The Murder of JonBenet By: Jessica Weiss

In Boulder, Colorado, December 26,1996, a six-year-old beauty pageant goddess was found dead in her home after being reported missing with a written three-page ransom note left in the house. There are many conspiracy theories behind the death of the little girl:

1.      1. Did John and Patsy Ramsey cover up the murder of their daughter to protect the real killer, Burke? 

2.      2.Did John Mark Karr kill her?

Let's look at the conspiracy theories that surround the child stars death.

JonBenét Ramsey was a six-year old little girl with “bouncy blonde hair, poised smile, and glittery costumes” (Worthen 1). She was a child beauty pageant prodigy just as her mother was and at the age of six, she had already won many pageant titles just like her mother (1).  She was “Named after her father John Bennett, and her mother, Patricia, JonBenét Patricia Ramsey was born August 6,1990, in Atlanta, Georgia” (2). JonBenét was “youngest of two children (her older brother Burke was nine at the time of her murder), JonBenét was an outgoing southern girl who enjoyed being the center of attention” (3). She also had three half siblings Elizabeth Pasch Ramsey, Melinda Ramsey, John Andrew Ramsey who were her father's children from a previous relationship (“ Family Tree Of JonBenét Patricia Ramsey”1).

JonBenét was a talented little girl; she could impress about anyone she wanted to according to her mother and father. If she set her mind to doing something, no matter how hard, she would do it. Maybe it was because she wanted to show her parents that she could, and that she was just that talented. Possibly, it is because she wanted to be just like her mother, and she felt if she could win pageants and do everything that her mother did that she would succeed. Her mother says “She was a ball of fire she could stand on her head. She could hula-hoop, she was an entertainer from the word go”  (James 1). She would show her dad all of her new talents as she learned them, “She used to tell me, I worked really hard on my talent this time, and she always won, she was a very talented little girl” says her father on a CNN interview (“John and Patsy Ramsey Tell Their Side of the Story”1). JonBenét was exceptionally amazing from head to toe; she was just a big ball of talent. She loved being that way, and it was just who she was. Pam Paugh says “JonBenét would have done every pageant everyday if I let her” (Bardach 1). She wanted to win and show everyone that she loved to sing, and dance.

JonBenét was a normal six-year old, besides the love for a beauty pageants, at home she was always an outgoing and happy child “Those close to JonBenét remember her as a dirt digging little girl with friends and a normal life” (“A Normal Girl Behind the Makeup: Remembering JonBenét Ramsey”1). When you see a child, who has been in the spotlight almost her entire life as this poised little girl, that’s the picture in your head. You don’t see the mud pies, the rolling in dirt, and the scabbed knees. That’s who JonBenét was away from the stage, she was just a normal kid; “I see [JonBenét], you know, in shorts and a t-shirt and hair kind of scruffy and – just a kind of kid” (“JonBenet Ramsey: Never Before Seen Photos”1).  She was just a very outgoing little girl, “there are many accounts of JonBenét being a much more of a tomboy, spending her days jumping into piles of leaves and getting muddy” (Worthen 1). JonBenét is shown in many home and pageant videos as well as pictures of her laughing and playing.

JonBenét was a loving little girl. She had a dog named “Jacques” (Miller 1); “She loved that little dog, she would lie down on the floor and let the dog lick her face, and she would laugh and laugh. It tickled me to see such joy and happiness” (Hewitt, Bane). Her father says “She just had this effervescent personality just like Patsy. I mean just tah-dah, here I am, you know” (“The murder of JonBenét” 1).

