Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Ramsey Case Confession; Lebanese Troops Crossing Into Southern Lebanon Today

Aired August 17, 2006 - 06:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening this morning, a confession in the 1996 killing of JonBenet Ramsey. Forty-one-year-old American John Karr says the death was an accident, though. Karr arrested in Thailand. He'll be extradited to the U.S. within the week.
Israel turning over territory in southern Lebanon. About 2,000 Lebanese soldiers in the region. They'll help keep the peace between Israel and Hezbollah.

And more suspects in that alleged plot to blow up British flights to the U.S. An intelligence officials says Pakistani authorities hunting for three men who were in contact with the other alleged plotters.

Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad.

O'BRIEN: The death of JonBenet Ramsey has been the source of headlines and speculation for nearly 10 years now. And now this morning, a stunning on-camera confession.

Just a few hours ago, the suspect, John Mark Karr, being held in Bangkok, Thailand. There you see him in the middle of that picture.

We have reporters here and abroad looking at this story for us.

We begin with Atika Shubert, joining us live from Bangkok.

Atika, it was a remarkable scene.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really was. It was quite a chaotic scene this afternoon as Thai immigration officials brought out John Mark Karr, the suspect, before the press.

He's being held here behind me at the immigration detention center. And there was hardly any security. So press was really able to ask him direct questions.

Here's the video of where he made that admission, Miles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: What happened?

JOHN MARK KARR, CONFESSED TO JONBENET RAMSEY'S MURDER: Her death was -- was an accident.

QUESTION: So you were in the basement?

KARR: Yes.

QUESTION: Could you clarify your connection to the Ramsey family?

KARR: No comment.

QUESTION: How did you -- how did you get into the basement?

KARR: No comment.

QUESTION: And how -- how do you feel now?

KARR: I'm being treated OK.

QUESTION: How long had you known JonBenet?

KARR: No comment on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHUBERT: As you can see, he seemed very shocked and a bit shaken by all the up-close press coverage he was getting. Also at that press conference were Thai immigration officials and a U.S. Embassy representative. She actually outlined some of the details on how they found the suspect and also the charges that were being brought against him.

O'BRIEN: Atika, I'm sitting here...

SHUBERT: All those charges are being brought up by the state of Colorado, not -- not here in Thailand. That could expedite the process.

O'BRIEN: You know, I'm watching this, and it's reminiscent to me of Lee Harvey Oswald being ushered through the basement of the Dallas Police Department and shot by Jacky Ruby. It seemed like there was no security there.

SHUBERT: There was really hardly any security. And it's a bit of an unusual situation here. There have been cases, particularly with drug offenses here, where, when there is evidence, quite often they'll bring out the suspect, lay out the evidence for the press to see.

However, this case seems particularly unusual, not only for the way that he was presented before the press today, but also the way they're really trying to rush him through this extradition process, saying that he could be back in the U.S. within the week.

O'BRIEN: And not even handcuffed as he goes through all this.

Atika, is this at all normal for the Thai justice system to produce suspects like this and parade them before the media?

SHUBERT: I think this is a very unusual situation, particularly the way that he was arrested, really right outside of his apartment that he was apparently keeping here in southern Bangkok. And you're right, there seems to be an almost casualness about this.

He wasn't -- didn't have any handcuffs. But again, I think the emphasis here is not on police charges here in Thailand, but on those charges being brought up in the U.S. And for that reason, he's being held here at the immigration center, as opposed to police custody, and they're really trying to get him back as soon as possible.

And it should be pointed out that this is with the agreement of both Thai authorities and U.S. authorities -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: And apparently he's not at all fighting this extradition effort is he?

SHUBERT: Not at all. As you can see from that press conference, he really does look a bit shell-shocked. He seems just to be going with things, answering whatever questions he can. And again, Thai authorities say he has cooperated, that he already made a verbal confession. He already told the press in that admission that you saw earlier.

So, he does not seem to be putting up much resistance.

O'BRIEN: Atika Shubert, in Bangkok.

Thank you very much -- Carol.

COSTELLO: For JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, it was tragedy inside of a nightmare. For many years, they remained under this umbrella of suspicion, as authorities in Colorado once put it.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is live in Boulder with that part of the story.

