JonBenet Suspect's Polly Klaas Obsession

AUGUST 17--During a 2001 raid at the California home of John Karr, who was charged yesterday with the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, police discovered a copy of the death certificate of 12-year-old Polly Klaas, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 1993, and a letter from the girl's killer, court records show. Karr, 41, was charged in April 2001 with five misdemeanor charges after investigators discovered five images on his computer that were deemed to be child pornography. In a response to a defense motion to suppress evidence seized during the 2001 search, Sonoma County prosecutors noted that Karr told cops that he was researching a book on Richard Allen Davis, Klaas's killer. He also claimed to have a 'great affinity' for law enforcement and 'repeatedly emphasized his desire to be of help to law enforcement.' Karr also said that while he was researching his book, he came into contact with a third party whom he suspected of sexually assaulting a child and was trying to 'dupe' her into a full confession. In the original suppression motion, Karr's lawyer noted that he had only given investigators consent to search a 'maroon binder which contained the Polly Klaas death certificate and the letter from Richard Allen Davis.' Following his 2001 arrest, Karr spent six months in jail before being released on bail. Shortly after being sprung, he disappeared and a warrant was issued for his arrest. (4 pages)