After Patsy Ramsey's Murder

“There is a killer on the loose.” These words of Patricia Ramsey, a grieving mother, struck the hearts of many people around the nation, as the shock and terror of the news of a little girl murdered in her own home spread across the world. The year was 1996, the date, December 26th. A day that seemed, to most people, inconspicuous and blatantly normal. But, for one American family, that normal day was about to become anything but. In Boulder, Colorado, and around 1pm mountain time, the body of a six year old would be found murdered in her own home, sparking a colossal surge in the media, and a finger-pointing case that remains unsolved. This innocent little girl will forever be remembered by her childhood, homicide, and the suspects surrounding

Patsy Ramsey was especially suspicious. The theory is that Jonbenét, who was prone to bedwetting, had another accident in which angered Patsy, and she whacked her over the head, fracturing her skull. The garrote used to strangle JonBenét used items from Patsy’s hobby kit, which could indicate a cover up. Because there was no evidence of a break in to suspect an intruder, both the media and police focused on JonBenét's family. Burke Ramsey was also considered as a suspect, because of a bowl of pineapple. In official crime scene photos located in the kitchen, there is a bowl of pineapple on the counter. Burke’s fingerprints were located on the bowl, and Patsy Ramsey’s fingerprints along with Burke’s were located on the glass next to the bowl. This is significant because of what was found in the autopsy. Undigested pineapple was located in JonBenét’s stomach, meaning she must have eaten it while she was conscious and alive, because swallowing is a voluntary action. According to the family, pineapple was JonBenét’s favorite snack, so perhaps she snatched a piece of pineapple out of Burke’s bowl with her bare hands, and Burke, who had a violent history with his sister, took the flashlight on the nearby counter and hit her over the head. The fracture on her skull matched the width of the flashlight, so it may be conceivable that he could have accidentally killed his sister. This theory however, is somewhat disbelievable since the strangulation JonBenét endured was proven to have been done while she was alive. John Ramsey, although ruled out as the author of the ransom note, is also considered by some to be the killer, as the media sought for cover stories and an ending to the story for sensation. The entire Ramsey family was publicly exonerated in 2008 by the Boulder County district, which faced controversy. As well as JonBenét’s family, came many other