JonBenét Ramsey

JonBenét Ramsey’s body was discovered in the basement of her family’s home by her father, John Ramsey, on the morning of December 26, 1996. She had been reported missing earlier that day by her mother, Patsy Ramsey, who found a ransom note demanding $118,000.

The crime scene at the Ramsey residence yielded several key pieces of evidence, including the ransom note, which was found on the staircase leading to the kitchen. JonBenét’s body was found in the basement wine cellar and showed signs of being strangled  with a garrote made from a cord and a broken paintbrush handle. Ligature marks on her neck indicated that she had been strangled before being struck on the head.

Despite extensive investigations by law enforcement agencies and independent experts, no one has been definitively identified as JonBenét’s killer. The case remains open, with periodic developments such as new forensic analyses or suspects emerging over the years.


DECEMBER 26, 1996

Initial Investigation Timeline

5:30 a.m. Ransom Note Discovery

At 5:30 a.m. Patsy Ramsey discovered a two-and-a-half page handwritten note on the spiral staircase stating that her daughter had been kidnapped and demanded $118,000 for her return.

5:52 a.m. Patsy Ramsey 911 Call

At 5:52 a.m. Patsy Ramsey makes a call to 911 to report a kidnapping. Patsy tells 911 dispatcher, Kimberly Archuleta, that there is a ransom note demanding $118,000 for her return and it says, “Victory, S.B.T.C”

6:00 a.m. Office Rick French Arrival

Officer Rick French arrives to meet a “distraught Patricia Ramsey and her husband, John.” John advised Officer French that their daughter was missing. John directed Officer French through the house and pointed out where the ransom note was found. Officer French conducts an initial search but does not open the door to the basement where JonBenét would later be found.

8:10 a.m. Detective Linda Arndt Arrival

Detective Linda Arndt and Detective Fred Patterson arrive at the Ramsey house at 8:10 a.m. Early afternoon, Detective Arndt instructs John Ramsey and family friend Fleet White to conduct a thorough search of the house.

1:05 p.m. Discovery of the Body

At approximately 1:05 p.m., John opens the door to the basement spare room (wine cellar) and discovers JonBenét’s body, which showed signs of strangulation and trauma. Around 1:45 p.m., the house was cleared and secured by the Boulder Police.

8:20 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Examination & Removal of the Body

Boulder County Coroner Dr. John Meyer arrived at the scene and conducted a brief examination of JonBenét’s body at approximately 8:20 p.m. Following this examination, JonBenét’s body was removed from the scene by the Boulder County Coroner’s office at around 10:45 p.m. It was subsequently held until an autopsy could be performed the following day.

911 Call Recording & Transcript

Listen to the 911 call, which was placed by Patsy Ramsey shortly after the discovery of the Ransom Note.

Dispatcher: 911 emergency
(unintelligible)
Patsy: Police!
Dispatcher : What’s going on?
Patsy: I’m at seven fifty-five 15th Street.
Dispatcher: What’s going on there, ma’am?
Patsy : We have a kidnapping. Hurry, please.
Dispatcher: Explain to me what’s going on, OK?
Patsy: There, we have a, there’s a note left and our daughter’s gone.
Dispatcher : A note was left and your daughter is gone?
Patsy: Yes.
Dispatcher: How old is your daughter?
Patsy : She’s six years old. She’s blonde, six years old.
Dispatcher: How long ago was this?
Patsy: I don’t know. I just found the note and my daughter’s gone.
Dispatcher : Does it say who took her?
Patsy: What?

Dispatcher: Does it say who took her?
Patsy: No. I don’t know. It’s, there’s a, there’s a ransom note here.
Dispatcher : It’s a ransom note?
Patsy: It’s say SBTC, victory. Please.
Dispatcher: OK, what’s your name? Are you Pats…
Patsy : Patsy Ramsey, I’m the mother. Oh, my God! Please!
Dispatcher: I’m, OK, I’m sending an officer over, OK?
Patsy: Please!
Dispatcher : Do you know how long she’s been gone?
Patsy: No, I don’t. Please, we just got up and she’s not here. Oh, my God! Please!
Dispatcher: OK, calm…
Patsy : Please send somebody.
Dispatcher: I am, honey.
Patsy: Please.
Dispatcher : Take a deep breath for me, OK?
Patsy: Hurry. Hurry. Hurry!
Dispatcher: Patsy! Patsy? Patsy? Patsy?

