America’s sweetheart, JonBenet Ramsey, was known for her bright blonde curls and equally bright pageant appearances, so when she was found dead in her own basement on the 26th of December 1996, the panic brought amongst the United States was indescribable. Despite the case being reopened and reexamined with modern technology, “who killed JonBenet?” is still a question that has yet to be given a definite answer. Being such a household name, JonBenet’s case was quick to cause an uproar of conspiracies, several pointing to a possible intruder, while others claimed her own family committed the heinous crime. Let us dissect these theories and uncover what truly happened to the pageant princess, JonBenet Ramsey.
A dazzling smile and classic southern charm worked wonders for JonBenet Ramsey as she stole the hearts of thousands in her pageants (Worthen 1). She was considered a lively and active young girl, as her mother had said she was “a ball of fire” and her father claims she “kept things alive and going.” That upbeat attitude of JonBenet added to her all-American allure which fascinated the public and landed her so many pageant wins (20/20 John and Patsy Ramsey Interview). JonBenet Ramsey had been an unforgettable character, attracting others with her energetic persona.
JonBenet’s parents had always recognized her passion for entertaining others. Quick to act, they decided that pageants would fit her perfectly as they had also claimed that “JonBenet was an entertainer, she would entertain at the drop of a hat” (20/20 John and Patsy Ramsey Interview). Her natural talent in pageants was easily noticed, her parents titling her an “extreme extrovert” and a “natural” at demanding an audience’s attention (John Benet on Pageants). She was also extremely sensitive to others, constantly ensuring they were enjoying themselves to the fullest. When visiting Boulder’s local Santa Clause, played by Bill McReynolds, he described Ramsey as “[someone who] always wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time” (Poppen 1). The pageant princess left a meaningful mark on those she crossed paths with, often causing them to reminisce over her eye-catching aura.
Despite having a mischievous side, JonBenet Ramsey was extremely loved by her community. She was often regarded as a caring and kind young girl, classmates of hers calling her “sweet,” others saying she was comparable to a “little doll” (Poppen 1). “She was always observant,” says her mother Patsy: JonBenet was known for paying attention to those around her, often lending a shoulder to those who needed it (20/20 John and Patsy Ramsey Interview). JonBenet’s heart of gold landed her many pageant wins, but although she was known for her beauty pageant appearances, her father, John Ramsey, says that the competitions were “not a big part of JonBenet’s life,” and that she enjoyed a large list of other activities including rock climbing and ballet (John Ramsey on Pageants). JonBenet had an eagerness to try new things and encouraged others to try them as well, never giving up on expanding her talents and passions (Poppen 1). During John Ramsey’s Oprah interview, he expresses his wishes for JonBenet to lose the “beauty queen” title as she was much more than a simple crown. He expresses his love for her compassion, versatility, and adaptability. She was a brave young girl with powerful morals and a keen sense of self-confidence, spreading an infectious feeling of love across Boulder (John Ramsey on Pageants). Regarding the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, two theories were predominately covered in the media. The first theory claims that an intruder had broken into the Ramsey residence and committed the crime. The main piece of evidence that supports this theory is that "DNA found in 2008 suggested that a man who wasn't related to the Ramseys was involved in the murder" (Carrejo 1). This theory became popular because of the evidence, as well as the lack of motive for the Ramseys to murder their daughter. However, a key item in the intruder theory, the ransom note, was "written on a notepad and with a pen from the Ramsey's house" (Stockton 1). In addition to other circumstantial evidence, such as the Ramsey family's refusal to cooperate with police, the intruder theory is typically cast aside. The second and more controversial theory is that JonBenet Ramsey's death was at the hands of her own family. The strange behavior the Ramseys displayed before, during, and after the investigation sparked the flame to this theory (Lovitt 1). There is potential for each of the Ramseys to have accidentally hit JonBenet and later finished the job by strangulation, however, the family member who was most capable was her brother, Burke, due to his past violent outbursts (Stockton 1).
The most widely accepted theory is that JonBenet Ramsey was murdered by an intruder. Being a widely known pageant queen, JonBenet was no stranger to obsessive fans, however, how plausible is that claim to use for her murder as well? JonBenet Ramsey’s case offered compelling evidence towards the possibility of an intruder, for instance, the basement window was shattered, a ransom note was found on the scene, and an unidentified male’s blood was found on the young girl’s underwear in December of 2003 (Carrejo 1). With these pieces, police were able to conjure up a possible story: an intruder had broken into the Ramsey household and had sexually assaulted JonBenet before killing her. A forensic analysis done in October of 2016 also suggested that there was DNA present at the crime scene that belonged to two people besides JonBenet, furthering the intruder theory. With these predetermined factors, the question of who arises. One suspect was Bill McReynolds, or the neighborhood Santa (Lovitt 1). McReynolds was a friend of the Ramsey family, going as far as dressing up as Santa Clause during the holiday season for the children in the neighborhood (1). He would listen to the children’s Christmas wishes and make their young eyes shine with joy, however he always favored one over the others. Bill McReynolds was described as having “paid too much attention to JonBenet,” even going to lengths to arrange a rumored “secret visit from Santa Clause” with the young pageant star (1). Along with McReynolds, others have been accused of either being involved in Ramsey’s murder or committing the crime themselves. Some of these suspects included the Ramsey’s housekeeper, Linda Hoffman-Pugh due to her financial problems, as well as a schoolteacher, John Mark Karr – who now has changed both name and gender identification to a female named Alexis Valoran Reich (1). Despite having a list of suspects, however, evidence was never conclusive of any of them. None of the evidence found in the Ramsey case pointed definitively towards a certain suspect, concluding them all to be dismissed.
The second theory is that the Ramseys murdered their only daughter. Despite a lack of physical evidence, this theory gained traction after the strange behavior of the Ramseys during the entire investigation. Linda Arndt, the first investigator of the Ramsey case, had claimed she already knew who was guilty based on first impressions (The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey). Arndt felt the Ramseys were uncooperative and pensive, hiding information from police in an obvious fashion (The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey). Although confident in her beliefs, for legal reasons Arndt never exposed her true theories regarding the case. Despite never being confirmed, the media popularized the theories regarding the Ramseys. One person who had been in the spotlight since JonBenet’s death was her brother Burke. Burke was declared mentally stable and had shown no behavioral problems during his psychological evaluations, however that cannot change his past outbursts (The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey). In JonBenet's autopsy report, pineapple was found in her stomach, insinuating she had eaten some shortly before her death. Burke Ramsey, JonBenet's older brother, had fingerprints detected on the bowl which contained the pineapple. He was seen "cover[ing] his mouth when asked about the pineapple," during an interrogation, refusing to speak entirely on the matter (Stockton 1). Burke Ramsey had quite a temper and it is believed that JonBenet had stolen some of his pineapple, which prompted him to attack JonBenet, leading to his family’s attempt to cover it up. While there is no solid evidence leading to Burke being the perpetrator, the theory that he was responsible for JonBenet's death is extremely popular, and likely. The Ramseys loved their children and with one already deceased, it makes sense for them to do everything in their power to protect the one they have left.
JonBenet Ramsey’s life was cut unfairly short, meeting her end at only 6 years old. Her case was doomed from the beginning following the poor care the crime scene was under, the minute the detectives stepped foot in the Ramsey home (The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey). Since the young girl’s murder was such a high profile and quite bizarre case, several theories had been created by both the public and the police. Those theories included the possibility of an intruder murdering JonBenet, while the other pointed to her own bloodline being the killers. Although the case is not currently active, the mystery of JonBenet will live on until her perpetrator is caught and these two theories continue serving as viable solutions to this mysterious murder.