Good morning, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, people here in Boulder waking up to banner headlines because of this case. And, of course, the last 10 years here in Boulder, in many ways, very tumultuous for JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey.

They moved away, lived here for many years under that umbrella of suspicion, as you mentioned, where investigators, many investigators believed that they might be suspects in this case. But over the years, they have also had a lot of support from family and friends who have steadfastly believed in their innocence. And they say that this arrest proves -- vindicates them in many ways.

John Ramsey, in a phone interview yesterday, said that he is not aware -- he doesn't think he knows John Mark Karr at this point, although it sounded like he was still waiting to hear some more information on that. But he also said that the investigation had intensified in the last three to four months, and that before his wife died two months ago of ovarian cancer, that she knew that an arrest was imminent.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JOHN RAMSEY, FATHER OF JONBENET: Based on what happened to us, I don't think it's proper that we speculate or discuss the case. I think it's important that justice be allowed to run its course and do its job. And so I really won't speculate or discuss what I know or don't know. I just think that's a -- it's an important lesson we can learn from this whole episode, that we shouldn't -- we shouldn't subvert a very good justice system.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And in a couple of hours here in Boulder, Colorado, prosecutors will hold a press conference. We suspect they will outline the charges against John Mark Karr. And we anticipate to hear a similar line of wording from the prosecutors here in Boulder, who probably want to be very delicate about what they say publicly about this case, a case that no doubt will draw intense media scrutiny throughout the day today -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I want to ask you about that intense media scrutiny, because how did they keep this under wraps? Because the tabloid newspapers have been following this case for the past 10 years.

LAVANDERA: Well, you know, that's a good question. You know, the fact that this investigation, as John Ramsey said, had intensified over the last three to four months, he also, in part of that interview yesterday, said that that was one of the things that he really appreciated from investigators, the way they handled this, that very few people knew about this and the people who did know about it were keeping it very tight-lipped.

Of course, that was probably something very well orchestrated within the prosecutor's office which had been leading this investigation.

COSTELLO: Ed Lavandera, live in Boulder, Colorado, this morning.

We've got extensive coverage of developments in the JonBenet Ramsey case all morning long. In our next hour, we're going to talk with JonBenet's aunt, the sister of the late Patsy Ramsey. And at noon Eastern, we're expecting a news conference with the Boulder, Colorado, district attorney. You heard Ed mention that. Of course we will carry that live for you.

O'BRIEN: Israel is rolling back its tanks and turning over control of turf it seized in southern Lebanon. About 2,000 Lebanese troops today crossing the Litani River into southern Lebanon, another 2,000 expected in the port city of Tyre today.

Live now to Anthony mills in Beirut, as control is passed along to the Beirut army.

The question, Anthony, is, is the Lebanese army able to sort of take control from Hezbollah?

ANTHONY MILLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That this is real question, Miles. The Lebanese army is now deploying after a few days of delay caused by disagreements behind the scenes in the cabinet, according to government sources. Now they're deploying by the thousands.

We're told that three brigades of between 1,800 and 2000, according to a high-ranking army source here, have already crossed the Litani River into the south. Another brigade is going to follow. And another, as you mentioned, is going to be arriving at the port city of Tyre.

According to the army source, within the next 24 hours, all 15,000 Lebanese army troops should be down there. But what about Hezbollah? Is it just going to migrate northwards, move out of that zone, happily move into another part of the country?

Probably not say experts. It's a guerrilla army. It can quite easily blend back into the civilian population, from where it draws much of its support down there, hide its weapons, and possibly at some point then reemerge, even for small attacks, which may then, Miles, cause serious friction with the international force and possibly even with the Lebanese army -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Anthony, the Beirut International Airport now reopening to commercial flights. That's a -- that's a good sign, obviously. But is that blockade still in effect in other areas, the blockade that Israel put on Lebanon?

MILLS: The airport has been reopened, or at least one runway, Miles. Three planes landing today, one carrying passengers from Jordan, a Middle East Airlines plane, and another Jordanian -- actually, a British Airways flight as well. But the blockade itself, in terms also of the ports, remains in place.

