Ramsey, Karr families react to news of no charges in murder case

<p>After nearly 10 years of waiting, an arrest in the murder of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey brought joy for the victim's family and pain to the family of the man accused.</p><p>The news that charges against John Mark Karr were abruptly dropped Monday by Colorado prosecutors brought mixed reactions from the two families.</p><p>JonBenet Ramsey's aunt, Pamela Paugh, said she was disappointed there won't be a prosecution of someone in the 1996 murder, but she is glad that justice has been done.</p><p>"I think our justice system worked as it was suppose to," Paugh, who is Patsy Ramsey's sister, told The Associated Press from her Roswell, Ga., home. "We've said from the outset we had no knowledge this gentleman was guilty or innocent."</p><p>"We asked the DA to do her thing. She did it," Paugh said.</p><p>"We said we were excited by the arrest because there was movement in the case. We weren't particularly adamant this guy was guilty or innocent," she added.</p><p>"If DNA came back and it's not his, that doesn't mean he doesn't have specific knowledge of the case," Paugh said. "Either way, justice has worked its way through the course of events, and we're pleased with that."</p><p>"My disappointment came about the end of December 1996 when we didn't have the killer then," Paugh told AP. "We've had 9 1/2 years of disappointment and waiting."</p><p>Ramsey family attorney Lin Wood told AP that from day one JonBenet's father, John Ramsey, publicly stated that he did not want the public or the media to jump to judgment.</p><p>"He did not want the public or the media to engage in speculation, he wanted the justice system to take its course," Wood said in an exclusive telephone interview.</p><p>"I have, along with John Ramsey, known for several years that investigators in charge of this case believe that the DNA found in JonBenet's underwear was the DNA of the killer, and that when there is a DNA match the killer of this child will finally be brought to justice," Wood told AP.</p><p>"Now that we have learned Mr. Karr's DNA does not match the DNA extracted from the blood spot in JonBenet's underwear, I'm not surprised he will not be charged with her murder," Wood said.</p><p>"It is important for the public to understand, contrary to published statements by uninformed individuals, that the DNA evidence in this case is strong and to be reminded that while we are now told it is not the DNA of Mr. Karr, it has been for years known to the investigators that it is not the DNA of any member of the Ramsey family," Wood said.</p><p>Wood told AP the Ramseys were tested years ago and their DNA did not match.</p><p>"John Ramsey and I continue to have great confidence in the professionalism and integrity of District Attorney Lacy and members of her investigative team," Wood said.</p><p>Wood said he would not have any further comment and that John Ramsey is not expected to comment until after Lacy gives a news conference on Tuesday.</p><p>Meanwhile, Nate Karr, John Karr's brother, told AP in a telephone interview that he was elated by the news.</p><p>"We're very, very happy," Karr said. "We're just going to be celebrating with family."</p><p>He said he had not gotten a chance to see his brother yet. Nate Karr would not say whether he was in Colorado or Atlanta, and he declined further comment.</p><p>A spokesman for the Karr family, Larry Garrison, told the AP that the Karr family never doubted what would ultimately happen in the case.</p><p>"We feel it was only a matter of time that the truth will come out and show the innocence of John Mark Karr," Garrison said.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/8/118005