Do You Recognize This Handwriting?

Mr. Ramsey,

Listen Carefully! We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction. We respect your bussines, but not the country that it serves. At this time, we have your daughter in our possession. She is safe and unharmed and if you want her to see 1997, you must follow our instructions to the letter.

You will withdraw $118,000.00 from your account. $100,000 will be in $100 bills and the remaining $18,000 in $20 bills. Make sure that you bring an adequate size attaché to the bank. When you get home you will put the money in a brown paper bag. I will call you between 8 and 10 am tomorrow to instruct you on delivery. The delivery will be exhausting so I advise you to be rested. If we monitor you getting the money early we might call you early to arrange an earlier delivery of the


money and hence a earlier pickup of your daughter. Any deviation of my instructions will result in the immediate execution of your daughter. You will also be denied her remains for a proper burial. The two gentlemen watching over your daughter do not particularly like you so I advise you not to provoke them. Speaking to anyone about your situation, such as 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 way marked or tampered with, she dies. You will be scanned for electronic devices and if any are found, she dies. You can try to deceive us, but be warned 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. You and your family are under constant scrutiny, as well as the authorities. Don’t try to grow a brain John. You are not the only fat cat around so don’t think that killing will be difficult. Don’t underestimate us, John. Use that good, Southern common sense of yours. It’s up to you now John!

Victory!

S.B.T.C.


about THE NOTE

Prior to the discovery of JonBenét’s body, a two and a half page ransom note was found in the Ramsey home. The note demanded $118,000 for the return of JonBenét and was written on a notepad from the house. It was later determined that the ink and paper used in the note were consistent with those found in the Ramsey home.

About the Note:

  • The note was written from a notepad that belonged to the Ramseys, which was kept on a table close to the spiral staircase.
  • Pages 1-12 were missing.
  • Pages 13-16 were filled with lists and notes and doodles.
  • Pages 17-25 were missing – apparently not found in the house.
  • Page 26 contained the words “Mr. and Mrs. I” and had some ink on it, apparently bleed-through from whatever had been written on page 25.
  • Pages 27, 28 and 29 have been positively identified as the pages the ransom note were written on.

Note Analysis:

The Ransom Note is believed by all parties to have been written by the killer or an accomplice of the killer and remains an extremely important clue in the murder investigation.

The language and content of the ransom note have been extensively analyzed by experts in linguistics, criminal psychology, and law enforcement. Some key points that provide insight into the mindset of the author include:

  1. Length and Detail: The length and level of detail in the ransom note are unusual for such a communication. It suggests that the author wanted to convey a sense of urgency and seriousness while also potentially trying to mislead investigators.
  2. Familiarity with the Family: The author demonstrated intimate knowledge of the Ramsey family, referencing specific details about John Ramsey’s business dealings and personal life. This level of familiarity could indicate that the author was someone close to the family or had conducted significant research prior to composing the note.
  3. Emotional Tone: The note contained emotional language and references to JonBenét being “beheaded” if the instructions were not followed. This extreme language could be an attempt to manipulate the Ramseys’ emotions and prompt them to comply with the demands.

Legitimacy of the Ransom Note:

The legitimacy of the ransom note in the JonBenét Ramsey case has been a subject of intense debate among investigators, forensic experts, and criminologists. Some factors that have been considered in assessing its authenticity include:

  1. Handwriting Analysis: Handwriting experts have examined the ransom note and compared it to known samples from Patsy Ramsey and other individuals associated with the case. While some similarities have been noted, definitive conclusions about authorship have not been reached.
  2. Behavioral Analysis: Behavioral profilers have studied the language, tone, and content of the note to determine whether it aligns with typical characteristics of genuine ransom communications. The unusual length and specific details included in the note have led some analysts to question its authenticity.

