Prosecutor: DNA clears JonBenet Ramsey's family - points to "unexplained third party" ~ AP

[mzmolly]

Interesting news from the AP:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080709/ap_on_re_us/jonbenet_ramsey

BOULDER, Colo. - Citing new DNA tests, prosecutors on Wednesday cleared JonBenet Ramsey's parents and brother in the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old beauty queen and apologized to the family for casting the cloud of suspicion that hung over them for more than a decade.
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Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said the tests point to an "unexplained third party." She released a copy of a letter she sent to John Ramsey that said: "To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry."

For years after the slaying, tabloids and crime shows went after the couple. News reports also cast suspicion on JonBenet's older brother, Burke, who was 9 when his sister was killed. Lacy's predecessor as district attorney, Alex Hunter, said in 1997 that the parents were under an "umbrella of suspicion."

"No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion, especially when public officials have not had sufficient evidence to initiate a trial in a court of law," Lacy wrote.

* I was convinced they were invovled until I read "The Cases That Haunt Us" by John Douglas.

[gateley]

1. That was timely. I'm sure her deceased mom is relieved. nt

[mzmolly]

2. I admit to being suspicious about the family myself.

I feel so badly for what they must have been through. Not only losing a precious child, but to be accused?

Can't imagine.

[gateley]

9. We were suspicious because that's how the media painted the story.

Not to mention the police department.

I feel so bad.

[mzmolly]

10. True. But I feel that I allowed myself to be mislead.

It just seemed so unreasonable to think a killer would have been that comfortable in the home and showed up on Christmas Eve? But, apparently that's the case.

How very sad. Imagine if the parents were not wealthy? There is no way they'd not be in prison today.

[gateley]

13. Wow. Good points about the wealth of the parents.

:scared:

We made our judgments on what we were told - and we were told what the police believed, that her mom was involved.

The support for some of their allegations was that they found a "practice" note (or something like that), that the demand was the exact monetary amount of some bonus or whatever that Mr. Ramsey had received. They were pointing the fingers at them.

I'm not excusing myself, but I believe what we were being told.

[mzmolly]

14. Yes, and the handwriting "expert" said that the note matched Mrs. Ramsey.

They could have executed if they didn't have money.

Very sad, one must wonder how many people have been accused of crimes they did not commit thoughout history? Heck, some innocent people are likely household names?

[Scairp]

3. I didn't

I was convinced when no progress was made in the case after so much time went by. There just was nothing that either the Boulder police, the D.A., Hunter I think it was, nor the muckraking media could come up with that made me feel they killed their child and then left her in the basement of their own home. I've seen a lot of parent(s) murders child cases, one very memorable one in my hometown, and I can't recall anyone who has ever been proven guilty of the murder who hid the kid in the house, called the cops and had shitloads of people combing the house for clues and then pretended to find her AFTER the cops asked them to search again. They just didn't do it. If they had done it, the kid would have been removed from the house to make it look more like a predator broke in and took her. Or they rush the kid to the hospital and say they "found" them unconscious or whatever. That is homicidal parent behavior, not the way this happened. It never made sense that these parents killed their child.

[mzmolly]

4. Good points. Douglas also noted that

parents who kill often leave the child in a somewhat thoughtful state. The children are covered with blankets as if to lay them to rest etc. Jon Benet was left with horrible disregard for her humanity. :(

[hisownpetard]

5. Even if the DNA does not match that of John Mark Karr, I still think he had something to do with it.

Poor Patsy Ramsey, having to die without being publicly absolved.
What a sin that whole investigation was/is.

[Bunny]

6. Like you, I felt the same way until I read Douglas' book.

Prior to reading it, I was convinced that one or both of the parents were involved in her death. Reading Douglas' theory convinced me otherwise. I'm glad the Patsy, John and Burke have been vindicated.

[mzmolly]

7. So many people who were fans of Douglas broke with him on the Ramsey case.

From what I recall, he said it was likely a younger male who was a movie buff as he used lines from movies in his ransom note? He also said whoever it was, would have been comfortable in the home? Makes me wonder about a nephew or the son of a family friend?

I hope they nail the person responsible.

[renate]

8. this whole thing is so unbelievably tragic

The Ramseys must have had to grieve virtually alone, for all those years, because of the suspicion hanging over their heads.

To have suffered the worst lost possible, in the worst possible way, and then to have been accused of the murder... it must have been a living hell on earth--just unimaginable.

[mzmolly]

11. Indeed.

:(

[EFerrari]

12. Thank you, mzmolly. My god, that poor family.

:(

[mzmolly]

15. You're welcome sfexpat.

I hope they find the person actually responsible now that the DNA is recovered.