We Have Your Daughter Page 42

  “Thank you, JonBenét, for teaching me that we don’t have to wait to be in heaven to be angels,” wrote another teacher.

  Recently, John sat alone in a chair and opened the Book of Angels for the first time. He was reluctant because he was unsure how he would react. For many years now, he has tried to keep his emotions on an even keel. It’s one of the ways he has survived the trauma. He finds it very difficult to be reminded in detail of the past. Still he feels he owes it to himself, his daughter, and JonBenét’s classmates from so very long ago, to look at their work. He leafed through the binder slowly, running his hands across some of the pictures and silently mouthing the scrawled inscriptions.

  “I had forgotten what joy there is with a six-year-old,” he said as he looked at page after page of the sweetness that was in his daughter’s life.

  And then, he put his hand on his forehead and partly covered his eyes as they filled with tears.

  In early 1997, I reported that two expert sources, one from the prosecution and one from the defense, said it was “highly unlikely” that John or Burke Ramsey had written the bizarre ransom note and “unlikely” that Patsy Ramsey had written it. The report created a big push-back from the then Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. An employee in his agency was examining the note. The Director charged the report wasn’t accurate and appeared on television and radio saying that no one on the prosecution side believed it was “unlikely” Patsy Ramsey had written the ransom note.

  What followed was a reporter’s classic dilemma—what to reveal and what not to reveal when “legitimate sources” are involved. I needed to honor my commitment of protection to the prosecution source, thus I was unable to vigorously counter the allegations. To do so would have exposed the source by inference. It is likely that source would have been fired had I continued to defend my reporting with sources from both the prosecution and defense sides on the handwriting in the ransom note.

  The accuracy of that source was proven in late October of 1997, when the Boulder Police Department decided to get more than just one handwriting analyst’s report. The BPD carefully expanded their pool of experts. An analyst for the Secret Service, considered among the world’s leading document authorities, wrote in his report to the BPD that there was no evidence Patsy Ramsey wrote the note. She never was arrested with regard to her handwriting and the ransom note, because there wasn’t ample proof and the Secret Service information has not become public until now. This is a behind-the-scenes look about the complexities in understanding the commitment of balanced reporting and the involvement with protection of a source that was part of this book.

  In the early days after JonBenét’s death, what no one outside the Ramsey inner circle realized were the hundreds of letters the family received internationally, expressing sympathy to them. It’s a new perspective of the support they got from those who didn’t know them. Some of those letters and cards were simply addressed to “The Ramsey Family” and were delivered wherever they were staying. An example:

  We believe you. We are praying for you and are so very sorry.

  (Name Withheld) Canada

  There are two current law enforcement officers whom I consider very thoughtful and observant. They are former Boulder police officers who talked just briefly with me about the morale of some of the men and women in their department after the murder when they were still working there. “It was picking up their chins off the floor. It was trying to find the killer of a child. There isn’t anything worse when we are supposed to serve and protect. It was reinforcing to them that there were very good officers in the department. It was telling them not to watch late-night television entertainment shows where there were skits making fun of Boulder police and their incompetence. It was getting them to believe in themselves again.”

  After the murder, a highly regarded homicide expert and then Denver Police Sergeant Jon Priest was asked to come to Boulder to teach basic Crime Scene Investigation for three months to every member of the department.

  Those in law enforcement who made the decision to talk about the case for this book, but didn’t want to be identified, have my great gratitude and respect. It was unnerving for some of them and many didn’t want to go back to remembering that awful time in detail. But they did it mostly because they thought it was the right decision for them. In listening to them and rechecking their information, they were straightforward, forthcoming and insightful. They are the best in law enforcement officers— honest and honorable.

  To the readers of this book, thank you for your time and comments. This is the best information that I could research and gather, but it’s certainly not all of it. I was prompted to write this book because of curiosity about what I didn’t know, even after reporting on the story for these many years. I began writing the book in mid-2009.

  Those of you who are devoted to this business and have a passion for journalism deserve a thank you for staying with and continuing to do the best in tough times. Investigating and reporting what happens with accuracy is so important to our society. My best conversations were with a lot of you when hashing out what to include, what not to include and why, and I’m reminded how many truly committed people there are who do it right.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  THERE WAS SIMPLY NO WAY TO WRITE THIS BOOK without help from many intelligent people who believed it was important to contribute and be heard for this project.

  To Sandra Bond, my agent, and believer in the book. Thank you for your support through all the ups and downs of getting it published.

  To Stephen White, best-selling fiction author of more than twenty novels on crime, who patiently shared his knowledge of the book business, including selling, writing, encouragement, and advice to a first-time book writer. Stephen, you are so important to me. Thank you.

  Editors Marjorie Braman, news veteran Jim Trotter, and Karen Carter helped in so many ways. They were logical and supportive and awfully good with their critiques.

  To readers Lisa Holste, Cindy Pena, Deborah Sherman, Chris Vanderveen and those who willingly took the time for expert opinion including Amber Raile, PhD, Communication, Erin Koterba, PhD, Psychology, Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, an expert in DNA. Joe Russomanno PhD, from Arizona State University and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication was of particular help. It was great to learn from all of you.