Yesterday, the French foreign minister, Philipe Douste-Blazy, on a visit here with other foreign ministers to talk about a number of issues, including the humanitarian situation and the international troop deployment, he asked for that blockade to be lifted, saying it was no longer necessary because the resolution was now being implemented. And certainly, it would make life much easier for the Lebanese as this cease-fire takes hold on a humanitarian level, in terms of getting supplies into the country, and, as well, gasoline, fuel for the electricity, power stations, and so on -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Anthony Mills in Beirut.

Thank you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Let's head to Atlanta now to check on the forecast. Chad is in the big old weather center.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. COSTELLO: In front of your $60,000 weather board.

MYERS: It is. It is a big old weather center.

COSTELLO: Yes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Still to come, the latest on that Britain terror plot. Dozens of suspects, they're still behind bars. We'll tell you why the British police say they need a little extra time.

COSTELLO: And a scare in the skies. An unruly passenger grounds a Washington-bound flight. What she could tell a judge this morning.

O'BRIEN: Broiling hot weather, heavy storms in China. Really. Its most severe weather in nearly half a century.

Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: At 6:45 Eastern, we have correspondents work throughout the world. Here's a look now at what they're covering for you this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Robin Oakley, reporting from London, where police have been given extra time to question suspects in the alleged plot to blow up airliners with liquid explosives. Officials say material of a substantial nature has been found.

In Pakistan, authorities say further suspects are being sought there.

The European Union has agreed to fund research into liquid explosives and will seek to close down Web sites giving bomb-making instruction.

With flights slowly returning to normal, airlines say they may sue the British government for up to $600 million over security- imposed delays.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad.

Near-simultaneous bombs in Baghdad yesterday afternoon killed 13 people and wounded dozens more. The explosions occurred on a busy street just hours before curfew, at a time when many people were out trying to finish their day's affairs before heading home. Those attacks came on the heels of another bombing which occurred at busy marketplace, once again targeting day workers. Nine people were killed in that attack.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health says the month of July was the deadliest for Iraqi civilians since the war itself. The U.S. White House says, however, it's seen a slight decrease in the violence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. I'm Stan Grant in Beijing.

It's been a wild year in China. Dust storms coating the capital. A crippling drought in the southeast of the country leaving millions without drinking water. And typhoon after typhoon battering the coast, the latest killing more than 300 people.

What's up with China's weather?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: For more on these or any of our other top stories, head to our Web site, cnn.com.

O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING -- oops, is it your turn?

COSTELLO: Sure, why not?

The 10 years of twists and turns in the investigation of young JonBenet Ramsey's death, we're going to take you through them all.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Happening this morning in Thailand, a confession in the 1996 killing of JonBenet Ramsey. Forty-one-year-old John Mark Karr tells reporters he was with the girl when she died, but Karr claims the death was an accident. He'll be extradited to the United States within the next week.

The public has long been fascinated with the details of the JonBenet murder for almost 10 years. Why have so many people remained so interested for so long?

CNN's Mary Snow takes a look at some of the unexpected twists and turns in the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The mystery of JonBenet Ramsey's death a decade ago outlived the length of her short life that ended when she was just 6. The child beauty pageant star was strangled with a piece of rope and her skull was fractured.

The day after Christmas 1996, mother Patsy reports finding a two- and-a-half page ransom note on a staircase demanding $118,000 in ransom. Eight hours after that, JonBenet's father John reports finding his daughter's body in the basement of the family's Boulder, Colorado, home.

The family buries their little girl wearing a tiny tiara, then gives an exclusive interview to CNN the following day.

PATSY RAMSEY, JONBENET'S MOTHER: There is a killer on the loose.

JOHN RAMSEY, JONBENET'S FATHER: Absolutely.

P. RAMSEY: I don't know who it is. I don't know if it's a he or a she, but if I were a resident of Boulder I would tell my friends to keep -- keep your babies close to you. There's someone out there.

SNOW: The Ramseys' relationship with authorities quickly turned cold when suspicions resolved around the family. JonBenet's adult half- brother, half-sister and 9-year-old brother were officially cleared, but her parents were not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They do remain under an umbrella of suspicion, but we're not ready to name any suspects.

