JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation (54 page)

As I looked across the desk at them, I thought how different things might have been if the district attorney’s office had not shared a shred of evidence, a single secret, test results or investigative conclusions with these people.

Perhaps the most rewarding reaction to my book came from cops and prosecutors around the country, who were astonished at the way the case was mishandled. After reading my book, their primary question was usually not a critical, “Why did you write a book?” but rather, “How did you go so long without speaking up?” Other former Boulder cops also began to go public, and their letters were printed by newspapers other than the
Camera.
“Hunter owes us all an apology. Leaving office is a start,” wrote Detective Greg Idler.

At a private party for law enforcement after my book came out, I was particularly pleased at the number of Boulder cops, my former mates, who showed up. Each put his or her career in jeopardy by supporting me, and it took guts for them to stand up. “Chief Beckner hasn’t come out from under his desk yet,” said one. The unofficial support from the rank and file cops was incredible.

So where does the Ramsey case stand now? Officially it is still open, but unofficially it is packed away in boxes. That does not mean that it is totally over.

More than two years have passed since I handed in my badge and I have to believe that new evidence and lines of inquiry have been developed which would only strengthen the previous probable cause in this case. The grand jury did not indict the Ramseys, but neither did it exonerate them.

Paul Campos, a newspaper columnist, pointed out that the medieval philosopher William of Occam formulated the principle known as Occam’s Razor: If two hypotheses purport to explain the same data, then, all other things being equal, the simpler hypothesis is to be preferred. “It takes a very simple hypothesis to explain how the Ramseys could have committed this crime,” Campos wrote. “It takes a remarkably elaborate one to explain how anyone else could have.”

Sherlock Holmes, the mythical detective, put it another way: “When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

In August of 2000, after a request from the Boulder Police Department and seemingly endless negotiations to get them back to the interview table, John and Patsy Ramsey agreed to a meeting. Twenty-six months had passed since they last had answered questions from the authorities, but after vowing publicly during their book tour to “cooperate” with police, they had little choice but to carry through with one.

To the surprise of no one, the interview was to be held on the Ramseys’ home turf. It would not take place at the Boulder Police Department, but at their attorney’s office in Atlanta. The Ramseys’ attorney made it clear that if the police questioners became confrontational or aggressive, the interview would end and the Ramseys would walk out. Nevertheless, Chief Beckner and the investigators, along with Mike Kane and two other special prosecutors, went to Atlanta to try and jump-start the case.

I found it interesting that neither Alex Hunter nor anyone from his office chose to attend, not even Mary Keenan, who had won the Democratic primary and was the overwhelming favorite to succeed Hunter as the Boulder County DA. No one bothered to call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

About a dozen people gathered in the downtown Atlanta conference room of the Ramsey lawyer for the day-and-a-half session, but on the afternoon of the first day the interview came close to falling apart. Kane, whom the Ramseys had tried to negotiate out of the meeting, aimed pointed questions at Patsy, causing her attorney to openly criticize him as an “overzealous prosecutor.” The stumbling block occurred when the Ramseys’ attorney refused to allow Patsy to answer some of Kane’s questions.

The Ramseys had given away nothing but a few hours, but claimed “cooperation” and asked to officially be cleared from suspicion. The beleaguered Boulder police could say they had moved the case forward, but issued a conservative statement that they wished that they could have asked more questions. Little came of the meeting but some public relations posturing.

I have no regrets about writing the book to expose a terribly flawed justice system in Boulder, Colorado. As much as I miss police work, it was the right thing to do, for someone had to step forward, and it should be a lesson to communities across America not to allow any politician to become an emperor and merely interpret the law as he, or she, sees fit.

Every day that I am gone from Boulder, I am more confident in my decision to have left. Everything has taken on a new perspective. Had I known during the investigation all that I know now, I would have spoken out sooner against the misuse of the criminal justice system.

