Foreign Faction: Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet? (47 page)

They embarked on a path to ridicule and defame the men and women of the Boulder Police Department when it finally became apparent that the grand jury would not be issuing an indictment or a formal report following their lengthy deliberations. Emboldened by the lack of criminal charges, the Ramseys were bent on destroying anyone who suggested that their family might have played a role in this murder.

They sued many people who dared to speak out, and, regrettably, these folks didn’t know the weakness of the case against anyone outside the family.

John Ramsey continues to take disparaging shots at the Boulder Police Department to this day and recently expressed his anger at the members of the department for their mishandling of his daughter’s murder investigation.

In his recently released book,
The Other Side of Suffering,
⁸⁵
he indicates that “The police had made up its mind on day one and were not about to be swayed by facts or evidence. Police are supposed to investigate a crime and turn the results of the investigation over to the prosecuting attorney. They are not empowered to determine guilt or innocence.”
⁸⁶

Ramsey refers to interviews that the family conducted with Barbara Walters and appearances made on
Larry King Live, CNN Early Primetime,
and other internationally broadcast programs as proof of their effort to see the case solved
.
He goes on to state: “We wanted to do whatever we could to find the killer of our daughter…We wanted to keep the pressure on the police to do the right thing and not just throw our daughter’s murder in a cold case file.”

Ramsey continues, “Our real priority was to get the case moved from the Boulder Police Department to another jurisdiction. Any other jurisdiction would be better. We believed that until a competent authority took over, the murder would never be solved. We learned the Boulder police rarely followed up on any of the hundreds of leads that came into their department. Even the district attorney asked our private investigators to follow up on a lead he had received perhaps because he knew the police would not.”
⁸⁷

I can fully understand Ramsey’s motivation for wishing to see the investigation assigned to another agency. As illustrated here, Boulder PD investigators were not so easily misled when it came to interpreting the
facts
and
evidence
that had been unearthed in the case. He and Patsy had to be very concerned that, at some point, the detective’s inquiries would fully penetrate their carefully crafted smokescreen and eventually determine the underlying motive for a cover-up of JonBenét’s death.

In their attempt to misdirect the course of the criminal investigation, the Ramsey family perpetuated a deception that cost the Boulder Police Department thousands of hours of manpower; resources that could have been assigned to the victims of other crimes were instead expended in pursuit of a phantom intruder. Ultimately, hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were wasted in pursuit of this matter.

The real travesty, however, is that, as a law enforcement community, we failed in our duty to find justice for a murdered child. It seems to me that when we do that, we have somehow failed them all.

Undoubtedly, there may be some who will question why I chose to break silence after all of these years, and some will criticize the decision to publish this work. I have frequently asked myself the same questions and have had to clarify, for my own conscience, where my allegiance in this matter should stand.

In the final analysis, given the preponderance of the evidence that was presented in this matter, I felt that it was my responsibility to pursue, and eventually reveal, the untold truth about the circumstances surrounding the murder of a 6-year-old child. Secondarily, my allegiance was due the agencies involved in the investigation.

Some may likely disagree with this position and argue that I should have continued to maintain my silence. I will leave it to the historians to eventually pass judgment on the matter.

An author must eventually bring his work to a close, and in so doing, I would like to state that my goal in preparing this manuscript was to provide a straight forward, factual accounting of as many of the pertinent details surrounding this case as was possible. I wanted to reveal to the reading audience the steps I took to investigate this murder, and to share the discoveries that had been made during my review of the documents that had been painstakingly prepared by the law enforcement personnel who worked this case.

Moreover, I felt compelled to explain the thought processes and reasoning used to reach the investigative theories that I had developed about the circumstances surrounding JonBenét’s death.

My beliefs, conclusions and opinions, are stated fairly clearly and were based upon the information provided herein.

More importantly, I wish to stress that I undertook this work as a
private citizen,
who once played a lead role in this investigation. Nothing stated herein should be interpreted as being representative of the opinions of any other specific law enforcement agency, entity, or individual who may have played a part in this investigation.

With that said, I thought it appropriate to conclude this work by repeating Sherlock Holmes’s investigative dictum:

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains
, however improbable,
must be the truth.”

Expressed in another way, I would propose that we have a responsibility as criminal investigators to consider all of the
possibilities
that present themselves in a case
,
but we should carefully weigh the
probabilities
as we go about the task of investigating and eventually solving a crime.

I would, therefore, encourage you, the reader, to consider the same information that I pondered as I struggled to understand the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of a 6-year-old girl. You are free to either accept, or reject, in whole, or in any part, the beliefs and opinions that I have presented in this work.