  The research librarians consulted at the following libraries were incredibly helpful: The Norlin Library at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the Denver Public Library, in particular Research Librarian Ellen Zazzarino, and the Auraria Library in Denver and Research Librarian Louise Treff Gangler. The research librarians gave so much thought to how we could research and solve various questions on a case that still doesn’t have many answers.

  The University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Cancer Pavilion Outpatient Treatment Center and their nurses and patients do wonderful work. Thanks to those who let me be there and absorb the culture of cancer and talk with the nurses in telling me why they choose people with cancer. And thanks also to Dr. Pat Moran and the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, Boulder Division, for their expertise with cancer and its treatment and in this case, treatment of Patsy Ramsey.

  Tina Simms from New York got this whole thing started by believing in the book and proceeding to proactively help me find an agent. Thanks Tina for that phone call.

  It was a delight to get to know and appreciate research and editorial assistants, Jaclyn Grossfield and Erin Maher who always had that one idea to make the book better.

  Former Denver Chief Deputy District Attorney and current defense attorney Craig Silverman and Lynn Kimbrough with the Denver DA’s Office, thank you for your informed opinions.

  To those in the public, who, when they found out about this book, were willing to discuss what they thought about the case and why and whether they believed the killer was an intruder or a member of the Ramsey family: thank you. You taught me a lot.

  Thanks to Kate Montgom
ery who understands negotiation and Emma Williams and Kristin Wamsley for your writing insights. Also, much appreciation goes to chapter readers Dennis, Nancy, Ann, Kathie, Rick, Tiffany, Brooke, Ashley, Liam, Sophia, Landon, Myles, Kittrin, Lily, Wyatt, and Holden.

  To Susan and Sue, two very smart women who have strong points of view, a willingness to share concrete information, many documents to help the book, and who were never shy in sharing their opinions.

  Thanks to Susan Baldacci and Ashleigh Walters for always being so supportive and also teaching me about social media.

  More thanks to the district attorney people in several jurisdictions, police officers and sheriff deputies, and former FBI agents and FBI profilers who gave invaluable time and attention. Your fact and opinion were incisive and thoughtful.

  New York City entertainment attorney Bob Stein was a smart and valuable partner during critical times in negotiations. Thank you, Bob, for your logical and honest advice. Attorney Steven Zansberg had just the right information to help the book immensely.

  To Dave Cullen, author of Columbine, and the long conversations we had about journalism and journalists and what happened on this case and others. Dave brings me to journalists who understand dedication, working hard to get it right and why a free press (despite its many questionable moments) is so important. It takes courage on some of these stories, and the accuracy and time spent in getting the extra perspective is always worth it. The trust given to us by others who confide still leaves me somewhat awed. Thank you for giving the information that breaks through the bureaucracy and leads to the truth.

  And a special thanks to Deborah Sherman and Dan Weaver for the friendship, their unwavering support and help. They were there from the beginning and always seemed to know when that supportive text or phone call was needed.

  Thank you to my wonderful family, each and every one of you, for your support and patience.

  To the readers: It is encouraging to meet so many people who simply want enough credible information to decide for themselves.

  When the tragic happened in my own life, thank you to so many of you for helping me through and being there still. Time passes, the loss lessens, but doesn’t end: Alan and Lani, Marc and Sydney, Mark and Kerry, Nancy and Dennis, Amy H. and Cortney M., Amy B. and Kristin W., Kathie and Rick, my family, and so many wonderful friends and colleagues.

  Tommy Collier of Tommy Collier Productions is so good at what he does as was Greg Moore of the Denver Post. They helped immensely.

  Thank you to publisher David Wilk.

  Once more, thanks to you all. It was nice to meet or reconnect with you.

  DOCUMENTS

  The following Boulder Police Department documents include information only from the morning of December 26, 1996, the day JonBenét’s body was found.

  The first report is written by the first police responder on the scene: Officer Rick French.

  The following is a portion of the first report of the detective who was left alone by the other BPD officers on-scene about 10 a.m. that morning. The other officers were ordered to leave the Ramsey home and go back to the Boulder Police Department or off-shift. This report is from the morning of December 26, 1996, and continues through when JonBenét’s body was found shortly after 1 p.m. that day. Detective Linda Arndt was the detective.

  The following is a BPD report from Detective Linda Arndt from Friday, December 27, 1996.

  John Ramsey had asked if the BPD would send some officers by so he could talk with them. Arndt and another officer, Sergeant Larry Mason, responded.

  This is a report from the other detective who originally responded to the scene with Detective Arndt. Detective Fred Patterson left at approximately 9:45 to accompany Commander-Sergeant Bob Whitson back to the police department to debrief the FBI and other officers who were just arriving. This is the part of Patterson’s report that deals with the morning of December 26, 1996.

  The following is a report on the DNA testing for John, Patsy, Burke, Melinda and John Andrew Ramsey. The DNA samples were taken at the Boulder Sheriff’s Department on Saturday, December 28, 1996 at separate times. The two officers who were in the room while the DNA was being taken wrote reports on the behavior and comments of each Ramsey family member.

