JonBenet suspect on suicide watch

LOS ANGELES - John Mark Karr, the suspect in the slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, was on suicide watch Wednesday after an evaluation by a prison psychologist, MSNBC’s Rita Cosby reported.

Karr, who arrived in Los Angeles from Bangkok, Thailand, agreed Tuesday to go to Colorado to face charges against him in the 1996 murder of the young beauty pageant queen.

NBC News’ Mike Taibbi, citing sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that Karr would not be transferred to Colorado on Wednesday. The timing of his trip is up to authorities, who have been tightlipped about it.

Later on Wednesday, Jamie Harmon, one of Karr's attorneys, confirmed at a press conference that Karr would not be going to Colorado “much before early next week.”

“Mr. Karr has been portrayed by the media as of late as being mentally unstable, attention-seeking, unwell, mentally unwell," attorney Jamie Harmon said. "And he is none of those things. He is anxious to have an opportunity to address the allegations against him, to be portrayed in a more accurate and complete way.”

Prison authorities gave a different view of Karr’s mental state, reported Cosby, who said he was ordered to wear special clothing that cannot be tied in knots to be used as a noose.

Also Wednesday, Karr’s relatives offered the movie and book rights to the family’s story in hopes of hiring a high-level attorney to defend the schoolteacher.

Karr’s father and brother hired actor, author and producer Larry Garrison to represent them in any media deals and to help them find a top attorney to represent Karr.

'Not looking for money'
Garrison told The Associated Press that while the family’s film and book rights are secured, no money has changed hands yet. He said he promised the Karrs a portion of any money made by the effort.

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“They’re not looking for money for themselves,” Garrison said. “They’re looking to support John’s boys’ college education and to make sure all legal fees are covered.”

Karr’s brother, Nate Karr, confirmed to the AP on Wednesday that Garrison now represents the Karr family.

Garrison has written and produced several news films and had minor acting roles. He said that the family will be looking for a well-known attorney to represent Karr.

“Right now he’s got a public defender to represent him,” Garrison said. “It’s their desire to get someone high-level.”

Garrison declined to say if the family has been in touch with Karr in jail.

In a two-minute court appearance on Tuesday, Karr was impassive and 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.

Harmon, the attorney, attended Tuesday’s hearing and is partners with Patience Van Zandt, who represented Karr when he was charged in 2001 with possessing child pornography in Northern California.

With the order from Superior Court Judge Luis Lavin, Karr was available to be picked up by Boulder authorities at any time.

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