JonBenét was loved by everyone around her and her love spread like wildfire. “She was so much more than that she was our spark plug. She was the energy in our family” stated by the family (“John Ramsey: JonBenét's death will be solved” 1). As stated before, she was just a typical six-year old little girl with a personality that anyone could love, “I told her every day I loved her, so she knew I loved her” says her father (“For blue skies memories of JonBenét”1). Patsy Ramsey said in an interview “I loved that child with my whole heart and soul” (Evans1). Not only was she loved by everyone, but she loved and cared for everyone around her and she let them know that. Cheering on her mother who was battling cancer, Patsy Ramsey quoted JonBenét “It's okay mommy she would say it's alright it won't hurt very long she was my little cheerleader” (JonBenét: young and beautiful). She was so lovable, “We miss your silly smile and grass stained knees your flag dance routines, the way you loved fireworks and playing on the swing set and picking blueberries by the drive way” (“I'll think about you remembering JonBenét” 1). The little girl was just an amazing, outgoing, and perfect child and that’s all anyone could ask for.

In the twenty-two years since JonBenét's murder, many conspiracy theories have came to play. The first one being Burke killed his own little sister on Christmas night after she stole a piece of pineapple that Patsy left out for him and, that Patsy and/ or John Ramsey covered it up to protect Burke. The second one is that John Mark Karr killed her.

James Kolar, the former chief investigator for the district attorney, said that Patsy had left out a bowl of pineapple and some tea for Burke, then JonBenét had attempted to sneak some fruit later, it prompted Burke to lash out and strike her with a flash light killing her (Rahman 1). A family friend of the Ramsey's, Judith Phillips, says “I agree with the theory Burke killed JonBenét, but I don’t think he meant to do it. I think Patsy Ramsey did everything in her power to protect her living child. I think she wrote the ransom note whilst John staged the scene in the basement” (2).

In an interview with Dr.Phil , Burke Ramsey finally spoke out about his sisters’ murder, although his actions during the interview were off-putting. Burke said the reasoning not to speak of JonBenét's death was, so he could “grow up like a normal kid” (Willis, Brown 1). Others noticed how he was acting during the interview; “while reliving some of the gruesome details of his sister’s murder, Burke was smiling throughout most of the sit-down; including when he spoke of her funeral” (2). His demeanor gave off an “I got away with murder feel”, almost as if he was nervous that if he did not answer a question correctly, Dr.Phil, would know that he was lying. Dr. Phil even “calls his guest’s unusual affect, the seemingly frozen smile on his face and darting eyes accompanied by an occasional, highly inappropriate smile” ( Prendergast 1).

Further evidence supporting this theory is the ransom note left behind, the 911 call, and autopsy report. The ransom note left behind by the supposed “foreign faction” was three pages long and went into a great amount detail on how the next day was going to go (Bardach 1). The ransom note begins with: “Mr. Ramsey, Listen carefully! We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction. We respect your business. But not the country that it serves” (Diamond 1). The first few sentences set a tone for the entire ransom note. The note only addresses Mr. Ramsey as the recipient. So, obviously, it is directed towards him and him only. Could it possibly be because he was the person who owned the business that they were speaking of, or was it because the so-called perpetrators had a personal connection to Mr. Ramsey, perhaps Mrs. Patsy Ramsey? Also, a word was scratched out before saying they respected his business “[the word “do” was crossed out here]” (2). It was as if they were going to write they do not respect his business. The next sentence is almost as if they were “referencing that John Ramsey's business somehow serves the U.S seems somewhat bizarre, unless he was in fact contracted by and worked closely with the government: (his company in fact did do business with aerospace giant Lockhead Martin) If so, who would know that? Certainly not a total stranger or random intruder”(3). In this sentence, were they trying to say the “kidnapping” and demand for money was because John Ramsey worked in and for the United states? If so, why was JonBenet never kidnapped, and why did they kill her? Unless it is possible this so- called “foreign faction” is John and Patsy Ramsey and they are covering up what Burke Ramsey did to protect him.

