JonBenet Ramsey Conspiracy Theories by Alyssa Montemayor

What really happened December 26, 1996, when JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old pageant queen, was found murdered in the basement of her home (“Martinez and Karimi”)? After her parents received a ransom note in the kitchen, Jon Benet was gone (“JonBenet Ramsey: The unsolved murder that haunts America”). Ever since the mystery death of this pageant queen, tons of conspiracy theories have arisen throughout the city of Boulder, Colorado, and the nation. These conspiracy theories are that an intruder broke into the house late that night, her parents killed her, or her brother killed her out of jealousy. Let’s take a look into this case and find out who really is the murderer of Jon Benet with her brother, Burke Ramsey, as the most reasonable suspect.

Who was JonBenet, you may ask? She was what you would call the perfect child. Competing in pageants, this six-year-old was known as the perfect pageant queen around town. As innocent as she was, Jon Benet was a six-year-old, blonde hair, blue-eyed beauty. Pursuing pageantry, this beauty queen did not have the chance to see how far her talent could get her, as her case still remains unsolved.

As JonBenet was following the footsteps of her mother, a former title holder for Miss West Virginia, so many family and friends supported and loved the little JonBenet (“Patsy Ramsey’s Funeral”). She was the life of the party, the energy, a fun, and loving child according to former pageant friends, Thumper Gosney and Brandi Vigil, in an exclusive interview with Inside Edition (“20 Years After JonBenet Ramsey’s Death, Her Pageant Friends Remember ‘Fun-Loving Kid’”). Gosney stated “I remember her personality. The spunk she had on stage.” Brandi Vigil also stated that JonBenet “had a bright light about her, she was just a really nice fun-loving kid.” For her family, they loved JonBenet dearly, and they stated in interviews the care and hope the Ramsey’s had for their child. Then, why did this happen to such a loved, free-spirited 6-year-old, one Christmas day?

From the two children the Ramsey’s had together, it is safe to say that after JonBenet was born, externally all eyes were on her. JonBenet’s brother, Burke Ramsey, had been known as the soft spoken type and always kept to himself. So, with JonBenet now being the “baby” in the family, this changed perspectives. Burke was known to have a history of scatological problems, which is defined as certain thoughts coming from the brain that not every human being has, in the past that were claimed by special FBI agents, and he also had some mental problems (“Cheer and Rahman”). This could be applied to the reasoning behind the death of JonBenet Ramsey. When that Christmas night Patsy had left a bowl of pineapple and some tea for Burke, JonBenet had attempted to sneak some fruit for herself, which prompted Burke to lash out. As this entire incident unfolded in a matter of minutes, it is to be said that a team of experts, who re-opened the case, do not believe it was a case of murder, but possibly accidental (“Cheer and Rahman”). At the time, Burke was nine years old (“Cheer and Rahman”). These experts worked hard to prove this theory, unfolding every piece of evidence there was. These investigators go by the name of Jim Clemente who was a former New York City prosecutor, Dr. Henry Lee, a world-renowned forensic scientist, James Kolar, the chief investigator for the District Attorney in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Werner Spitz, a leading forensic pathologist, James Fitzgerald, who was a retired FBI supervisory special agent, Laura Richard, that was a criminal behavioral analyst, and Stan Burke, who was also a retired FBI supervisory special agent and statement analyst.

This team of experts in a two-part CBS documentary, “The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey” stated that after an autopsy report, once the little girl was found dead, there was residue of pineapple in her stomach that hadn’t been digested. This lead back to when Pasty served Burke pineapple and tea after coming home that night. These experts stated that “JonBenet, being the little curious girl she was, came downstairs and snagged a piece of fruit” (“Cheer and Raman”). After possibly being upset over presents or attention earlier in the night, Burke could have easily gotten angry and over-reacted a bit striking his little sister with a flashlight. This all came to conclusion when everything was in the right place at the right time.

