sometime this fall. His best finish came in the 2020 season opener at Daytona a runner-up finish, which was also his first top five in the series. And if there were other reasons for them to worry about it, then it's far more logical to think that Burke indeed killed JonBenet. Another eerie-sounding connection theory, is that Janet McReynolds had allegedly written a play about a young girl who had molested, tortured and killed in a basement in 1976. If they were so anxious about it anyway, why not just remove the pineapple and avoid saying that Burke had a snack with her & getting the police to actually look for their daughter's killer? He died unexpectedly in 2002, after being cleared of all suspicion. (Carnes 2003:37). Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. In a very special episode of Listen Carefully, Sam and Lindsey welcome their first guest, Jill McReynolds, daughter of suspect Bill McReynolds. JOHN RAMSEY: . We have some letters from him. I don't know anyone who did who believes the "Intruder" theory. At the time of Bill's death, the couple resided in Cape Cod they reportedly left Boulder in 1998 in order to seek a new beginning, far from where the tragic murder occurred. Burke denies any wrongdoing and they believe him, but they also realize the situation makes Burke look really guilty and he will be blamed and taken from them. However, it was revealed two weeks later that his DNA did not match the evidence found on JonBents clothing and he was released. Her case remains unsolved. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. A federal court ruled that it was unlikely that Patsy wrote the note and cited six certified handwriting experts. By itself, it's not a crime. McReynoldss own daughter had been kidnapped 22 years before. The outlet also reported that Janet had penned a play with a few eery similarities to the case the plot revolved around a girl who was molested and murdered in her basement. It is ridiculous! A. James Kolar, who led the case investigation for the Boulder DAs office for nine months, believes its unlikely the girl was killed by an intruder. However, police later concluded that there was "simply no evidence" to support her claims. They know someone outside the family has murdered their daughter, but they know no one will believe they're all innocent, so in order to protect Burke and themselves they call the police and report the kidnapping in the hopes that if they play along, the real killer will be caught eventually. Lacy was very suspicious of him and as far as I know he was eliminated to her satisfaction by DNA testing. It wasnt until 2008 when the Boulder County District Attorneys office ruled that the Ramseys were no longer considered suspects thanks to newly developed DNA sampling and testing techniques. (Bill McReynolds), He visited adult book stores and admitted to having a long-withstanding admiration for porn. The real Killer doesn't know the Ramsey's personally so he is never questioned or identified. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Was their DNA tested? Another was Michael Helgoth, an electrician who worked at a nearby auto salvage yard. Lengthy interview? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I was thinking Bill may have wanted to have a party at JBs house in order to unlock her balcony door. I was in my early twenties when this all unfolded. Another was Michael Helgoth, an electrician who worked at a nearby auto salvage yard. They realize that someone is playing a sick game with them. -Why, when the money was just sitting in the bank anyway?? And while living in Nederland, near Boulder, he had some other scrapes with the law. The Ramsey familys private investigator, Ollie Gray blasted the Boulder Police Department for not considering Oliva a credible suspect. If he didn't do it, then there is no evidence against him. Karrs confession made international headlines but he was later dismissed as a pedophile who was after fame. One of the most heated debates surrounding the case is the theory that JonBent might have been murdered by an intruder. ", In 2000, a California woman told police that she believed the same child sex ring that she'd been a victim of as a child was responsible for JonBent's death due to similarities in how they'd been tied up. However, John and Patsy Ramsey referred to him as a suspect in their book The Death of Innocence, and Janet stated that her husband was deeply affected by the suspicion: "He was scarred. "Statements like that led me to have some sort of suspicion: What was going on between Santa Bill and JonBent? Even if they weren't paying it full attention it was always in the background influencing what they thought. However, physical evidence suggested that those details