# What happened to JonBenet Ramsey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577 "2010-01-11T23:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/521 "2018-05-15T19:13:44Z")
You would have thought that Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson would have been easily convicted as well, considering all of the evidence against them, yet a jury of their peers acquitted them. Any trial against the limited number of suspects in the Jon Benet Ramsey case would have likely ended the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/522 "2018-05-18T01:40:58Z")
Given that they have DNA of a person of interest, I wonder if they could use the same technique they did with the [Golden state killer](https://www.vox.com/2018/4/27/17290288/golden-state-killer-joseph-james-deangelo-dna-profile-match). By itself it probably wouldn’t be enough to convict but it might answer some questions. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/523 "2018-05-18T02:42:22Z")
I don’t know who delivered the killing blow, but I definitely think the family is complicit and covered it up. If I had to guess I’d say the son got carried away and accidentally killed her in a fit of rage. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/524 "2018-05-18T02:47:11Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I don’t know who delivered the killing blow, but I definitely think the family is complicit and covered it up. If I had to guess I’d say the son got carried away and accidentally killed her in a fit of rage. …you would have to “guess” this: because that certainly isn’t what the evidence in this case suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/525 "2018-05-18T13:01:40Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > You would have thought that Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson would have been easily convicted as well, considering all of the evidence against them, yet a jury of their peers acquitted them. In one of the docs about OJ one of the jurors stated they voted to acquit as retribution for the Rodney King verdict. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/526 "2018-05-18T14:25:15Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …you would have to “guess” this: because that certainly isn’t what the evidence in this case suggests. In my reading of the evidence, it is. I think it’s quite possible Burke accidentally killed her over the pineapple. Kids accidentally harm kids all the time. And I can see why the parents covered it up, and I definitely think they covered it up,\* whoever did it.\* To me its either Burke or Patsy who killed her. Nobody else did it in my opinion, and I’m leaning toward Burke. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/527 "2018-05-18T23:04:23Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > In my reading of the evidence, it is. I think it’s quite possible Burke accidentally killed her over the pineapple. Kids accidentally harm kids all the time. And I can see why the parents covered it up, and I definitely think they covered it up,\* whoever did it.\* To me its either Burke or Patsy who killed her. Nobody else did it in my opinion, and I’m leaning toward Burke. …the “pineapple theory?” Really? I like the way Rolling Stone Magazine describes that theory. > [@](#): > > Yet when laying out their theory for Burke Ramsey as the killer, these experts literally made up a story about Burke killing JonBenét (on accident or in anger, but probably unintentionally) by hitting her in the head with a flashlight because she took a piece of his pineapple. > **[3 Big Ways 'The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey' Got It Wrong](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/3-big-ways-the-case-of-jonbenet-ramsey-got-it-wrong-112062/)** > > From confirmation bias in the 911 tape analysis to dissecting an 'appropriate' response to death, how CBS's documentary didn't tell the whole story You don’t have an obligation to “pick a murderer.” You don’t have to rely on the most flimsy of premises to pin this murder on somebody. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/528 "2018-05-18T23:58:05Z")
[The Enquirer](https://www.nationalenquirer.com/search/?search=ramsey) has everything you need to know about the case, including [whodunnit](https://www.nationalenquirer.com/photos/jonbenet-ramsey-killer-glenn-meyer-2/)! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/529 "2018-05-19T00:05:23Z")
All evidence suggests Burke killed her, and her parents did their best to covered it up. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/530 "2018-05-19T00:06:41Z")
Wasn’t Burke examined by a psychologist early in the investigation? I find it hard to believe he could have fooled everyone at that young age. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/531 "2018-05-19T00:11:04Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > All evidence suggests Burke killed her, and her parents did their best to covered it up. What evidence suggests this? Further, a ten year old cannot be convicted of murder. He may have to go off to a mental hospital for a while, but that is exactly where I would want my ten year old that just beat his six year old sister to death. It makes no sense to try to cover this up. The evidence would prove that it was Burke if indeed it was him; which it was not. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/532 "2018-05-19T00:11:32Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > All evidence suggests Burke killed her, and her parents did their best to covered it up. …this is an assertion, the evidence does not suggest Burke killed her. If it did he would be in jail already. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/533 "2018-05-19T00:15:18Z")
This is what has always been weird to me: it should have been a simple comparison to find out if the “touch” DNA belonged to a family member. The only way that is confusing is if Mrs. Ramsey had cheated on her husband and Jon Benet wasn’t really related to her Dad. This also should have been simply solved with DNA checks against the mother and the brother. And yet, I’ve never seen any confirmation of whether that DNA belonged in the household. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/534 "2018-05-19T00:34:27Z")
