Examples from the Collection

Jonbenet Ramsey Murder Theory

A Good Theory/DNA

Any good theory must account for ALL of the evidence; not just some. What follows is a theory that attempts to address and explain all the significant evidence in the case. The Jonbenet murder is never going to be solved with DNA. Therefore, it must be solved using the evidence and logic. Her killer was a family member and finding familial DNA in the house or on her person is to be expected. The DNA that was found on Jonbenet is likely a composite of more than one person. There are many innocent ways that people can “pick up” the DNA of another person - touching, coughing, sharing clothes, carpet transfer, servants, maintenance persons or contractors, etc. Finding DNA of an unknown origin does not prove anything. This case can only be “solved” with a confession.

Ransome note/911 Call

The ransom note will not be dissected here because it has been examined and explained at length elsewhere. The same is true for the 911 call. The Ransom note is fake, and almost certainly written by Patsy. This theory surmises that this is a fact. Therefore: Patsy knows who killed Jonbenet. The note was an attempt to protect someone in the family.

Location of the body/Intruder Theory

The intruder theory claims that the abductor got “too excited” and could not resist sexually abusing Jonbenet before leaving the house. Though he planned on kidnapping her (ransom note), and though he successfully got her from her bedroom without waking anyone, he apparently proceeded to the basement – instead of out any of the doors on the main level (highly unlikely). But if we are to believe this is true; that excitement got the best of him, and that he molested and killed her, it would make no sense that he would take the time to hide the body in some hard-to-find room, rather than just leaving her where she was and making a quick getaway. The reason her body was hidden was because if the police arrived after the 911 call, they would easily find her and wonder why the parents hadn’t done the same. Another reason for hiding the body is because a parent wouldn’t feel comfortable just leaving her body lying there; they could not bear the thought of her lying dead and exposed in the basement. Instead, she was placed in a dark windowless room, like a tomb. Note too that she was covered with a blanket and left with her favorite pajamas, indicating that she was placed there by a loved one.

Unnecessary Lying

Why lie about pineapple? Why lie about putting kids straight to bed? There are only a few certainties in the Ramsey’s telling of the events of the night of the murder; one is that Jonbenet fell asleep in the car and was put STRAIGHT TO BED. The other is that Burke went to bed and NEVER GOT UP. This story was created to give the impression that Jonbenet and Burke were never together in the house that night, i.e., he could not have killed her. See Burke’s interview video wherein the photo with the bowl of pineapple is shown to him. He doesn’t know what to say because he knows he ate it that night (his and Patsy’s fingerprints on bowl), but also knows that he’s supposed to say he went straight to bed and never got up.

The “Garotte”

The “garotte” was actually a boy scout commando or toggle rope (credit to True Crime Rocket Science – Youtube). Burke was a boy scout and reportedly owned a boy scout manual with instructions on its use. The handle was made impulsively – right where it was found near the paint supply tray. The broken off section was still in the tray, and the splinters were on the ground nearby. This is also the location of the murder, just outside the room where Jonbenet’s body was “discovered” by John Ramsey. The handle of the garotte had Jonbenet’s hair tangled within it. It was probably made as she lay face down on the floor, arms over her head, and unconscious from her head injury, while Burke sat on top of her. Her arms were still in that position when she was “found” because rigor mortis had set in. (Could this mean that John or Patsy did not find Jonbenet for a few hours?). Rigor mortis - the time of onset is variable but usually between one and six hours (average 2-4 hours) after death.

Parents as Killer Theory

It is unlikely that Patsy or John killed Jonbenet. If a parent inflicted a head injury to their child, whether by accident or because of loss of temper, they would most likely call an ambulance. Jonbenet was alive after receiving the head injury. It would be unlikely that a parent would feel the need to “finish her off”. By all accounts John and Patsy loved their children – it would be hard to imagine them manually strangling Jonbenet to death.

Bedwetting and Sexual Abuse

Supposition: Jonbenet’s sexual abuse and her murder are probably not be related. Jonbenet was being sexually abused (and possibly Burke also), most likely by John Ramsey. Dr. Cyril Wecht gets it almost right – Patsy had undergone chemotherapy for her cancer and was “out of the sex business”, as Wecht puts it. Jonbenet was dressed like a Las Vegas showgirl with “sexy” outfits, makeup, and lipstick. Wecht theorizes that she became a surrogate for Patsy (unwillingly). Jonbenet’s autopsy showed that there was “birefringent” material inside her vagina. Wecht explains that the most common source of this is talcum powder. Perhaps John explained to her that he “needed” to apply it because of bedwetting. It is common for children who are sexually abused to intentionally wet their beds to make them less appealing to their abuser. Multiple medical examiners believed Jonbenet’s vaginal injuries were the result of repeated sexual abuse, and the evidence of blood indicates she was abused the night she was killed. If Burke was in fact jealous of Jonbenet (feces on candy box, etc.), then he may have been angered by his father spending “daddy time” with his little girl that night.

Viscousness of the Attack

Jonbenet’s injuries were brutal and fatal. Even the angriest parent knows how fatal a blow to the head with a heavy object would be. Yes, angry parents do hit their children, but seldomly with such devastating force. Jonbenet was hit over the head with tremendous force, intentionally, by someone who likely hated her. And then she was viciously strangled until she was dead. The mind of a nine-year-old is not fully developed and the centers of the brain governing logic and restraint are still developing. If there is any truth to the report that Burke smeared feces on Jonbenet’s box of candy and bedroom walls, that would indicate jealousy and possibly some underlying mental issues.

The Theory

The Ramsey’s arrive home after a Christmas party at around 10:30. Burke is fed pineapple in the kitchen and perhaps Jonbenet steals a piece (found in her digestive track). Maybe this leads to an altercation between the children, angering Burke. John originally said he read to both children but then changed his story. Perhaps he spent time with Burke and then Jonbenet (sexually assaulting her), while Patsy packed for their trip. Shortly thereafter, and unbeknownst to the parents, Burke lures Jonbenet to the basement where several of their Christmas presents are, including Burke’s train set. Note in one video interview Burke says the killer may have “quietly taken Jonbenet and tiptoed to the basement”. He also shows how she may have been killed by a blow to the head (he would have no way of knowing this fact). In the basement, he violently hits her over the head, knocking her unconscious. He then makes his “garotte” while sitting on her back, entangling some of her hair, and strangles her to death. He returns to his room quietly to avoid detection.

John and Patsy are still awake (Patsy greets the police that morning wearing the same clothes as the night before, and with full hair and makeup). At some point, they check on Jonbenet, and she is not in her room. They eventually find her dead in the basement and realize that Burke is responsible. Burke is nine years old and will be ten in a few weeks. In Colorado, a person must be at least 10 to be charged with a crime. Perhaps John calls his lawyer (phone records never subpoenaed) and is told that Burke could potentially face charges. Perhaps they know of some underlying mental issue that Burke has. One child is dead, maybe they can save the other. They concoct the intruder theory. John moves Jonbenet’s body to the wine cellar and wraps her in a blanket, while Patsy begins the ransom note. John returns to help her and the note is revised. John suggests the mention of his $118,000 bonus to lead the police into believing it was someone at his company. John later provides the police with the name of a former disgruntled employee. John goes out and disposes of the rope used to strangle Jonbenet, the missing pages from the pad used to write the ransom note, and the duct tape covering Jonbenet’s mouth (which was placed there after her death to reinforce the intruder theory). He takes a flashlight with him and leaves it on the kitchen counter when he returns. John and Patsy tell Burke that no matter what anyone asks him, he is to say he never got out of bed that night and never heard anything. The 911 call is made.