As the perfect pageant girl, JonBenet was a loved little girl with a bright future ahead of her who never got to experience life past the age of six. Friends and family stating how she was the life of the party and such a fun kid to be around on and off the stage (“20 Years After JonBenet Ramsey’s Death, Her Pageant Friends Remember ‘Fun-Loving Kid’”). No one ever understood why this would happen to such an innocent, beautiful girl. Also, no one ever found out what happened to this innocent, beautiful girl as this case still remains unsolved with Burke Ramsey, her brother, being suspected.

Thinking back on what happened December 26^th in the city of Boulder, Colorado, lots of conspiracies have arisen. It has been over 20 years since the incident with a beautiful 6-year-old-pageant-girl, named JonBenet, and her brother is to blame. Other conspiracies have been made that still leave America thinking what really could have happened, as this case still remains unsolved. Three conspiracies are highlighted while one suggests that JonBenet had been kidnapped and murdered as an intruder broke into their home. However, the other two conspiracies include that JonBenet was murdered by one of her family members.

The first conspiracy theory presents an intruder breaking into their home early that morning after getting back from the White’s Christmas party, which were the Ramsey’s Family friends. There are pieces of evidence gearing towards the intruder theory, including a three-page ransom note written by a “foreign faction called the S.B.T.C” (“Text of 1996 JonBenet ransom note”), unknown DNA found in JonBenet’s underwear, a broken window in their basement with a suitcase propped against the wall, and shoe marks beneath the same broken window (“Det. Says Ramsey Photos Indicate Intruder.”). In the early morning of December 26, Patsy Ramsey made a call to 911 regarding a kidnapping when she found a ransom note lying on the end of her stairway. “The note demanded $118,000 from the Ramsey’s for the safe release of their daughter” (“Text of 1996 JonBenet ransom note”). Later in the investigation, DNA was found in the underwear she was wearing the night of her murder. In the autopsy, scientists found stains of blood on her underwear which lead to questions. The DNA was then tested and found to be “from an unidentified man and did not match anyone in the Ramsey family” (“DNA clears JonBenet’s family, points to mystery killer”). A private investigator from this case, Lou Smit, was an active believer in in the “intruder theory.” He thought the cause of the broken window was from a break in which explains why the suitcase was propped against the wall following the scuff marks on the wall (Lovitt). This was one of many accusations of there being an intruder to enter the home of the Ramsey’s, early morning on December 26^th. Although the evidence given to prove this is solid, there are patches that still leave this theory questionable. The ransom note also left a lot of questions as the entire investigation continued. CBS televised a 2-part documentary that explained the JonBenet Ramsey case and unraveled every piece of evidence. In addition, scientists took samples of DNA from almost the exact same underwear JonBenet wore the night of her murder. While testing, the team of experts wore gloves to ensure nothing was touched. Once the results were in, unknown DNA was still found in the underwear, so they concluded that the foreign DNA could have simply been from the manufacturing process. This proves that the DNA could have come from anywhere and doesn’t fully clear the Ramsey’s.

The second conspiracy theory states that Patsy Ramsey, her mother, is the killer. Lots of incidents happened that suspect Patsy Ramsey. From JonBenet wetting her bed and her mother getting after her, to all the suspicion John and Patsy brought to the case. It is to be said, that night after putting the little JonBenet to sleep, Patsy later came upstairs to a wet bed from JonBenet. “According to retired FBI profiler Gregg McCrary, bedwetting had become a “chronic problem” and “nightly occurrence” for Ramsey” (“Did Bedwetting Play Part In JonBenet Ramsey’s Gruesome Murder?”). So, it was inferenced that Patsy may have been tired and annoyed by the problem Which led to Patsy “punishing” her daughter with the possibility of her striking JonBenet “and maybe accidently hitting her harder than she intended to” (“Did Bedwetting Play Part In JonBenet Ramsey’s Gruesome Murder”). Quickly realizing what Patsy had done to her daughter, Police speculated that she came up with a plan to cover up the tragic incident she caused the night of December 26^th (Radar Staff 2016). This was a great deal of evidence for Police and investigators, but the constant denial and stubbornness given by the Ramsey’s made it that much harder. There was lots of bizarre behavior from John and Patsy when it came down to investigation on the case. The Ramsey’s wouldn’t cooperate with anyone. The family would not interview with anyone either, they hired attorneys right away, and it took the Ramsey’s until April 30^th, four months after the murder, to have their first full sit-down interview with police (Tanita Matthews). Investigators stated that “It’s not typical behavior that you see from families who have had a child or family member murdered” (“Debunking the JonBenet Ramsey Kidnapping: What was the family’s rea; role in the murder?”). It was the year 1996, a Wednesday, when prosecutors cleared the Ramsey’s completely from any accusations that it could have been them to blame for this murder.