were part of a set-up. Why would the killer care if Patsy found the note before the body. Was it her parents? Police chief Mark Beckner has also said that the crime scene wasnt properly sealed off after police arrived. Almost 20 years after the 6-year-old child beauty queen was found brutally murdered in the basement of her family's home, it seems like almost everyone has a theory as to who did it or what happened. "I will never forget we were walking toward his house and he said, 'I wonder what it would be like to crack a human skull.' Now, twenty-five years after the shocking discovering, there are still many unanswered questions about the case as experts and amateurs alike try to uncover what happened that night. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. A book by Kate Millett, The Basement, details the murder. Shortly after Ramsey was found dead, investigators pursued a number of suspects, including the 6-year-old's parents, Patricia and John Ramsey but the couple weren't the only suspects on the investigators' radar. It's certainly a mysterious, and heart-breaking case that has long raised many questions about the young girl's death. I was in my 20s when she was murdered and am strongly IDI. Family and friends were of the Ramseys were also allowed in and out of the house before the initial investigation was completed. DNA has since cleared Helgoth of any involvement. We're going to go up behind the cabin here and have it blow away in the wind." "She [the California woman] had no direct knowledge of anything that may have occurred the night JonBent died," Police Chief Mark Beckner told the Denver Post. The longer he stayed in the house and the more things he touched, the more danger he would be in. Heres some additional information: Retired CU Journalism Professor 1968-1992. It's not easy to unpack all of that garbage and approach the case with fresh eyes. Learn more about the latest eNASCAR event schedule, Go to BetCenter for the latest NASCAR odds, news and analysis, Kevin Harvick to appear on Stacking Pennies, 23XI Racing taps Travis Pastrana for Daytona 500 bid, Sellout grandstand, camping crowd heightens Daytona 500 anticipation. The correspondence took a disturbing turn, with Karr talking about his sexual fascination with JonBent. It was nearly 20 years ago when the mysterious JonBent Ramsey murder case shocked, and mortified people around the world. (Thomas), When I die, I'm going to be cremated. The amount demanded was identical to Johns Christmas bonus the year before, which suggested that whoever had that information might have been involved in the crime. I find this hard to believe since they paid 500,000 in the 90s for the entire house. In early 1990s the Ramseys spent $700,000 just to build the third story master suite onto their mansion! (Bill McReynolds), He visited adult book stores and admitted to having a long-withstanding admiration for porn. She made a profound change in me. The South Carolina native got engaged over the weekend to Kendall McReynolds, daughter of two-time Daytona 500 winning-crew chief and NASCAR on FOX analyst Larry McReynolds. I would love to know why his red Santa suit was never taken in and fibers from it never compared to the red fibers found on JonBenets shirt and on the garotte. The South Carolina native got engaged over the weekend to Kendall McReynolds, daughter of two-time Daytona 500 winning-crew chief and NASCAR on FOX analyst Larry They were never charged as suspects in the murder. No suspects were ever found in the case, but both children were found. They didn't follow procedure with the nail clippers. OK. How closely was Bill investigated? However, the connections turned out to be purely coincidental, as both Bill and Janet submitted hair, handwriting, and blood samples and were cleared of any involvement in the crime. Similarities between the Moscow student murders and the Press J to jump to the feed. Then there is the statement from the mother of a friend of JonBents. Trip DeMuth stood at the gas station with his arms crossed, watching them drive away. (Thomas). He had been living in the area on and off and when police allegedly found a magazine with pictures of the girl in his backpack. It wasnt until 2008 when the Boulder County District Attorneys office ruled that the Ramseys were no longer considered suspects thanks to newly developed DNA sampling and testing techniques. McReynolds is described as the man hired by Patsy to play Santa Claus at the Ramsey family's Christmas parties in 1995 and 1996. (BPD Report #1-568. Both children were then released. An Associated Press report from March 1997 stated that McReynolds and his wife, Janet, were initially questioned less than six weeks after the murder. The outlet reported that