The discoveries made during my inquiry are now in your hands, and you are free to draw your own investigative conclusions.

Lastly, I feel it is necessary to point out that thousands of children continue to be victimized each year in this country by people, young and old, who by their actions perpetuate the violence associated with the abhorrent crimes of sexual abuse, exploitation, cruelty, and neglect. It is my feeling that prevention begins with education and foreknowledge, and it absolutely begins with parents and relatives who are willing to take steps to recognize the early warning signs of abuse and then do something about it.

As a police chief, I once had the opportunity to attend an executive training session sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, located in Alexandria, Virginia.
⁸⁸
The mission of this private, non-profit organization is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation, aid in the recovery of missing children, and assist other children who have been victimized by these types of crimes.

They are the frontrunners in addressing the issues of violence that directly affect the children of our communities, and a donation from the proceeds of the sale of this book is being directed to the NCMEC center to aid in their endeavor.

Ultimately, it is our children who represent the full embodiment of our future, and a positive change for tomorrow begins with what you decide to do today.

T
here were a large number of people involved in this investigation, and the following is a listing of the investigators, witnesses, and other named individuals who are mentioned in this book. It is by no means an exhaustive accounting of every person who may have played a part in the ongoing saga of this murder investigation.

For the sake of brevity, BPD refers to the Boulder Police Department; BCSO refers to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department; Boulder D.A. refers to the Boulder District Attorney’s Office; BAU / CASKU refers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Behavioral Analysis Unit / Child Abduction Serial Killer Unit.

Steve Ainsworth
– BCSO investigator

Al Alvarado
– BPD computer expert

Kimberly Archuleta
– Communications dispatcher that took the 911 call

Mike Archuleta
– John Ramsey’s private pilot

Ellis Armistead
– Ramsey private investigator

Linda Arndt
– BPD investigator

Sue Barklow
– BPD CSI

Joe and Betty Barnhill
– Ramsey neighbors in Boulder

Mark Beckner
– BPD Police Chief, successor to Tom Koby

Tom Bennett
– Retired Arvada PD investigator, hired by Mary Keenan (Lacy) to lead JonBenét’s murder investigation for the DA’s office

Suzanne Bernhard (Pinto)
– Child Psychologist, second person to interview Burke Ramsey

Dr. Francesco Beuf
– JonBenét’s pediatrician

Patrick Burke
– Patsy Ramsey’s attorney

Michael Bynum
– Ramsey friend and attorney

Dan Caplis
– BPD Dream Team organizer

Laurence “Trip” DeMuth
– Boulder County Deputy D.A.

Jackie Dilson
– Former girlfriend of Chris Wolf

Michael Doberson
– Arapahoe County Coroner, involved in stun gun investigation of Gerald Boggs

John Douglas
– Retired FBI BAU profiler hired by Ramsey attorneys

John Eller
– BPD Detective Division Commander

Jay Elowski “Pasta Jay”
– Ramsey friend and owner of Pasta Jay’s restaurant

Mike Everett
– BPD detective and crime scene investigator

Barbara and John Fernie
– Ramsey friends, summoned to home on December 26, 1996

James R. Fitzgerald
– FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Forensic Linguist

Donald Foster
– Vassar University professor and linguistic sleuth

Rick French
– First BPD officer to arrive on the scene on December 26, 1996

Stan Garnett
– Boulder County District Attorney, succeeded Mary Keenan (Lacy)

Ron Gosage
– BPD investigator

Hal Haddon
– Ramsey attorney

Bill Hagmaier
– FBI Special Agent, CASKU

Tom Haney
– Retired Denver Police Homicide Division Commander involved in Ramsey interviews

Jane Harmer
– BPD investigator

Melissa Hickman
– BPD investigator

Shelly Hisey
– BPD Criminalist

Dan Hoffman
– BPD Dream Team attorney

Linda Hoffmann-Pugh
– Ramsey housekeeper, named as first suspect by Ramsey family

Pete Hoffstrom
– Boulder County Deputy District Attorney and chief of the felony trial division

Alex Hunter
– Boulder County District Attorney, succeeded by Mary Keenan (Lacy)

Greg Idler
– BPD investigator

Jim Jenkins
– Ramsey attorney in Atlanta

Lucinda Johnson
– First wife of John Ramsey, mother of Beth, Melinda, and John Andrew Ramsey

Mary Ann Kaempfer
– Mother of Burke Ramsey’s childhood friend

Mike Kane
– Special Prosecutor, Boulder Grand Jury

John Mark Karr
– Arrested by Boulder District Attorney’s Office and extradited from Thailand