The next sentences of the ransom note are: “At this time we have your daughter in our posession. She is safe and unharmed and if you want her to see 1997, you must follow our instructions” (Diamond 1). The entire time JonBenét was down stairs in the basement - dead. Why was the ransom note even left if it was an outside intruder? Why leave more evidence? Of course, Patsy Ramsey, could have wrote the ransom note and done so to divert attention away from her son. The note also goes on to say, “You withdraw $118,000.00 from your account $100,000 will be in $100 bills and the remaining $18,000 in $20 bills” (5). $118,000.00 “this was reportedly the exact amount of John’s Christmas bonus check from his company” (6). The writer of the ransom note has extensive knowledge of Ramsey's finances and company. There is a very small possibility that all of this is just mere coincidence. Also, if they are requesting money for JonBenét's return, why is the amount relatively small? If it were your child, you would figure out a way to come up with a million dollars? They say “withdrawal the money from your account” as if they know the money is in the Ramsey's account. If Mr. Ramsey flashed around his bonus money, the only person other than Mr. Ramsey, who would know that the money is in their account is Mrs. Ramsey. The ransom note points to Mrs. Ramsey writing it:” In total, Wong found over 200 similarities in the writing of the ransom note and the 100 samples of Patsy's penmanship “(Spargo 1).

Moving on to the eerie 911 call on the morning of December 26,1996: “Patsy Ramsey woke up around 5:45 a.m.” (Mcclish 1). She found the ransom note she “immediately called 911” (2). (See attachment for transcript of 911 phone call.) When she told the 911 dispatcher what was going on, she said “we have a Kidnapping” instead of saying: “my daughters gone help me she's gone” (3). In a panic most people would try to get what is going on as quickly as possible, Patsy Ramsey did not, “most people do not want to lie and will avoid telling a lie. When people do decide to lie, they will often not tell a direct lie. They will soften the lie” (4). By saying “we have kidnapping”, was Patsy Ramsey being extremely vague to avoid stumbling on her words? This small portion of the 911 phone call is un settling as well as the evidence that is in the text above.

The second conspiracy theory revolves around DNA evidence found at the scene and points to another suspect. In the autopsy of JonBenét Ramsey it says she: “had her skull fractured by a vicious blow to the head and may have been sexually assaulted before being strangled” (Mears 1).  This is where all the conspiracy theories come together because “Forensic experts who examined those DNA tests disputed former District Attorney Mary Lacy’s conclusion that a DNA profile found in one location on the girl’s underpants and two spots on her long johns necessarily belonged to the killer, which Lacy asserted when clearing the girl’s family of suspicion in 2008” but: “the evidence, experts told the Boulder Daily Camera and 9NEWS, revealed that the DNA samples recovered from the long johns came from at least two people in addition to JonBenét” (Miller 1). So, if the Ramsey family was cleared, why did Burke act so suspicious? Why was there a ransom note if JonBenét never left the house? Why was the 911 phone call so off-putting? Why does the DNA evidence JonBenét not match the rest of the evidence?

Let's look at the next conspiracy theory that pertains to Miss JonBenet Ramsey's murder: "John Mark Karr a 42-year-old American teacher who allegedly confessed to killing JonBenet Ramsey” (Mcclish 1). On “August 17, 2006” Mr. Karr was arrested in Thailand (2).  In an interview he told a reporter “I love JonBenét and she died accidentally”; by 2006 she had been dead ten years (3). He was speaking of her as she was still alive. Why? The reporter went on to ask him several different questions, some he had no answer for or didn’t answer at all and others he had very vague answers to. The reporter asked twice, “Are you an innocent man?” (4). The first time she asked, he was silent, but the second time she asked, he said, “no” (5). Why is it that he is not an innocent man, but her death was accidental? Could it be because he was the person who was sexually assaulting her? Did he sneak in that night to do it again? The reporter next asked, “What happened?” (6). We went on to repeat himself and say, “Um...Her death was, was an accident” (7). He was very persistent when he said her death was an accident before, and now it sounds like he is questioning what he is saying. Why?

