How the Murder of JonBenét Ramsey Became a National Obsession

In 2010, investigators conducted a fresh round of interviews, hoping to shake something, anything loose. “I understand that they met with Burke and gave him a card and said, ‘If you want to talk to us, here’s how you would contact me,'” Ramsey family attorney Lin Wood told Boulder’s Daily Camera newspaper in October 2010. “But the police have not interviewed Burke.”

Wood added, “Whatever the reason for any type of approach with Burke, it would have nothing to do with the case other than with the reality that John and Burke could help the Boulder police as witnesses in the investigation. For all I know, they have gotten some tip and think Burke could give them some information.”

John Ramsey told Barbara Walters in an interview in 2015 that he still predicted either DNA would solve his daughter’s murder “or someone who knows something will become angry or bitter against this person and will tell.”

Looking back on the immediate days following JonBenét’s death, John said, “When something really tragic happens in your life, put your life in park. Give your checkbook to a trusted friend. Avoid making any big decisions. Because you’re just not capable of making good decisions.”

And that can be said for every single person involved with the case. Stan Garnett, the Boulder D.A. who succeeded Mary Lacy, called her exoneration of the Ramseys in 2008 “legally insignificant,” telling the Daily Camera he wasn’t bound by her actions should the case move forward under his watch.

As former state’s attorney Troy Eid also told the paper in October 2016, “It’s incredible the number of cases that get solved later. And also as DNA testing gets better, it sometimes removes doubt and sometimes adds doubt.”

He added, “It’s not too late for justice.

(Originally published Sept. 19, 2016, at 6 a.m. PT)