The last conspiracy theory points to Burke Ramsey as JonBenet’s killer. The evidence provided in this case is the most reasonable evidence to prove that Burke Ramsey killed JonBenet. In a recent documentary on CBS, investigators claimed the night of her murder, after coming home from the holiday party Burke was having a late night snack (“Shenton 2016”). JonBenet came downstairs to her older brother eating pineapple. Being the little girl she is, JonBenet stole a piece for herself. Burke Ramsey got extremely upset by this and “experts in the CBS documentary claimed that the now twenty-nine-year-old accidently killed his sister during a row over a piece of pineapple and his parents played a part in helping covering it up” (“JonBenet Ramsey family friend supports sensational theory claiming brother killed beauty queen and parents covered it up”).

So, why exactly does Burke Ramsey remain the main suspect? And how could he do such thing? It has been proved from a family friend of the Ramsey’s, Judith Phillips, that burke has always been jealous of his sister and has acted out a couple of times from it (“Shenton 2016”). Judith, 64, claims “When Burke was born he was the absolute apple of Patsy’s eye. Then along came this little girl who stole all the attention” (“JonBenet Ramsey family friend supports sensational theory claiming brother killed beauty queen and parents covered it up”). A year before her death, the CBS documentary claimed that burke lost his temper one day and struck JonBenet with a golf club. (“Shenton 2016”). So the same investigators “feel something similar may have happened on the night of her death after she went downstairs to eat some of the pineapple left for him after going to bed” (“JonBenet Ramsey family friend supports sensational theory claiming brother killed beauty queen and parents covered it up”).

A survey of twenty people revealed that 60% believed Burke killed JonBenet and her parents covered it up. The recent survey has close results and this just goes to prove why the case still remains unsolved to this day. Documentaries are still being made in honor of the little girl to try and prove who really killed her.

Works Cited

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Edition, Newsweek Special. "JonBenét: The Door the Cops Never Opened." Newsweek. N.p., 28 Sept. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

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"JonBenet Ramsey Family Friend Supports Sensational Theory Brother Killed Her."Http://www.mirror.co.uk/authors/zoe-shenton/.  Mirror. N.p., 25 Sept. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

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Louise Cheer for Daily Mail Australia. “JonBenet Ramsey's Bedroom Walls and Christmas Presents Were 'Smeared in Feces by Disturbed Brother Burke' - after New Claims Emerged He Killed the Child Beauty Queen  .” Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 23 Sept. 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3799601/claims-jonbenet-ramsey-killed-older-brother-burke-smeared-feces-wall.html.

Martinez, Michael. “Court Papers: Grand Jury in 1999 Sought to Indict JonBenet Ramsey's Parents.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Oct. 2013,

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/25/justice/jonbenet-ramsey-documents/.

 “Patsy Ramsey's Funeral.” CBSNews, CBS Interactive, http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/patsy-ramseys-funeral/.

Staff, Radar. "Did Bedwetting Play Part In JonBenét Ramsey’s Gruesome Murder?" Radar Online. Radar Staff, 09 Sept. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

"Text of 1996 JonBenet Ransom Note." CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Aug. 2006. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

“The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey - Video.” CBS, http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-case-of-jonbenet-ramsey/video/?ftag=acq-02-10aaf6i&vndid=%2bjon%2b%2bbenet%2b%2bramsey%2b%2bcbs&ref=__iv_p_1_g_29090750530_w_kwd-258806800319_h_9027837_ii__d_c_v__n_g_c_140884271218_k_%2bjon%2b%2bbenet%2b%2bramsey%2b%2bcbs_m_b_l__t__e__r_1t1_vi__&gclid=ckvmqpz7hnacfuqdaqod-cehwa.