 The next three out of four questions on the interview he answers “no comment on that” in some form or fashion (Mcclish 1). The only question he answered out of those four was, “And how, how do you feel now? How have you been treated?”. He followed that question with the answer “ah, I'm being treated ok” (2). This was the only question that he answered directly, and it was about him. Never in the interview did he confess to killing her, only to being with her when she died. And even then, he could have “been with her” and still not have killed her.  Karr made another statement; “it's very important to me that everyone knows that I love her very much and that her death was unintentional and that it was an accident” (3). Was it that he was there to rape her again? When she tried to scream or fight. Did he hit her with the flashlight he used to find his way into the home accidentally killing her? The interview was very strange, as well as, him saying he was with her when she died. Although, he will not say who killed her or how it happened. Why not? If, he loved her so much and wanted closer. Why didn’t he actually tell anyone what happened December 25, 1996.

In a survey of twenty-five people, forty-four percent of the participants say they think JonBenét older brother Burke killed her on Christmas night 1996. Unfortunately, both the Ramsey family and John Mark Karr have not been prosecuted or proven guilty, the evidence collected was not substantial enough to get the prosecution of JonBenét's murderer.

After digging into the murder of JonBenét, two questions remain unanswered:

1. Did John and Patsy Ramsey cover up the murder of their daughter to protect the real killer, Burke?

2.Did John Mark Karr visit the Ramsey house to rape her again, and “accidentally” kill her?

After twenty-two years, the case of JonBenét Ramsey is still an unsolved murder, and loved ones are still searching for answers. However, it is likely that the immediate family of JonBenét are to blame for the six-year old's death.

911 Phone Call

911: 911 Emergency.

PR: (Inaudible) police.

911: What's going on...

PR:   755 Fifteenth Street

 911: What is going on there ma'am?

PR:   We have a kidnapping. Hurry, please.

 911: Explain to me what is going on, ok?

PR:   We have a, there's a note left and our daughter is gone.

 911: A note was left and your daughter is gone?

PR:   Yes.

911: How old is you daughter?

PR:   She is six years old, she is blond...six years old.

 911: How long ago was this?

PR:   I don't know. I just found a note and my daughter's missing.

 911: Does it say who took her?

PR:   What?

911: Does it say who took her?

PR:   No, I don't know it's there...there is a ransom note here.

911: It's a ransom note?

PR:   It says S.B.T.C. Victory...please.

 911: Ok, what's your name? Are you...

PR:   Patsy Ramsey...I am the mother. Oh my God. Please.

911: I'm...Ok, I'm sending an officer over, ok?

PR:   Please.

911: Do you know how long she's been gone?

PR:   No, I don't, please, we just got up and she's not here. Oh my God Please.

911: Ok.

PR:   Please send somebody.

911: I am, honey.

PR:   Please.

911: Take a deep breath for me okay?

PR:   Hurry, hurry, hurry.

911: Patsy? Patsy? Patsy? Patsy? Patsy?

Works Cited

  “A Normal Girl Behind the Makeup: Remembering JonBenét Ramsey.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/a-normal-girl-behind-the-makeup-remembering-jonbenet-ramsey-761690179900?v=raila. 

Bardach, Ann Louise. “JonBenet Ramsey: Missing Innocence.” The Hive, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2016, www.vanityfair.com/news/1997/10/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-missing-innocence.  

Diamond, Stephen A.“Who Killed JonBenet? Part 2: The Ransom Note.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evil-deeds/201702/who-killed -jonbenet-part-2-the-ransom-note.   

Evans, Clay. “Ramseys End Their Silence.” Article from BoulderNews Ramsey Archive, web.dailycamera.com/extra/ramsey/1997/05/02-2.html. 

“Family Tree of Jonbenét Patricia Ramsey.” Geneanet, gw.geneanet.org/tdowling?lang=en&n=ramsey&oc=0&p=jonbenet%2Bpatricia. 

Hewitt, Bill. Bain, Vicky.“Read PEOPLE's Original 1997 Story on the JonBenét Ramsey Murder.” PEOPLE.com, 6 Nov. 2015, 3:15 p.m, people.com/crime/read-peoples-original-1997-story-on-the-jonbent-ramsey-murder/.   “A Normal Girl Behind the Makeup: Remembering JonBenét Ramsey.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/a-normal-girl-behind-the-makeup-remembering-jonbenet-ramsey-761690179900?v=raila.