But despite everything that has happened, I still marvel at the physical beauty and serenity of Boulder. This book was cathartic, and I feel long-held tensions still seeping from me. It is up to future authors to document the conclusion of this drama, probably years from now. Someday I will move from Colorado, and when I take a last look at the Flatiron mountains, my final emotion will be of frustration, knowing that someone murdered a child—and got away with it.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

To certain members of the Boulder Police Department, cops who still cannot speak out publicly and who know this story all too well, I appreciate your continued support and the confidences you provided me in the preparation of this book. To John Eller, who tried to do the right thing, I respect your efforts in the case. To Bob Keatley, the most ethical man I know. To John Lang, a cop’s cop, and the entire Georgia Bureau of Investigation team. To Don Foster, a true professional. To Dan Caplis and the Dream Team, who stepped up when asked. To members of the FBI and those law enforcement experts who assisted us in seeking justice, thank you.

To the A-Team cops who have left the BPD, the likes of Haukeness, Idler, Schunk, Joy, Kolar, Ross, Ready, Finn, Sears, Ramos, Schifano, Lutz, Neitzel, Bresnahan, Aguilar, Riggs, and Humphrey—Boulder doesn’t realize what it lost. And to the cops of the Wheat Ridge Police Department, who taught me so much about real police work.

To all those who were wrongly accused in this case, and there are so many of you, such as Mike Glynn, Jeff Merrick, and Bill McReynolds, I respect your decency and honor. To Fleet and Priscilla White, the most principled of people, who quietly fought hard for justice and were forsaken not only by friends but by a criminal justice system.

To my friend and attorney, Peg Miller, for never allowing those who opposed me to silence my right to speak and who never wavered as a loyal friend in the face of spiteful opposition.

To Shelley Ross, whose integrity and professionalism is without parallel and whom I admire tremendously.

To the group at St. Martin’s Press, Charles Spicer, John Murphy, and Heather Florence, and to my agent, Barbara Lowenstein, my sincere thanks. And to Don and Robin Davis and their agent, Jane Dystel, for your hard work.

To my friends Todd Sears, Richard Setian, Steve Headley, and Danny Nutt, guys who never wavered in their support and whose friendships I value most of all.

To my family, Pop, Cathie, Amanda, and Christine, in Arkadelphia and elsewhere, and the Jesaitis family, my deepest gratitude.

And most of all, to my wife, Karena. You endured a tremendous burden and supported me throughout. I am forever grateful.

The true name of John Ramsey’s former mistress has not been used in the book. The name Jodi Roberts is a pseudonym. All other names are real.

“UNMISTAKABLY AND WORST OF ALL, WE HAVE FAILED a little girl named JonBenét. Six years old. Many good people, decent, innocent citizens, are forever bound by the murder of this child. There is a tremendous obligation to them but an infinitely greater obligation to her, as she rests in a small cemetery far away from this anomaly of a place called Boulder.

“I know that to speak out brings its own issues. But as you also know, there are others who are as disheartened as I am, who are biting their tongues, searching their consciences. I know what may occur—I may be portrayed as frustrated, disgruntled. Not so. I have had an exemplary and decorated thirteen-year career as a police officer and detective. I didn’t want to challenge the system. In no way do I wish to harm this case or subvert the long and arduous work that has been done. I only wish to speak up and ask for assistance in making a change. I want justice for a child who was killed in her home on Christmas night.”

—From Steve Thomas’s resignation letter to the
city of Boulder, Department of Police,
August 6, 1998

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

So many people were involved in the Ramsey murder investigation, many with similar-sounding names, that it is difficult for a reader to keep them straight. I have attempted here to list only the major characters. BPD designates the Boulder Police Department. Alphabetically, they are:

Leslie Aaholm—City of Boulder spokesperson.

Steve Ainsworth—Boulder County Sheriff’s Department investigator.

Al Alvarado—BPD computer expert.

Mike Archuleta—John Ramsey’s private pilot.

Ellis Armistead—Ramsey private investigator.

Linda Arndt—BPD Detective. Present when body was found.

Rich Baer—BPD Dream Team attorney.

Ann Bardach—
Vanity Fair
reporter.

Joe and Betty Barnhill—Ramsey neighbors in Boulder.

Mark Beckner—Boulder Chief of Police, successor to Tom Koby.

Suzanne Bernhard—Child psychologist.

Dr. Francesco Beuf—JonBenét’s pediatrician.

Patrick Burke—Patsy Ramsey’s attorney. Michael Bynum—Ramsey attorney.

