Suspect In JonBenet Murder Flies Back To U.S.
Posted August 20, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The suspect in the murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey left Thailand for the United States Sunday, where he’s expected to face charges in connection with the youngster’s death.
John Mark Karr was escorted onto Thai Airways International flight TG794 by three U.S. officials – it took off from Don Muang International Airport at about 8pm local time (9am EDT). The flight was bound for Los Angeles.
Karr, wearing a red shirt and tie, said nothing to the media as he made his way to the airport. Police said the 41-year-old former schoolteacher seemed nervous as he prepared to be deported.
“Generally he is fine, but a little bit nervous as the time of his departure approaches,” immigration police chief Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsiskul said.
“We treat him well since he is a high-profile suspect. Yesterday he said that he wanted to eat American food so we ordered from Kentucky Fried Chicken for him, but this morning he had the standard breakfast (of Thai food).”
Though Karr’s flight lands in Los Angeles, he’ll go from there to Boulder, Colo., where he could faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault in connection with the 1996 killing of the child beauty queen.
While on the flight, the murder suspect enjoyed a dinner in business class other passengers must have envied. His meal, served on a starched white table cloth, included pate, king prawns, beer and a glass of Chardonnay.
Another revelation about the suspect emerged Sunday when a Bangkok doctor specializing in sex-change operations said Karr had sought treatment.
“He was one of my patients,” said Dr. Thep Vechwijit at Pratunam Polyclinic confirmed. He didn’t offer details, but a clinic employee speaking anonymously said Karr had asked about a sex-change operation.
The divorced father of three had previously been held on charges of possessing child pornography. In recent years he’d looked for teaching jobs in Europe, Central America and Asia. He was arrested just after starting a job teaching second grade in Bangkok, according to Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy.
Karr has claimed he was with JonBenet when she was killed on Boxing Day, 1996 in the basement of the family’s home. He called the child’s death “an accident.”
