JonBenet Patricia Ramsey was a gorgeous, pageant queen born on August 6, 1990 (Library). Her parents, John Bennett and Patricia ‘Patsy’ Ramsey admired their young
daughter’s beauty very much (1). She was very well known in her hometown of Colorado before her untimely demise because her beauty reigned queen in almost every pageant she attended. From Little Miss Colorado to National Tiny Miss Beauty, her presence and competition was fierce, but just how much attention given to this child was good attention (1)? Broadcasted for strangers to see, jealousy among other pageant mothers, or even possible sibling rivaling for the attention JonBenet soaked up, who was evil enough to kill a six-year old Beauty Queen?
JonBenet was a blonde hair, blue-eyed legacy beauty pageant queen. Her mother, Patsy Ramsey was not only in pageants herself, but she was even crowned Miss West Virginia at age twenty in 1977 (Noland). JonBenet decided to join pageants after watching her mother on stage at a pageant reunion, and all she wanted to do was follow into her mother’s high heeled footsteps, and this thrilled Patsy (Lee). From that moment, little JonBenet was ready to enter the pageant world, and her mother and father supported their future beauty queen. After all, to inherit one’s beauty is a blessing, but to inherit talent too, is a star in the making.
Beauty and talent, JonBenet had everything she needed from her pageant queen mother to dominate every single beauty pageant across the nation (1). Just days before her murder on December 22nd, 1996, JonBenet won Colorado’s All-stars Christmas Pageant, medal for talent (“In Memory of JonBenet Ramsey”). Not only did she hold titles for just her show stopping talent, but she won many pageants for her incredible doll-like beauty. Many of these prestigious awards, tiaras, and sashes included first place at Little Miss Colorado, America’s Royal Miss, and National Tiny Miss Beauty (Lee). No matter where JonBenet went, she turned heads and had the crowds eating out of the palms of her little hands. She could work the crowd with her dashing smile and her graceful walk beyond her years. Imagine what titles she would hold now if her life hadn’t been cut short.
“Any deviation of my instructions will result in immediate execution of your daughter. You will also be denied her remains for proper funeral.” (McClish) To awake the day after Christmas, a joyous holiday spent with family and friends, to find a ransom note will cause heartache to any family . Addressed to Mr. Ramsey, the note asked for money to return their precious little girl. Many red flags were brought up when this note was released. Found on the same paper the Ramsey’s had in a junk drawer, asking for almost the exact amount that John Bennett Ramsey had received in a bonus that year (“JonBenét Ramsey.” Crime Museum, ). The note was discovered at five in the morning, and soon after, Patsy Ramsey ran to her daughter’s room in hopes of a hoax, only to find her JonBenet missing. Only twenty-five minutes later, after discovering JonBenet’s absences in her bed, did she notify the authorities (1). However, the ransom note specifically stated for the Ramsey’s not to contact anyone. To retrieve the money, and they will deliver their daughter.
Speaking to anyone about your situation, such as the Police, F.B.I, etc., will result in your daughter being beheaded. If we catch you talking to a stray dog, she dies. If you alert bank authorities, she dies. If the money is in anyway marked or tampered with, she dies. You can try to deceive us but be warned that we are familiar with Law enforcement countermeasures and tactics. You stand a 99% chance of killing your daughter if you try to outsmart us. Follow our instructions and you stand a 100% chance of getting her back. (1)
The graphic note depicting the death of Little Miss Colorado, if anyone was contacted. Why did Patsy Ramsey call the police so shortly after finding the note? Was she not afraid of the repercussions of her actions that could end up killing her daughter? Though, by the time the police arrived, the Ramsey’s were seen gathering the ransom money for the kidnappers. This made it seem for those who arrived to help as though John and Patsy Ramsey were willing to do anything to get their baby girl back in their arms once again.
Many issues were brought up when the police and detectives did their initial investigation. They made their presence known, even though the ‘kidnappers’ said they had eyes on the family and house. The police did not do a full sweep of the property (1). They did not look in every nook and cranny for clues, evidence, or any signs of where JonBenet could of gone or what monster could of taken her. The police and investigators also did not seal off the crime scene, allowing family and friends to come and go onto the property as they please (1). To give the family a helping hand or shoulder to cry on, but nonetheless, tampering with any evidence that could have been missed. On top of all the mess that was allowed to happen, a detective gave John Bennett and his friend Fleet permission to go around the house to search on their own (1). At one in the afternoon, only eight hours after the ransom note was found, did JonBenet’s father and family friend locate her body (1). The precious beauty queen’s body was found inside the basement of her own home. Where police, detectives, family, and friends were all present trying to remain calm for the ones closest to her just a few flights of stairs above. A white blanket, a sign of innocences in most cultures, covered her tiny body (1). Her mouth was covered with duct tape, a nylon cord hung around her delicate neck, and her hands were bound above her head (1). The autopsy performed, determined that the six-year-old had passed away from strangulation and a fractured skull. Thankfully, the autopsy showed no signs of rape, but possible sexual assault that she was healing from (1).