Type of Person Likely to Author the Ransom Note:

Based on linguistic analysis, behavioral profiling, and circumstantial evidence, several theories have been proposed regarding the type of person who may have authored the ransom note in the JonBenét Ramsey case:

  1. Insider Theory: Some investigators believe that the author was someone with close ties to the Ramsey family or intimate knowledge of their personal affairs. This theory suggests that an insider may have been involved in staging JonBenét’s abduction as part of a cover-up or elaborate scheme.
  2. Intruder Theory: An alternative hypothesis posits that an unknown intruder or outsider may have written the ransom note as a diversionary tactic to mislead investigators and deflect suspicion away from themselves. This theory relies on evidence suggesting a break-in at the Ramsey residence.  Additionally, this theory is supported by the unknown male DNA evidence recovered from the scene.
  3. Hoax Theory: Another possibility is that the ransom note was part of an elaborate hoax or prank intended to deceive law enforcement and create confusion in the investigation. This theory considers various inconsistencies and anomalies in the note as indicators of a fabricated scenario.


December 27, 1996

Autopsy of JonBenét

The autopsy of JonBenét was performed on December 27, 1996 and it was determined her official cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma. There were signs of possible sexual assault, but this detail would later be part of an ongoing controversy.

In addition to the strangulation, JonBenét sustained an 8.5 inch fractured skull that extended from the right occipital region to the frontal region across the parietal area of the skull, which indicated that she had experienced blunt force trauma prior to or during the time of her death. This type of injury can lead to loss of consciousness and potentially fatal outcomes. Additionally, the findings within the autopsy report support the conclusion that she was alive before she was asphyxiated and that she fought her attacker.

Crime Scene Info & Photos

The crime scene at the Ramsey residence yielded several crucial pieces of evidence, including the ransom note discovered on the staircase leading to the kitchen. JonBenét’s body was found in the basement wine cellar, bearing signs of strangulation with a garrote crafted from a cord and a broken paintbrush handle. Ligature marks on her neck indicated that she may have been strangled before being struck on the head.

During the autopsy, the coroner found male DNA under JonBenet’s fingernails. This DNA does not match that of any member of the Ramsey family. Specifically, it was identified under both her right and left hand fingernails, indicating she may have struggled with her killer before her death. Additionally, male DNA was discovered in JonBenét’s underwear mixed with her blood, which has not been matched to any known individuals or suspects.

To date, the Boulder Police Department has been unable to identify the male whose DNA was discovered at the crime scene. Furthermore, a Caucasian “pubic or auxiliary” hair was found on the blanket covering JonBenét’s body. This hair does not belong to any member of the Ramsey family and remains unlinked to any known suspect.

The investigation into the murder of JonBenét has been beset by controversies, errors, and conflicting theories. Initially, the case was treated as a kidnapping, which prevented the commencement of critical investigations that should have been initiated upon the arrival of the Boulder Police Department. Furthermore, the crime scene was not adequately secured, allowing friends and family to enter the residence and potentially contaminate evidence.

In January 2004, an STR sample of the DNA found in JonBenét’s underwear was submitted to the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database. Despite this submission, the database has yielded no matches. This DNA is widely regarded as a substantial piece of evidence, rather than a red herring, as it suggests the presence of an unknown individual outside the immediate family. Nevertheless, the compromised crime scene, the questionable nature of the DNA sampling, and the absence of a definitive match to a suspect have contributed to ongoing speculation and debate regarding the validity and accuracy of this DNA evidence.


Have you seen this knot before?

garRote

This device was meticulously constructed by an individual with expertise in its design and by someone who possessed a thorough understanding of the process. This suggests premeditation by an individual with the intention of deliberately inflicting harm.

The slipknots and garrote are both sophisticated bondage devices designed to exert control over the user.

Evidence from these devices indicates that they were crafted by someone with expertise in using rope and cords. However, these cords could not be found or “sourced” within the Ramsey home.


HI-TEC Brand Bootprint

HI-TEC brand bootprint found in mold on the floor of the wine cellar near JonBenét’s body.

Several recently made unidentified shoe prints were found in the basement where JonBenét’s body was located, imprinted in mold growing on the basement floor. In particular, a shoe print of a “HI-TEC” brand mark on the sole of a shoe was found. The owner of the “HI-TEC” shoe that made the shoe prints at the murder scene has never been identified.