  This is that report.

  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

  DOCUMENTS

  • BPD Officer Rick French’s Report—Re: Thursday, December 26, 1996

  • BPD Detective Linda Arndt’s Report—Re: Thursday, December 26, 1996

  • BPD Detective Linda Arndt’s Report—Re: Friday, December 27, 1996

  • BPD Detective Fred Patterson’s Report—Re: Thursday, December 26, 1996

  • Ramsey Family Times for DNA Testing and their Reported Behavior as written in a BPD Report—Re: Saturday, December 28, 1996

  ON THE WEBSITE WWW.WEHAVEYOURDAUGHTER.NET

  • BPD Commander-Sergeant Robert Whitson’s Report—Re: Thursday, December 26, 1996

  • BPD Commander-Sergeant Robert Whitson’s Supplemental Report— Written one year later upon request—Re: Thursday, December 26, 1996

  • Full autopsy report on JonBenét Ramsey released in August 1997.

  • Unsolicited letter from Donald Foster, PhD, to Patsy Ramsey claiming she’s innocent based on his study of the language in the ransom note. He was later hired by the Boulder Police Department and claimed Patsy had written the ransom note.

  • Patsy Ramsey’s 911 call the morning of December 26, 1996—Audio and Transcript

  • Federal Judge’s 2003 Order dismissing a libel case against Patsy and John Ramsey. The judge lists her reasons for the dismissal of the case before trial in a 93-page document that was considered unusual for its detail and length by legal jurists.

  • A video tour of the Ramsey home by two former homicide detectives. Unedited.

  QUOTATIONS

  These were listed under “Quotations” from the JonBenét Ramsey Murder Book Index. They are from BPD reports on the Ramseys’ behaviors after their daughter’s body was found. This subtitle section is ten pages of single-spaced and double-spaced text. A few of the quotes as well as BPD report numbers are included here to give a sense of what the majority of the police reports contained about the Ramsey family.

  • Mrs. Ramsey looked extremely distraught and was barely able to speak. BPD Report #1-134

  • [Family Friend] I don’t think he’s mad at the Boulder Police, he just wants to find out whoever did this to his family … I’ve never seen 2 people grieve the way they have. BPD Report #5-4482

  • [Patsy’s Sister] When I was around him, oh … he was just crying and wailing and pacing the floor and breaking down with whomever he, you know, someone would hild [sic]him or whatever. He would just break down. BPD Report #5-4663

  • [Patsy’s Friend] I never even heard Patsy raise her voice at either of the children. BPD Report #5-5342

  • [Victim Advocate] Re: (John Ramsey) But he would cry and then he would get it back again. BPD Report #5-2628

  • [Housekeeper] said “I never saw a bad bond [sic] in Patsy’s body. You know she was always just so good.” BPD #5-982

  • [Friend] … “but some sicko has gotten in there.” BPD Report #5-2571

  • [Friend] … “There’s no possible way these two individuals could have possibly ever, ever, ever, ever have done this.” BPD #5

  INDEX

  NOTE: Page references in italics refer to photos and pictorial representations of documents.

  Aaholm, Leslie, 176, 177, 180, 183–84, 201

  ABC, 138, 194, 220, 350, 420

  Access Graphics

  employee(s) as suspects, 58–59, 81–82, 401

  employee’s quotes about Ramsey, 264–65

  inception of, 92

  overview, 23–24

  Ramsey fired by GE, 252–53

  ransom amount and significance to, 58–59, 81–82, 297–98

  warning about investigation from employee at, 163

  Adams County Distric
t Attorney

  Arndt’s report (lone on-scene police officer), 129–30

  Boulder Police Department investigation mistakes, 111

  French’s report (first on-scene police officer), 123

  grand jury investigation and, 356

  Grant appointed to investigation, 282–84 (See also Grant, Bob)

  Ainsworth, Steve, 75

  Alford, Edwin, 274

  Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, 269–70

  “America’s Royale Tiny Miss” pageant, 222

  AmeriKids, 20

  Ammon, Robert Theodore, 147

  Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN), 422–23

  animal hairs, as evidence, 307, 308

  Arapahoe County, coroner/medical examiner’s office, 147–48, 149, 156

  Arndt, Linda. See also Boulder Police Department

  Arndt’s report (lone on-scene police officer), overview, 128, 128–38, 259–61, 287

  Arndt’s report (lone on-scene police officer), text (December 26, 1996), 480–97

  Arndt’s report (lone on-scene police officer), text (December 27, 1996), 498–500

  Boulder Police Department investigation mistakes, 110

  “footprints story” in news, 242

  French’s report (first on-scene police officer), 121, 123

  handwriting samples collected by, 268, 271, 275

  interview versus interrogation by law enforcement, 178, 179, 180

  investigation, body found, 51, 58–59, 63, 66

  investigation of disappearance, 45–46, 48–49

  lawsuit against City of Boulder, 138

  media interview of, 138