Bob Keatley
– BPD in-house attorney

Mary Keenan (Lacy)
– Boulder County District Attorney, succeeded by Stan Garnett

Jeff Kithcart
– BPD forgery investigator, discovered practice ransom note

Marc Klass
– Father of slain daughter, Polly Klass

Pat Korten
– Ramsey public relations specialist

Barbara Kostanik
– mother of JonBenét’s childhood friend

Greg Laberge
– Denver Police Crime Lab Supervisor

Dr. Henry Lee
– Renowned criminalist and forensic scientist

Stewart Long
– Boyfriend / fiancé of Melinda Ramsey

Larry Mason
- BPD Detective Sergeant

Gregg McCrary
– Retired FBI Special Agent, Criminal Profiler

Carol McKinley
– KOA Radio / News reporter

Bill McReynolds
– Played Santa Claus at Ramsey Christmas parties

Janet McReynolds
- Wife of Bill McReynolds

Glen Meyer
– Basement tenant of Joe and Betty Barnhill

Dr. John Meyer
– Boulder County coroner

Bob Miller
– BPD Dream Team attorney

Bryan Morgan
– John Ramsey’s attorney

Bill Owens
– Governor of Colorado, succeeded by John Hickenlooper

Bill Palmer
– BPD investigator, overheard John Ramsey planning to leave state after discovering JonBenét’s body

Fred Patterson
– BPD investigator, first detective to interview Burke Ramsey

Don Paugh
– Father of Patsy Ramsey, grandfather to JonBenét

Nedra Paugh
– Mother of Patsy Ramsey, grandmother to JonBenét

Pam Paugh
– Sister of Patsy Ramsey, former Miss West Virginia

Polly Paugh (Davis)
– Youngest sister of Patsy Ramsey

Anthony Pecchio
– Classmate, friend of Burke Ramsey, accompanied Ramsey family to Atlanta for funeral services

Burke Ramsey
– Older brother to JonBenét, 9 years-old at time of her death

Elizabeth “Beth” Ramsey
– half-sister of JonBenét, eldest child of John Ramsey and former wife Lucinda. Died in traffic accident in 1992

Jeff Ramsey
– Brother of John Ramsey

John Ramsey
– Father of JonBenét, husband of Patsy Ramsey

John Andrew Ramsey
– Older half-brother of JonBenét, third child from John Ramsey’s marriage to Lucinda

JonBenét Ramsey
– Six-year-old victim

Lucinda Ramsey
– See Lucinda Johnson

Melinda Ramsey
– Older half-sister of JonBenét, second child from John Ramsey’s marriage to Lucinda

Patsy Ramsey
– JonBenét’s mother, wife of John Ramsey

Paul Reichenbach
- BPD Patrol Sergeant, second officer to arrive on scene December 26, 1996

Dr. Lucy Rorke
– Neuro-pathologist, Philadelphia Children’s Hospital

Christine Sandoval
– Telluride Marshal’s Department officer

Suzanne Savage
– Former Ramsey nanny

Barry Scheck
– DNA expert and prominent defense attorney

Lou Smit
– Retired Colorado Springs investigator, hired by Alex Hunter as DA investigator

Dr. Werner Spitz
– Forensics Expert, outlined sequence of injuries sustained by JonBenét

Norman Squier
– Telluride Marshal’s Department Sergeant

Melody Stanton
– Ramsey neighbor who reported hearing a scream

Susan Stine
– Ramsey friend

Harry Stephens
– Telluride Marshal’s Department Sergeant, discovered train track

Kim Stewart
– BPD investigator

Steve Thomas
– Former BPD investigator, author of
JonBenét: Inside the Murder Investigation

Michael Tracey
- Professor at University of Colorado, instigated John Mark Karr investigation

Tom Trujillo
– BPD investigator

Chet Ubowski
– Colorado Bureau of Investigation document examiner and handwriting expert

John Van Tassel
– Royal Canadian Mounted Police, knot expert

Geraldine Vodicka
– Ramsey housekeeper / nanny

Barry Weiss
– BPD Crime Scene Investigator

Rod Westmoreland
– John Ramsey’s best friend and financial advisor

Fleet and Priscilla White
– Ramsey friends, summoned to home on December 26, 1996.

Bob Whitson
– BPD Sergeant

Tom Wickman
– BPD Detective Sergeant

Bill Wise
– Boulder County first Assistant District Attorney

Chris Wolf
– Boyfriend of Jackie Dilson

L. Lin Wood
– Ramsey civil attorney