  “I'll Think About You (Remembering JonBenet Ramsey).” YouTube, YouTube, 6 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dbwP1CTvs

James, Michael S. “JonBenet Parent Interviews Set.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 27 Aug. 2000, abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=89954&page=1. 

“John and patsy Ramsey tell their side of the story.” CNN, Cable News Network, transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1612/28/se.01.html. 

 “John Ramsey: JonBenét's Death Will Be Solved.” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 23 Sept. 2016, www.denverpost.com/2006/12/12/john-ramsey-jonbents-death-will-be-solved/. 

“JonBenet Ramsey: Never Before Seen Photos.” ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/US/photos/jonbenet-ramsey-photos-15905275/image-15905466. 

“JonBenet Ramsey: Young and Beautiful.” YouTube, YouTube, 31 Jan. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHI7WjGhmJk. 

McClish, Mark. JonBenet Ramsey Murder - The 911 Call - Statement Analysis®,www.statementanalysis.com/jonbenet-ramsey-murder/.  

Mears, Jennifer. “JonBenet Ramsey's Autopsy Report Confirms Brutal Attack.” AP NEWS,Associated Press,15 July 1997, apnews.com/5c987f155227ae95feb8f29a2214c419.  

Miller, Joshua Rhett. “Shocking DNA Twist in JonBenét Ramsey Murder.” New York Post,New York Post, 28 Oct. 2016, nypost.com/2016/10/28/new-dna-twist-in-jonbenet-ramsey-murder/.  

Miller, Vanessa. “Ramsey Neighbor Who Cared for JonBenet's Dog Dies.” Boulder Daily Camera, 15 Aug. 2009, www.dailycamera.com/ongoingcoverage/jon-benet-ramsey/ci_13130526. 

Miller, Vanessa.“DailyCamera.com the Online Newspaper for the Camera in Boulder Colorado. Featuring Local News Sports Lifestyles Entertainment Business Opinion Real Estate Homes Jobs Classifieds and Much More. Your Daily Camera Online.” Boulder Daily Camera, www.dailycamera.com/ongoingcoverage/jon-benet-ramsey. 

Prendergast, Alan. “The Unbearable Lightness of Dr. Phil's Burke Ramsey Interview.”Westword, 1 Feb. 2017, www.westword.com/news/the-unbearable-lightness-of-dr-phils-burke-ramsey-interview-8308199.   

Rahman, Khaleda. “CBS Show Claims JonBenet Ramsey WAS Killed by Her Brother Burke.”Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 21 Sept. 2016, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3797692/Burke-did-Crime-claims-JonBenet-Ramsey-killed-violent-older-brother-parents-covered-siblings-argued-pineapple-midnight-snack.html.   

Spargo, Chris. “JonBenet Ramsey Ransom Note Was Written by Her MOTHER Patsy Claims Handwriting Expert as Grand Juror Who Voted to Indict the Parents Reveals Who He Thinks Killed the Child Beauty Queen.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 16 Dec. 2016, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4040952/JonBenet-Ramsey-ransom-note-written-MOTHER-Patsy-claims-handwriting-expert-grand-juror-voted-indict-parents-reveals-thinks-killed-child-beauty-queen.html.   

“The Murder of Jonbenet.” CNN, Cable News Network, transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1612/13/se.01.html. 

Willis, Charlotte, and Vanessa Brown. “Brother of JonBenet Reveals Who He Thinks Killed His Younger Sister.” Herald Sun, 19 Sept. 2016, 11:35, www.heraldsun.com.au/news/brother- of-jonbenet-reveals-who-he-thinks-killed-his-younger-sister/news- story/49800600633c3d48fbfa02d02ae608d3.  

Worthen, Meredith. “JonBenét Ramsey.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 30 May 2018, www.biography.com/people/jonbenet-ramsey-12986606.