….
I am not sure if he did it or not. There are questions to be asked and answered.
Yes I share it. I do not think he did it. Time will tell if I am correct.
Yes.
it is none of my business. all i can do it pray for her father
I don’t know, but I think whoever in the family said that did it.
Yes, I definitely do!!
i dunno..he’s still guilty whether or not he killed JonBenet…
But i still think her parents did it…too many things that local cops messed up at the beginning of the investigation..
he looks freakin creepy!
If he did do it, he had help. The forensics says that the work done that night was too much for one person to do without getting caught. His version of events has quite a few inconsistancies in it that could get him off if they take him to trial. I believe the evidence that says he may not be the guy. he’s not the first to claim a murder he didnt commit
I really don’t understand the media’s obsession with this story. I didn’t understand it when the girl was killed and I don’t get it now. What is so special about Jon Benet Ramsey?
psh, no. the man is guilty
Why is it strange that the family says that? They have suffered accusations that they killed their own daughter for ten years – if it happened to me, I wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone else. It isn’t the same situation but maybe they just don’t want someone else to be plagued by the media and tabloids like they were. Him coming out brings it all back to them. If he has to go to trial, they will relive the entire thing. Maybe now that the end is near, they just want it all to go away. They don’t want to have to see his face everywhere they go.
10 years and he is the first suspect other than the parents? if it were my beautiful daughter, i would have found out something by now. the guy is definitely creeepy, but i think we have to see all the evidence before we decide if he is the killer.
I don’t think he did it. Just looking at that guy freaks me out!
He’s so wierdddd.
I have no idea what to think ..
hell, they could of paid him to “confess” !
I really don’t know what to think. To me, the statements made by the Ramseys are very troubling and it makes me think that they know more than what they let on to the public. A lot of things about this case don’t make sense, so nothing at this point really surprises me. Hmm… I don’t know. I honestly think that the Ramsey’s know who killed JonBenet all along.. it seems that way by some of their comments.
You must admit though, the man looks like a pedophile.
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I dont think he did it, it just in some spots adds up to well, and in otehrs is too far off.. I mean, why would he just say while in jail “I kiled jonbennet? I raped her” i mean it dont make since…
btw wasnt there eveidence of her body having sexual abuse?
I have a real problem with this case, from the beginning. Why in the world would the police let a family member search the house when they were there to do it. Any evidence would have and was lost.. I still think that the family is involved, this guy is a “patsy” pardon my play on words. I think that he has been paid to fall on his sword and take the blame, knowing full well that they don’t have the evidence to convict. As as looks, he looks like a molester. My heart goes out to the baby she is dead and all this playing around. I think a family member did it and they are covering up
anyone who admits to doing such a thing is a sick bastard….!!!!
Actually, you see thoughtful response born out of painful personal experience in many other news stories.
Just One Quick Example:
Beheaded man’s father: Revenge breeds revenge (06.08.2006)
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/08/berg.interview/index.html
Michael Berg talks about the death of his son and al-Zarqa (who beheaded Berg’s son).
i think the whole situation with the parents is strange. i also think that he didn’t do it. i may be proven wrong, but i do share the skepticism. and yes, he does look creepy and since he has molested, throw him in jail.
HAY MURDERS HAPPEN EVERY DAY!!! WHY DOES THE MEDIA CARE ABOUT THIS ONE!???
That’s a great position you folks have been carrying out there.
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