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Child Killer To Be Extradited to U.S.

Officials at the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand says the government is preparing papers for the extradition of John Mark Karr, the confessed killer of 6-year-old Jon-Benet Ramsey 10 years ago, to the United States. They said the 41-year-old Karr will be flown to Colorado, possibly as early as next week, where he will then before a court face charges of murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault. Jon-Benet Ramsey was found dead with evidence of beating and strangulation in the basement of the family`s home in Boulder, Colorado on December 26, 1996.

Interviewed after his arrest this past Wednesday at his apartment in downtown Bangkok, Mr. Karr admitted he was with the girl when she died. "I was with JonBenet when she died," he said. "Her death was an accident." Karr reportedly told the police that at first he kidnapped the girl in the hope of demanding some $118,000 ransom in exchange for Jon-Benet`s release. However, Karr strangled the girl to death once it was apparent his demands would not be met.

Police in Thailand participated with U.S. authorities in the arrest, with officials in Bangkok saying that when they captured Karr, "He said it was second-degree murder. He said it was unintentional. He said he was in love with the child. She was a pageant queen." Thai police said Karr did not resist arrest, but insisted he did not commit first-degree murder - as was written on the charge sheet against him.