SNOW: The Ramseys waged a very public fight with scathing criticism of the police. They offered a $100,000 reward for information about JonBenet's killer. By October of 1999 a grand jury investigating the case returned no indictments, with prosecutors citing a lack of sufficient evidence, but it didn't stop the speculation.

And JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, would not live to see any arrests made. She died of ovarian cancer in June.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, we weren't invited to her $2 million birthday bash, but we've seen the tape enough to feel that we were there. Now Karen Kozlowski is saying, take this shower curtain and shove it to her convicted husband.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Former Tyco chief Dennis Kozlowski could be a free man soon. Ah, not what you're thinking, though. He's getting a divorce.

Carrie Lee is here with more on what Karen Kozlowski has to say about all this.

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's what she wants, Miles. Now, Kozlowski, of course, serving up to 25 years in jail as we speak for one of the biggest scandals on Wall Street. Remember the Tyco story which broke a few years ago. Well, Karen Kozlowski is now seeking a divorce and also wants the assets and liabilities that they earned in their marriage to be equally distributed, and that he also is required to pay her financial support.

Now this is really a 180 from -- remember that lavish birthday party we all heard about some years ago? The $2 million party, Tyco...

O'BRIEN: There it is.

LEE: ... the company, paid for a large portion of this. Take a look at people running around, having a good old time. Well, a very different story today.

O'BRIEN: It was in Greece somewhere, right? Wasn't it somewhere in Greece, on a Greece island?

LEE: Down on the island, right...

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Or something like that.

LEE: Something like that, that's right.

So, Karen Kozlowski. And how much is he worth now? That's a good question.

Well, we do know that he earned $267 million as Tyco's chief from 1999 through 2001. We also know that they're selling off assets to pay $160 million in court-ordered fines and restitution.

But she has filed phone divorce on July 31.

COSTELLO: I think she'll probably still come out pretty good.

LEE: She'll be OK.

COSTELLO: Yes.

LEE: That's right. They have a 15,000 square foot waterfront mansion in Boca Raton. They're trying to sell that. So she's -- she's -- she's not going to be exactly -- too hurting.

O'BRIEN: She might have to squeeze into 8,000 square feet, though.

LEE: Exactly.

COSTELLO: She won't -- she won't be having to get a second job at Starbucks or something.

LEE: Might not be having parties like that anymore, though. Online gambling. Remember BetonSports? We've talked a lot about that company. Well, the company's head, former head, David Carruthers, was freed on a $1 million bond this week. This, after spending about a month behind bars following his arrest on racketeering and fraud charges.

He's basically going to have to live under house arrest in the St. Louis area until his trial, which is slated for later this month, August 21. So he's basically going to have to stay in the hotel -- we're not sure if it's his room or in the grounds of the hotel -- 24 hours a day until this starts.

O'BRIEN: Room service OK?

LEE: Yes. And they also put in a dedicated phone line for him.

O'BRIEN: Oh.

LEE: So, again, not exactly dire conditions here, but he faces some big charges as well.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much.

LEE: Sure.

O'BRIEN: What's next? What have you got coming up?

LEE: More on the Dell story. We've talked about the exploding batteries, the Sony batteries.

COSTELLO: I have one. I have to -- I have to, like, get a new battery.

O'BRIEN: You do?

COSTELLO: See, I checked.

LEE: I think we need to get one of these exploding on camera. That's going to be great television.

COSTELLO: I'll bring my computer in and we'll just set it here...

(CROSSTALK)

LEE: We'll have some follow-up on that, what's happening there.

O'BRIEN: All right.

COSTELLO: All right. Let's head in to Atlanta to check in with Chad.

Good morning

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARR: Her death was -- was an accident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: A chilling confession lifting a decade-old cloud of suspicion. An American in Thailand admits he killed JonBenet Ramsey on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning to you. I'm Miles O'Brien.

COSTELLO: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A decade after 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was killed in her Colorado home, a stunning turn of events and a remarkable on- camera confession.

John Mark Karr, a 41-year-old schoolteacher, in police custody in Bangkok, appears before the media and admits he was with the 6-year- old when she died, but he says it was an accident.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com