A University of Colorado spokesman, Barrie Hartman, said journalism professor
Michael Tracey communicated with Karr over several months and contacted police.
The university spokesman said he didn't know what prompted Tracey to become
suspicious of Karr.
Tracey produced a documentary in 2004 called "Who Killed JonBenet?" A woman
who answered the phone at a number under his name said he didn't live there
anymore; his office phone mailbox was full.
Investigators said at one point that JonBenet's parents were under an
"umbrella of suspicion" in the slaying, and some news accounts cast suspicion on
JonBenet's older brother, Burke. But the Ramseys insisted an intruder killed
their daughter, and no one was ever charged.
Over the years, some experts suggested that investigators had botched the
case so thoroughly that it might never be solved. The Ramseys moved back to
Atlanta after their daughter's slaying.
"It's been a very long 10 years, and I'm just sorry Patsy isn't here for me
to hug her neck," Wood said.
"John and Patsy lived their lives knowing they were innocent, trying to raise
a son despite the furor around them," he told MSNBC.
The Ramseys learned that police were investigating Karr at least a month
before Patsy Ramsey's death from ovarian cancer, the family said.
In a statement Wednesday, John Ramsey said that if his wife had lived to see
Karr's arrest, she "would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's
development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder."
Bob Raines, principal at Wilson Elementary School outside Petaluma, said he
twice hired Karr as a substitute in second- and fourth-grade classes in 2001.
After observing him, Raines said he concluded Karr hadn't been trained, had poor
skills keeping classes focused and was ineffective.
A couple months later, Sonoma County sheriff's officials sent a letter to
school officials saying Karr had been arrested, said Carl Wong, the Sonoma
County superintendent of schools.
Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse confirmed the child
pornography charges and arrest warrant against a John Mark Karr, though she
cautioned that she didn't know if he was the same person held Bangkok. State
records show Karr lost his teaching credential in 2002.
Police said Karr had been living in a dormitory-style guesthouse called The
Blooms in a neighborhood of massage parlors and travel agents that cater to
expatriate residents and sex tourists.
Suwat said U.S. authorities informed Thai police on Aug. 11 that an arrest
warrant had been issued for Karr on charges of premeditated murder. The warrant
was sent to Thai police on Wednesday.
"Through investigation we were able to determine where his residence was and
the Thais arrested him," Hurst said. "He did not resist. He did express
surprise."
Hurst said Karr has been "very cooperative" with authorities and that he's
shown a "variety of emotions."
Suwat said Karr arrived in Bangkok on June 6 from Malaysia to look for a
teaching job. It was not clear whether he had gotten a job, the police officer
said.
Karr's visa has been revoked for being an "undesirable person" after the
accusations against him, and U.S. authorities were expected to take him to the
United States in the next few days, Suwat said.
Hurst, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok, said that
Karr had left the United States several years ago and had not
returned.