I’m not asserting that it was him, in fact I think they would know if it was as I stated above. But if: > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > . . . I find it hard to believe he could have fooled everyone at that young age. then you’ve never seen a psychopath lie. They have no tells at all, which normal people do. As a result they have an air of integrity and charm that is very convincing to even the most hardened professionals. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/535 "2018-05-19T01:16:51Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > [The Enquirer](https://www.nationalenquirer.com/search/?search=ramsey) has everything you need to know about the case, including [whodunnit](https://www.nationalenquirer.com/photos/jonbenet-ramsey-killer-glenn-meyer-2/)! :rolleyes: The Enquirer? Then I must conclude Donald Trump had nothing to do with it. 🆒 > [@TruCelt](#): > > …then you’ve never seen a psychopath lie. They have no tells at all, which normal people do. As a result they have an air of integrity and charm that is very convincing to even the most hardened professionals. See: True Crime author Ann Rule’s “The Stranger Beside Me,” which chronicles her work experience with Ted Bundy. I worked with a woman who thought Bundy was innocent because he was “too cute.” I noted aloud that she was pretty, slender, and just his type. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/536 "2018-05-19T01:25:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’m not asserting that it was him, in fact I think they would know if it was as I stated above. But if: > > then you’ve never seen a psychopath lie. They have no tells at all, which normal people do. As a result they have an air of integrity and charm that is very convincing to even the most hardened professionals. Your right, I doubt I have ever spoken to a psychopath. I have seen kids lie. Some were really good at it. No one is asserting that Burke was a psychopath. If he accidentally killed his sister that wouldn’t make him one, that would just be unlucky or at worst mean. And as far as anyone knows he hasn’t killed again. So no, I don’t think he did it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/537 "2018-05-19T01:26:08Z")
FTR: My own theory is that Burke did it because John and Patsy hated him so much that they named him Burke. It’s flawed, but convincing. ETA: -ish. Convincingish. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/538 "2018-05-19T04:29:49Z")
I’ve studied this sad case for years, read numerous books & articles, and also have seen some documentaries. _**It’s obvious what happened here: Someone in the family (possibly the son, or the mother) killed JBR - either by accident, or intentionally - and the parents covered it up to make it look like a kidnapping gone bad.**_ Several points: -This crime occurred late Christmas Day (or very early the morning after), and the police were called the day after Christmas - after the ransom note was “found”. Boulder was not a huge metropolitan area, and the LE officers on duty that day were minimal due to the holidays. Additionally, they were extremely inexperienced with horrific crimes of this type. One of their first (of many) mistakes was not completely securing the house as soon as they went in. I.e., the body of JBR was found - by her father - several hours after the police got there. It was in a small room off the basement. Why wasn’t it found immediately by LE?! Obviously, because they didn’t search the house thoroughly enough to begin with. -Also, the idea that some “unknown” kidnappers would leave a ransom note & the body of JBR in the house itself is ludicrous. I.e., if a note was left it could have been used as evidence to find them re: the handwriting analysis. I could see kidnappers leaving a note if the child had actually been kidnapped & they wanted money. But, if you buy the kidnappers theory, then since the child died & since they left the body in the basement, they knew they would never get the money - given that the body of JBR was still in the house. So, they would have been fools to leave the note at that point. In fact, I think Patsy wrote the note, which was proven to be written on paper that was found inside the house: [https://rubylee1776.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/jonbenet/](https://rubylee1776.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/jonbenet/) > **[The JonBenet Ramsey Ransom Note - Statement Analysis®](https://www.statementanalysis.com/jonbenet-ramsey-murder/ransom-note/)** > > An analysis of the JonBenet Ramsey ransom note. > **[Disguised Handwriting: Unmasking The Ramsey Ransom Note - Expert Handwriting...](http://www.experthandwritinganalysis.com/2013/07/19/unmasking-the-ramsey-ransom-note/)** > > A handwriting analysis of the JonBenet Ramsey ransom note. Also re: this note, the “kidnappers” ask for 118,000 from the family. This was the exact amount of JR's bonus from his company that year. How were these "kidnappers" privy to this exact amount? This case also reeks of white, wealthy entitlement. LE may have treated the Ramseys as potential suspects, but they were also not aggressively pursued. I.e., if the Ramsey’s were a minority family & poor - _or_ white and poor - and _under the exact same circumstances_ - do you think they would have gotten a pass from police? Hell no - the parents would be in prison & the son would probably have gone to a mental health facility. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/539 "2018-05-20T03:27:58Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I just finished reading _Foreign Faction - Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet?_ by A. James Kolar. While it is the only book I have read on this case, I believe the author was _ **very** _ thorough and objective in his analysis of the evidence. > > To cut to the chase, the probability of an intruder sneaking in to the house and murdering JB is slim to none. It was almost certainly a story invented by John and Patsy Ramsey. As for “who done it,” it is hard to say, but the most likely suspect is Burke. He killed JB, either by accident or purposely, and his parents covered for him. John and Patsy Ramsey were also very wealthy and influential, and had the DA’s office in their back pocket and used the media to their advantage. I think it was either the brother or the mother who killed JBR (probably by accident), and then covered it up. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577/540 "2018-05-20T06:41:33Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > I think it was either the brother or the mother who killed JBR (probably by accident), and then covered it up. …or somebody else completely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-jonbenet-ramsey/524577.md?page=28)