Many red flags, possible leads, and still there was no one to stand before a jury of their peers to be convicted for a precious child’s murder. However, over the years a few men have stepped up claiming they killed JonBenet. One of these men is a convicted sex offender serving time for child pornography, up for parole in a year from now in 2020 (McDonell-Parry). Gary Oliva claimed he “accidentally” murdered her to a former classmate named Michael Vail, claiming “I never loved anyone like I did JonBenet and yet I let her slip and her head bashed in half and I watched her die.” (1). Not only was Oliva a registered sex offender at the time of the murder, but his listed address at the time of the murder was only a few blocks away from where JonBenet resided (1). Witnesses also placed Oliva at the candlelight vigil held for little JonBenet a few days after her murder (1). When Oliva was arrested for unrelated charges, detectives found a photograph of JonBenet, and a poem Oliva had dedicated to her (1). Gary Oliva is not the only known pedophile that claims to have loved and killed the six-year old beauty queen. Another man who has claimed to be apart of JonBenet’s mysterious death was John Mark Karr (Ferguson). John Mark Karr was a school teacher, and after ten years confessed to murdering JonBenet (1). Karr was being investigated for child pornography possession, and was living in Thailand at the time of the confession (1). However, once investigators started to try to piece together Karr’s involvement, it did not seem possible for Karr to be involved (1).
In 2009, The Learning Channel (TLC) aired a brand new television show named Toddlers and Tiaras (“About The Show - Toddlers & Tiaras.”). The show followed a new generation of pageant kids and parents. It showed the immense competition and stressed put onto those who attended pageants all around the world. Though, this show aired thirteen years after JonBenet’s death, the rivalry was still present. Could a mother be so jealous of that JonBenet outshined their own precious star, to murder the competition? Perhaps a far fetch conspiracy, but one that should be considered in her mysterious death.
The most interesting conspiracy, that sparked attention nationwide, was the thought that it was possibly family. At the end of the 9-1-1 call, experts enhanced audio that claims an adult can be heard saying “What did you do? Help me, Jesus” with a little boy, believed to be Burke Ramsey, replying “What did you find? (Reynolds). Though, Burke was claimed to be asleep at the time, was that just used as a cover-up to protect him? It was well known that the Ramsey’s placed JonBenet on a very high pedestal. However, was Burke Ramsey, JonBenet’s nine-year old brother at the time of her passing, showed the same amount of love and attention as his sparkling pageant queen sister? “After they sealed off JonBenet’s room, the crime scene technicians went through it, they apparently found feces smeared on a box of candy she had got for Christmas (1).” Perhaps the lack of attention caused Burke to lash out at his sister, not only to harm her but to gain a sliver of attention from his parents that JonBenet soaked up. Burke Ramsey was also known for enjoying midnight snacks, which like most older brothers, he did not like to share with his little sister (1). Oddly enough, JonBenet had pineapples in her stomach the night of her death (1). Many believe that Burke was angered that JonBenet stole some of his snack, and he snapped, hitting her skull with a flashlight. Is a nine-year old capable of murdering his six-year old sister? Did John Bennett and Patsy Ramsey write a ransom note and stage a kidnapping in order to not lose another child? 84% of College of the Mainland students and faculty believed that yes, a family member could of murdered JonBenet.
After twenty-two years and many technological advancements, JonBenet Ramsey’s murder is still unsolved. Neither men who have confessed to the murder had evidence that tied them to her death. No pageant mothers have admitted to possibly slaying the competition away to make way for their child. In 2008, the Boulder District Attorney released a formal apology letter to the Ramsey family, stating that neither the parents or Burke were still considered suspects (Romo). CBS released a documentary in 2016 about Burke Ramsey killing his sister, to which later Burke sued and won, the settlement not disclosed (1). Will the mysterious death of JonBenet ever be solved? Will anyone admit to the murder and stand before a jury of their peers awaiting the verdict of prosecution? Or will one of America’s sweethearts murder forever be unsolved?
Work Cited
“About The Show - Toddlers & Tiaras.” TLC, www.tlc.com/tv-shows/toddlers-tiaras/about.
Ferguson, Zoe. “Where Is John Mark Karr Now?” Bustle, Bustle, 17 Dec. 2018, www.bustle.com/articles/72098-where-is-john-mark-karr-the-man-who-falsely-confessed-to-jonbenet-ramseys-murder-what.
“JonBenét Ramsey.” Crime Museum, www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/cold-cases/jonbenet-ramsey/.
"JonBenet Ramsey." Pageant Stars USA, pageantstarsusa.blogspot.com/p/jonbenet-ramsey.html.
Lee, Emily. "What Pageants Was JonBenet Ramsey In? She Made A Name For Herself." Romper, 13 Sept. 2016, www.romper.com/p/what-pageants-was-jonbenet-ramsey-in-she-made-a-name-for-herself-17101.
Library, CNN. "JonBenet Ramsey Murder Fast Facts." CNN, 2 Jan. 2019, www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/us/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-fast-facts/index.html.
McClish, Mark. The JonBenet Ramsey Ransom Note - Statement Analysis®, www.statementanalysis.com/jonbenet-ramsey-murder/ransom-note/.
McDonell-Parry, Amelia, and Amelia McDonell-Parry. “Pedophile Confesses to Killing JonBenet Ramsey in Letters to Friend.” Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-gary-oliva-confession-letters-778025/.
Noland, Claire. "Patsy Ramsey, 49; Mother of JonBenet, Slain Beauty Queen." Latimes.com, 3 Mar. 2019, articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/25/local/me-ramsey25.
Reynolds, Emma, and Danny Collins. “JonBenet Ramsey's 'Disturbed' Brother 'Smeared Her Christmas Presents with Poo' amid Claims HE Killed Her.” The Sun, The Sun, 21 Sept. 2016, www.thesun.co.uk/news/1826692/jonbenet-ramseys-disturbed-brother-smeared-her-bedroom-and-christmas-presents-with-poo-amid-claims-he-killed-the-six-year-old-beauty-queen/.
Romo, Vanessa. “JonBenét Ramsey's Brother Settles Defamation Lawsuit With CBS.” NPR, NPR, 5 Jan. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/01/04/682444535/jonben-t-ramseys-brother-settles-defamation-lawsuit-with-cbs.
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