Could DNA evidence be the only evidence
Kathrine Callaway
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Features
Ever since that cold day, December 26, 1996, when six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey's body was found beaten and strangled, one question has remained unanswered; who did it?
No one had answers, only theories. At first, according to an article from cbsnews.com, it was the parents who fell under the spotlight. A lead that only resulted in a dead end.
Then, the case fell quiet for a while. That was until mid-august, when news about Michael Tracey, Journalism Professor at the University of Colorado, who had tipped authorities off about a possible suspect. Tracey claimed that John Mark Karr, schoolteacher, had admitted that he was her killer. A claim that sent the case back into a tailspin. Only to land at the sad conclusion that the DNA samples proved that Karr could not be the killer. Leaving us once again wondering; who?
While the case may have been closed for many, it still remains very much open for me. I admit that the initial incident happened when I was too young to understand. However, now that I am older, and the case has re-surfaced, I have begun to look into it with great interest and unsurprising anger.
The first thing that puzzled me was how Karr went from the prime suspect to nothing in such a quick time period. As soon as the DNA test came back as a negative match, Karr was no longer a possible suspect, and he was released from custody. Granted, he was immediately taken in again, this time being charged with the possession of child pornography.
But if authorities had sufficient evidence to believe that he may have been guilty in the JonBenet slaying, then why all of a sudden is there no proof, and no reason to sustain him in jail?
The other side of the story is that living in America, the constitution clearly states that no citizen can be charged unless proven guilty. Despite his cruel, and disgusting ways, Karr still has rights. Which is what enabled him to plead insanity.
The second thing that puzzled me, was the question of ethics that arouse. As many may recall, Karr was taken into custody after the confession of Tracey. According to a story in the Houston Chronicle, entitled Prof's role in JonBenet case debated; many journalist began to question "whether he crossed the ethical line that keeps news reporters independent of the government."
No one had answers, only theories. At first, according to an article from cbsnews.com, it was the parents who fell under the spotlight. A lead that only resulted in a dead end.
Then, the case fell quiet for a while. That was until mid-august, when news about Michael Tracey, Journalism Professor at the University of Colorado, who had tipped authorities off about a possible suspect. Tracey claimed that John Mark Karr, schoolteacher, had admitted that he was her killer. A claim that sent the case back into a tailspin. Only to land at the sad conclusion that the DNA samples proved that Karr could not be the killer. Leaving us once again wondering; who?
While the case may have been closed for many, it still remains very much open for me. I admit that the initial incident happened when I was too young to understand. However, now that I am older, and the case has re-surfaced, I have begun to look into it with great interest and unsurprising anger.
The first thing that puzzled me was how Karr went from the prime suspect to nothing in such a quick time period. As soon as the DNA test came back as a negative match, Karr was no longer a possible suspect, and he was released from custody. Granted, he was immediately taken in again, this time being charged with the possession of child pornography.
But if authorities had sufficient evidence to believe that he may have been guilty in the JonBenet slaying, then why all of a sudden is there no proof, and no reason to sustain him in jail?
The other side of the story is that living in America, the constitution clearly states that no citizen can be charged unless proven guilty. Despite his cruel, and disgusting ways, Karr still has rights. Which is what enabled him to plead insanity.
The second thing that puzzled me, was the question of ethics that arouse. As many may recall, Karr was taken into custody after the confession of Tracey. According to a story in the Houston Chronicle, entitled Prof's role in JonBenet case debated; many journalist began to question "whether he crossed the ethical line that keeps news reporters independent of the government."
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