Dan Caplis—BPD Dream Team organizer.

Tom Carson—Chief financial officer of Access Graphics.

Angie Chromiak—BPD Patrol Officer.

Laurence “Trip” DeMuth III—Boulder County Deputy District Attorney.

Jackie Dilson—Former girlfriend of Chris Wolf.

John Douglas—Former FBI profiler working for Team Ramsey.

John Eller—BPD Detective Division Commander.

Jay Elowsky—Owner of Pasta Jay’s restaurant and a Ramsey friend.

John Brewer Eustace III—North Carolina prisoner with JonBenét fantasy.

Mike Everett—BPD Detective and crime scene investigator.

Barbara and John Fernie—Friends of Ramseys, summoned on December 26.

Donald Foster—Vassar professor and linguist.

Rick French—First BPD Officer on the scene.

Mike Glynn—Ramsey friend, former executive at Access Graphics.

Ron Gosage—BPD Detective.

Bob Greenlee—Councilman and later mayor of Boulder.

Hal Haddon—Ramsey attorney.

Bill Hagmaier—FBI Special Agent with Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU).

Joann Hanks—McGuckin’s Hardware office manager.

Jane Harmer—BPD Detective.

W. Frank Harrington—Pastor of Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.

Art Harris—CNN reporter.

Sandra and Bud Henderson—Former Access Graphics employee and her husband.

Melissa Hickman—BPD Detective.

Dan Hoffman—BPD Dream Team attorney.

Linda Hoffmann-Pugh—Ramsey housekeeper, named as the first suspect.

Pete Hofstrom—Boulder County Deputy District Attorney and chief of felony division in the Boulder County DA’s office.

Rol Hoverstock—Pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Alex Hunter—Boulder County District Attorney since 1972.

Greg Idler—BPD Detective.

Jim Jenkins—Ramsey lawyer in Atlanta.

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

Mike Kane—Grand jury prosecutor.

Bob Keatley—BPD attorney.

Mary Keenan—Boulder County Deputy District Attorney.

Jeff Kithcart—BPD Detective, discovered practice ransom note.

Marc Klass—Father of slain daughter Polly Klass.

Tom Koby—Boulder Chief of Police.

Pat Korten—Team Ramsey public relations specialist.

Alli Krupski—Boulder
Daily Camera
reporter.

Bernie Lamoreaux—Lockheed-Martin director of security.

John Lang—Special Agent, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Dr. Henry Lee—Renowned criminalist and forensic scientist.

Stewart Long—Boyfriend of Melinda Ramsey.

Mary Malatesta—Head of special capital crimes unit for Colorado Attorney General.

Jim Marino—Ramsey friend.

Larry Mason—BPD Detective Sergeant.

Bill McReynolds—Santa Claus at Ramsey Christmas parties.

Janet McReynolds—Playwright wife of Bill McReynolds.

Jesse and Tristan McReynolds—Sons of Janet and Bill McReynolds.

Jeff Merrick—Fired from Access Graphics.

Gary Merriman—Human resources director, Access Graphics.

Glenn Meyer—Basement tenant of Joe and Betty Barnhill.

Dr. John Meyer—Boulder County coroner.

Brad Millard—Friend of John Andrew.

Bob Miller—BPD Dream Team attorney.

Bryan Morgan—John Ramsey’s attorney.

Fred Patterson—BPD Detective.

Don Paugh—Grandfather of JonBenét, father of Patsy Ramsey.

Nedra Paugh—Grandmother of JonBenét, mother of Patsy Ramsey.

Pam Paugh—Sister of Patsy Ramsey, former Miss West Virginia.

Polly Paugh (Davis)—Youngest sister of Patsy Ramsey.

Mervin Pugh—Husband of Ramsey housekeeper Linda Hoffman-Pugh.

Kevin Raburn—Suspect extradited by DA’s office, then released.

Burke Ramsey—Brother of JonBenét.

Elizabeth “Beth” Ramsey—Stepsister of JonBenét, eldest child of John Ramsey and his first wife, Lucinda. Died in automobile accident.

Jeff Ramsey—Brother of John Ramsey.

John Ramsey—Father of JonBenét, husband of Patsy Ramsey.