Karr relatives seek to sell story rights

LOS ANGELES -- John Mark Karr's relatives offered up the book and film rights to the family's story yesterday in hopes of raising money for a high-powered attorney to defend Karr against charges that he killed 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey.

``They're not looking for money for themselves," said Larry Garrison, a producer the family hired to represent them in media deals. ``They're looking to support John's boys' college education and to make sure all legal fees are covered."

Karr remained in a Los Angeles jail yesterday, awaiting transfer to Colorado. JonBenet was killed in her Boulder home in December 1996.

Garrison said no money had changed hands yet with the Karrs, and he would not elaborate on the agreement. One of Karr's brothers, Nate Karr, confirmed that Garrison is representing the family.

John Karr told reporters in Thailand last week that he was present when JonBenet died and that her death was an accident. He did not specifically say he killed her, and Boulder prosecutors have not disclosed their evidence against him.

His family has insisted Karr was in Georgia during the Christmas week that JonBenet was killed.

Georgia attorney Gary Harris, who had represented Karr's father and brother in recent days, has said the family found a photo from Christmas 1996 showing Karr's three sons at a dinner in Atlanta. Karr is not in the photo, but the family insists that if the boys were there, Karr would have been, too.

``John Karr wasn't working," Harris said. ``He couldn't afford to buy a MARTA [Atlanta public transportation] or bus ticket, much less plane fare to Colorado."

A family photo has been turned over to Boulder authorities, but Garrison could not say what it shows.

``I can tell you they proclaim his innocence," Garrison said. ``They feel he was not there at the time, that some of the statements made by the press are absurd."

Harris said yesterday that as far as the family knows, the only time Karr was in Colorado was in 2001, when his car broke down on a trip from Alabama to California with his then-wife and children. He said the family got the car fixed and moved on.

Harris said he thinks Karr claimed involvement in JonBenet's death because he is ill. ``Obviously, this guy has some mental problems," he said. Harris declined to be more specific, but said he has no knowledge of Karr ever seeing a psychiatrist. He also noted that the family lost touch with Karr five years ago.

Harris said yesterday that, because of a difference of opinion, he no longer is representing Karr's father, Wexford, and brother Nate. He said he now represents only Michael Karr, another brother of John Karr, and his wife.

Harris would not disclose the reason for the split, but suggested it had something to do with Wexford and Nate Karr's desire to sell the family story.

``My clients are not seeking any book deals or anything of that nature," Harris said of Michael Karr and his wife. ``I'll let you deduce what you want from that. My clients are not looking to make any money off of this."

John Karr agreed Tuesday not to fight extradition to Colorado. In a two -minute court appearance, his expression changed only once when he slowly closed his eyes as the judge recited the count of first- degree murder that Boulder prosecutors included in an arrest warrant.

Karr ``has been portrayed by the media as of late as being mentally unstable, attention-seeking, . . . mentally unwell. And he is none of those things," said lawyer Jamie Harmon, who spoke with Karr in jail and attended Tuesday's hearing.