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JonBenet Ramsey: The Murder Mystery That Won't Die

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OU CANNOT CALL AN "OOPS, WE WERE WRONG,'' AFTER 12 YEARS OF PUBLIC SCORN AN ADEQUATE APOLOGY. You cannot ever make whole again the family that lost a 6-year-old daughter to murder, and then an accused mother to ovarian cancer.

Every aspect of the lurid tale that began on December 26, 1996 has been tragic. Now, more than a decade after the mysterious death of JonBenet Ramsey, and the subsequent fingering of her parents as suspects, Boulder County (Colo.) District Attorney Mary Lacy has apologized for the office's handling of the case which contributed to public contempt for John and Patsy Ramsey as their daughter's murderers.

"We believe that justice dictates that the Ramseys be treated only as victims of this very serious crime," Lacy wrote in a statement that has been criticized by some law enforcement analysts. "...To the extent that this office has added to the distress suffered by the Ramsey family at any time or to any degree, I offer my deepest apology."

In a separate letter to Mr. Ramsey, Lacy added, "No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion." Credit: Time She also added, "I am aware that there will be those who will choose to continue to differ with our conclusion," a point underscored by posts on comment boards around the web.

"Funny how they skipped town as quick as they could. That's a sign of innocence? The parents are sick perverted child killers," wrote someone signed Sepulture68. And famed pathologist Cyril Wecht expressed his own doubts about the "new" DNA touch evidence that purportedly clears the Ramseys as suspects.

The gross injustice of being falsely accused of murder can never be righted. And unless you are a fortune teller, there is no way to know if this baffling crime will ever be solved.

But here's a question that I haven't seen asked: Is there a right and wrong way to react to murder? A proper way to face accusation? For it seems that the Ramseys' reactions were always part of what fed suspicion.

The family fled the Colorado area after the crime, and avoided investigators' questions. Neither of those facts equal guilt. And in an interview expressing relief about his exoneration, John Ramsey's cerebral, unemotional responses leaves viewers detached from his emotional horror.

When asked what receiving the letter means to him, Ramsey replied,

"The most significant thing to me was the fact that we now have pretty irrefutable DNA evidence according to the DA's office. Certainly we are grateful that they acknowledge that we, based on that, certainly could not have been involved. But the most important thing is that we now have very, very solid evidence and that's always been my hope, at least in the recent past, that that would lead us to the killer eventually as the DNA database grows and is populated."

"It's hard for people to accept that someone could some into a home and murder a child from their bed. We were perhaps an answer. It became an entertainment event for the media sadly. It boosted ratings, attracted viewers to develop that controversy. But sadly there's 2,000 children murdered in our country every year. For some reason this became a very public event." Should he cry? Should he laugh loudly? Should he be angry? And if not, why not? The idea of a grieving family being wrongfully accused sickens anyone who claims interest in justice. But Mr. Ramsey's calm countenance does not generate the sypathy he may deserve. I wish he moved me more.

Posted July 10, 2008




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