on Dec. 26, 1974, the couple's 9-year-old daughter had been kidnapped along with her friend and she witnessed the sexual abuse of her friend during the trauma. Former Kidnapping charge was a botched $113 gas station robbery in Arizona, where he forced clerk to move from Point A to Point B, thus the kidnapping charge, He had come home from the Christmas party at his parents home, had a drink of scotch, swallowed some powerful prescription drugs he took for depression, and gone to bed alone, not awakening until late the next morning. ).Alibi- home in bed, Known to be a film critic and movie reviewer for many years and wrote plays as well. On the very same day in 1974 - Boxing Day - McReynolds's nine-year-old daughter had been abducted with a friend, and had witnessed the sexual molestation of her friend. He was arrested on drug charges but was soon released. Additionally, the McReynolds' 9-year-old daughter was reportedly abducted on Dec. 26, the same day JonBent was found dead, only years prior in the 1970s. CBS did not work on the filming of Bill McReynolds. "This was her speculation based on what she claimed she went through as a child. 9 yo kids kill, but it doesn't happen often enough for the Ramseys to think that Burke would be blamed. I don't know anyone who did who believes the "Intruder" theory. Since it was Christmas, the department was short-staffed and was not prepared for the scene they were faced with at the Ramsey House. According to a CNN report in 2006, Trip DeMuth, an original prosecutor on the case, said that McReynolds' alleged Christmas card to JonBent was particularly concerning: The McReynolds were reportedly cleared of charges after submitting DNA samples, CNN reported. According to a 1999 New York Post article, McReynolds was a retired journalism professor and a close friend of the Ramseys. Romper attempted to reach out to original representatives for the McReynolds, but was unsuccessful. ), Janets daughter and a friend were taken to an unknown location, where Janets daughter was forced to watch her friend being sexually molested. Copyright 2023 NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Again, he is an individual who was involved with her, had an interest in her, was seen with her, shortly before the murder," original prosecutor Trip DeMuth told CNN. Part of Karrs twisted confession involved diary entries written about crime in which Karr describes strangling JonBent as a love game gone wrong. Karr eventually came out as a transgender woman in 2010. DeMuth confronted Santa Bill, convinced that the cord being used to lash down a tarpaulin was like the cord used in the murder garrote. (SMF P 283; PSMF P 283.)" And apparently it starts out nice and then it gets up into this you left Santa Claus and, you know, went to all those fancy things and you came back to Santa Claus. How do they know that wasnt the same cord he was using? The woman said that on Christmas Eve day in 1996, JonBent said Santa had told her he was going to make a secret visit to her after Christmas. Nonetheless, BillMcReynolds was still one of the favored suspects for the Ramsey family, and they even specifically called him out in their book, Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBent's Murder and How its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of Truth. A minuscule amount of mixed DNA (from different locations and multiple foreign sources) doesn't prove much - unless someone cleaned up afterward, there should have been much more evidence from a single profile left. Following the Ramseys exoneration thanks to new DNA technology, many hoped the killer would eventually be found. Yet, when the case was reopened in 2009, the intruder theory was brought once again as a possible option. McReynolds also stated that JonBent had given him a vial of gold glitter at both the 1995 and 1996 Christmas parties. They went to a war: they kept lying, twisting facts, throwing friends into the fire, and obstructing justice for decades now. John and other family members were cleared of suspicion through a handwriting test, but police couldnt conclusively determine if Patsy wrote the letter. There's no doubt about it.". (Thomas), McReynolds "had written a card to JonBenet that was found in her trash can after the murder. The Killer entered the home through an unlocked door or window (there are several possibilities) while the Ramsey's were at the Christmas party. This one is definitely one of the more outlandish theories of the bunch, so you should take it with a grain of salt: At least one source reports that it's possible JonBent was attacked by some sort of wild animal, like an owl or a bear. ), Janets daughter and a friend were taken to an unknown location, where Janets daughter was forced