Inside the Mind of John Karr

Aug. 24, 2006 — -- Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist, has been following the latest developments in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case and offers an analysis of suspect John Mark Karr and the statements he has made since his Aug. 16 arrest in Thailand.

What do we know already about John Karr's confession?

That it isn't quite a confession. That his account does not match critical facts. That when it does, he speaks of a case for which much information is available and leaves room for imagination to fill in little details. That Karr speaks to being with JonBenet but perhaps only in spirit. As a person who has studied confessions of killers and sex offenders, my experience reflects that when child killers confess, they do so with shame and humility. That Karr participated in a press conference with no sign of discomfort was extremely unusual.

What do we know about John Karr?

History is already emerging of a childhood marked by significant emotional trauma, separations from his mother and the disintegration of his home at an early stage. Many individuals who have unnatural and even traumatic separations in their earliest years develop exceptionally fragile senses of selves. Karr is notable for identity conflicts over his sexuality (a pedophile who did not act on his fantasies to the degree he wanted), family (completely estranged from sons and nuclear family for years), residence (moved from the U.S. to places like Honduras, France and Thailand), and career (identified himself as a teacher but worked as a caretaker for children as well), and gender (actively pursuing transgender treatment). Many such individuals have an exceptionally active fantasy life and weave reality and fantasy together, especially in more despairing or stressful times. It is not surprising to see such individuals see powers of the paranormal in themselves.