to watch her friend being sexually molested. Another was Michael Helgoth, an electrician who worked at a nearby auto salvage yard. Charles Kuralt retired from CBS in 1994. The note read that if the Ramseys had contacted the police, or told anyone of JonBents disappearance, she would be murdered. OK. )(Woodward), When his own daughter was ten years old, she and another girl were kidnapped, and the friend was molested before both girls were released. When I'm not writing, reading, or lost in the vortex that is the Internet, I can usually be found stuffing my face with food and obsessing over the nearest dog. There's a reason people who don't really know the details of this case will 90% of the time say they think the parents are guilty of 'something'. No one was ever arrested for the crime. When the Ramseys went on TV and held up the small poster it was a bizarre performance. I've asked my wife to mix the star dust JonBent gave me with my ashes. The correspondence took a disturbing turn, with Karr talking about his sexual fascination with JonBent. Also, using the words of one of the handwriting experts, it's extremely unlikely for a random killer to have a handwriting so uniquely similar to Patsy's. Other suspects included neighbor Bill McReynolds, a local Santa Claus who visited the Ramseys a few days before the girls death. McReynoldss own daughter had been kidnapped 22 years before. Another was Michael Helgoth, an electrician who worked at a nearby auto salvage yard. He has been cleared and my humble opinion is that he was a fall guy. According to The Daily Camera, the McReynolds' middle daughter, 9-years-old at the time, was abducted on December 26, 1974, and witnessed the sexual molestation of her friend. @mkmcreynolds1 I never knew I could feel so much love for someone until I met you. Tracey reported Karr to the police who arrested him in Bangkok. But then when you get to handwriting on the note, both parents' fibers on the body, the evidence of previous abuse, the families behavior, the random fact of the late night pineapple, the way she was redressed, the Barbie nightgown, all the weird little details, it all falls apart. The case has fascinated the nation for the past 20 years, but it remains unsolved. Other suspects included neighbor Bill McReynolds, a local Santa Claus who visited the Ramseys a few days before the girls death. In March 1997, Bill McReynolds told The Chicago Tribune, "In my heart, I know there's no connection. (BPD Report # 1-645. (BPD Report # 1-645. For other inquiries, Contact Us. https://t.co/mbz7yh9Ug3, Larry McReynolds (@LarryMac28) January 18, 2021. Helgoth was tied to However, Olivas DNA was cleared for the murder but was later arrested for possessing child pornography. I just wanted to add something that borders on ridiculous and that's probably being generous. (BPD Report #1-1149. Her friend was sexually assaulted and Jill escaped unharmed. On what grounds did Steve Thomas and the BPD dismiss them? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Letting them go was a big mistake, as they soon layered up and did not get to formally interview them again until May of 1997, five months after their daughter was murdered., The case was then passed to the DAs office in 2002 after the Ramseys said they had no confidence in the police.. The Best Valentines Day TV Episodes For Kids, Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Have Welcomed Their New Baby, Prince Harry Says Hes Worried One Of Prince Williams Kids Will End Up As The Spare, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Promise. In a June 1997 Denver Post article, a number of people who knew JonBent spoke to the outlet about what she was like as a person because the 6-year-old murder victim was far more than the pageant star whose glamour shots had been splashed across nearly every print and media outlet in the country. Why not? An Associated Press report from March 1997 stated that McReynolds and his wife, Janet, were initially questioned less than six weeks after the murder. Thats who interests me a little more than his father. The note read that if the Ramseys had contacted the police, or told anyone of JonBents disappearance, she would be murdered. Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. I hurt a little girl.. Search the history of over 778 billion The 26-year-old committed suicide two days after a 1997 press conference where the Boulder DA announced that they were looking at a new suspect. Police collect DNA samples from Bill McReynolds Bill McReynolds dressed up as Santa Claus at the Ramseys' Christmas party on December 23. And they didn't just lie that morning. The world also blames the Ramsey's for the murder, Santa Bill has been cleared so many time and youre still dragging his name through the mud. The amount demanded was identical to Johns Christmas bonus the year before, which suggested that whoever had that information might have been involved in the crime. (BPD Reports #1-1874, #26-144, #1-41, #1-162, #1-204, #1-304, #1-2622, #5-297, #5-371, #5-2202) Could that Secret Santa have been the killer and someone JonBent knew? ", The daughter: On December 26, 1974, twenty-two years before JonBent was reported kidnapped on December 26, 1996, the nine-year-old daughter of Janet McReynolds, the wife of Bill McReynolds, was kidnapped. Longmont Police Department records on the December 26, 1974 kidnapping of Jill McReynolds (daughter of JonBenet Ramsey murder suspect "Santa" Bill McReynolds) and The idea that a parents first thought upon finding their child murdered is to start a coverup out of pure survival instinct is fantastical. For many years, JonBents parents and brother, Burke, who was 9-years-old at the time of her death, were considered the main suspects until they were cleared of suspicion. He grew his long natural white beard when cast as a tavern owner in the play, "Les Miserables" for Unity of Boulder Church. According to The Guardian, Bill McReynolds had written a note to JonBent, as Santa, days before her body was discovered. Karr had been living in Thailand, avoiding child pornography charges in the US. Can I ask you Ivy, did you live through the whole JonBenet murder saga as an adult while it was unfolding? )(Woodward), When his own daughter was ten years old, she and another girl were kidnapped, and the friend was molested before both girls were released. The killer resembled JonBenet's brother John Andrew. The murder of JonBent Ramsey remains one of the most peculiar and heartbreaking unsolved mysteries of modern times and the flurry of TV projects and documentaries coming out this month speaks to the world's enduring fascination with what happened the night of Dec. 26, 2006. I did. I felt very close to that little girl. How do you explain all the points in the crime scene of Patsy's.. inside the paint tray, the sticky side of the duct tape, embedded into the ligature? Patsy Ramsey places a 911 call to the Boulder Police Department explaining that her daughter, JonBenet, is not in her room and that a ransom note was left behind. Charles Kuralt's program or segment that Bill promised would be filming his Santa romps was with CBS TV. I have read it was either an independent producer working on "spec" or McReynolds himself that hired the film crew. It was later revealed that the note was written on stationery found in the familys home. Gosage took it back down the hill to the gas station and handed it to the technician from the CBI. Olivas high school friend, Michael Vail claimed that Oliva had call him on the phone to confess that he had hurt a little girl. There's no doubt about it. The Ramsey family has also been cleared of all suspicion on multiple occasions due to DNA evidence. Why not take JBR from the home and to a secluded place where they could do a lot more than just take a few pictures. Bill and Janet McReynolds say the only significance of their daughter's abduction to the Ramsey case, regardless of the dates, is that it underscores the compassion they feel for John and Patsy Ramsey. Why wouldnt he hand it over at the storage unit versus going back to the house? Stop it already, Yes. In his book Presumed Guilty: An Investigation Into the JonBent Ramsey Case, the Media, and the Culture of Pornography, journalist Stephen Singular argues that the police were so focused on pinning the murder to the Ramseysthat they neglected to consider the possibility that JonBent was abducted for child pornography. That night Thomas met with Bill and Janet and she conirmed Bill's statement that he was at home at the time of the murder. Janets daughter and a friend were taken to an unknown location, where Janets daughter was forced to watch her friend being sexually molested. Hair and handwriting samples were collected by police from both of them at that time, according to an Associated Press report. He got it wrong. They tell him to go back to bed and agree to deny he was ever up. However, amongother things, the book largely relies on the belief that JonBent's cause of death was head trauma, but in reality, the autopsy revealed that it was asphyxiation. In August 2006, a 41 year old elementary school teacher falsely confessed to the murder of JonBenet but investigations proved him to have no connection with the case. Since it was Christmas, the department was short-staffed and was not prepared for the scene they were faced with at the Ramsey House. Helgoth was tied to JonBent Patricia Ramsey was a six-year-old beauty pageant contestant who was brutally murdered (and possibly raped) in her home, on the night of 25 to 26 December 1996. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS, Shock first photos inside Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home, Ana Walshe's pals reveal what 'delayed her fate' after husband charged, Child's body found in search for missing girl, 4, who was 'beaten to death', Missing woman's husband charged with murder after blood found in basement, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, JonBent Ramsey was strangled to death twenty-five years ago and her killer has never been brought to justice, John and Patsy Ramsey were prime suspects for years but were later exonerated when DNA testing had cleared them of any involvement, Investigators could not prove whether or not Patsy wrote the ransom note but she was later cleared by a federal court, Gary Oliva, a sex offender, was found with magazine photos of JonBent in his backpack when police arrested him on drug charges, John Mark Karr falsely confessed to killing JonBent in a 'love game' gone wrong but DNA had cleared him, Many people believe that an intruder killed JonBent but it has never been proven by police. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Just because he saw JonBenet last? Ramsey Home Walkthrough - 3D Computer Model. Thus the kidnapping charge. The McReynolds said at the time that the coincidences between their daughter's abduction, the play, and JonBent's death were all just coincidence. It feels like you came up with a narrative first and then tried to adjust it to some of the evidence. The Best Kid & Family Movies Premiering In 2023, 20 Impactful Documentaries To Stream During Black History Month & Beyond, Alex Guaranschelli Is A Renowned Chef, But Her Daughter Still Gets Recipe Inspo From TikTok, 25 Sweet Movies Families Can Watch Together On Valentines Day, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Following the success of shows recounting murder cases and trials like, The People v. O.J Simpson, and Making A Murderer, both CBS and Lifetime are bringing JonBent's story to TV this year. The 2 1/2-page letter demanded that John withdraw $118,000 and wait for further instructions. Steve Thomas and Ron Gosage interviewed Bill McReynolds early in February of 1997 - - on the same day he was called back for a second interview - - at that time he did give non-testimonial evidence. I wish McReynolds had been made to explain why he lied to Patsy. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, JonBent Ramsey was strangled to death twenty-five years ago and her killer has never been brought to justice, John and Patsy Ramsey were prime suspects for years but were later exonerated when DNA testing had cleared them of any involvement, Investigators could not prove whether or not Patsy wrote the ransom note but she was later cleared by a federal court, Gary Oliva, a sex offender, was found with magazine photos of JonBent in his backpack when police arrested him on drug charges, John Mark Karr falsely confessed to killing JonBent in a 'love game' gone wrong but DNA had cleared him, Many people believe that an intruder killed JonBent but it has never been proven by police, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All in the Ramsey's home in such a short time span? I wish we would have done a better job of securing and controlling the crime scene on day one, said Beckner. I'm wondering if those fragments could be the same glitter that Crying Santa Bill wanted mixed with his ashes upon his death. on the Internet. Stop it already". Lifetime will present a TV movie called Who Killed JonBent? The Guardian reported that McReynolds had allegedly given JonBent a Christmas card which reportedly stated that the 6-year-old would be receiving a "special present" after Christmas. John and other family members were cleared of suspicion through a handwriting test, but police couldnt conclusively determine if Patsy wrote the letter. Someone is out there!". She looked at it for about three seconds and agreed that it was not the same cord. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Burke is woken up and questioned. Another mother also stated to BPD investigators that JonBent had told a playmate about a Secret Santa. I wish we would have done a better job of securing and controlling the crime scene on day one, said Beckner. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. One of the most heated debates surrounding the case is the theory that JonBent might have been murdered by an intruder. She won 5 major contests before her tragic murder at the age of 6. Burke doesn't really believe in Santa and thinks this whole thing is dumb, so he goes back to bed.

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