JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation

I went down the rabbit hole on the Jonbenet case after listening to the amazing 'Normal Family' podcast and out of the books I read, this one was definitely the best. You can really tell Steve Thomas cared about this little girl. He goes into a lot of detail on the case and about how the district attorney bent over backwards to help the family. There's not much evidence discussed that I didn't already know, but if you're new to the case I think it would be a good introduction. And Steve's story about the shady things going on behind the scenes will make you REALLY PISSED OFF.

A real inside look at what happened<br /><br />This is the fourth book I've read on the Jon Benét case and easily the best one.<br /><br />Former Boulder police Det. Steve Thomas, who was one of the chief investigators in the Ramsey case, does not mince words here and leaves the reader with no doubt about who killed Jon Benét. He also makes it abundantly clear why the case never went to trial and why it is highly unlikely that it ever will.<br /><br />Thomas acknowledges that the crime scene was hopelessly compromised by the inexperienced Boulder police, but more importantly demonstrates that the case could not be tried because the top attorneys in the Boulder District Attorney's office, and in particular DA Alex Hunter, were afraid to face the Ramseys and their team of lawyers in court. Thomas cites statistics showing that the vast majority of criminal cases in Boulder during the tenure of Alex Hunter had been plea bargained and not taken to trial. The effect of this kind of justice was to leave the DA's office with an appalling lack of trial experience and a morbid fear of going against "Team Ramsey." Hunter, a politician's politician, clearly saw that his main job was to make sure no indictment against the Ramsey's would ever see the light of day. To this end, he and his attorneys worked very hard to discourage the police, whose investigation clearly showed that the Ramseys were guilty and should be indicted. John Ramsey took advantage of this situation by hiring lawyers who were friends of lawyers in the district attorney's office who were supplied with information about the ongoing investigation. Thomas goes so far as to quote people accusing the district attorney's office of obstruction of justice. Of course no such charges were ever filed.<br /><br />After reading this vivid and uncompromised account, I no longer have any doubt about what happened to Jon Benét. Thomas presents his scenario on pages 285-289. He also explains why he thinks it was a murder and not an accident. The real question is, why did John Ramsey help Patsy cover it up? Thomas's answer (p. 289) is that Ramsey "chose to protect his wife." It was perhaps a snap decision that once entered into could not be undone. Thomas does not see John Ramsey as having molested his daughter; instead he believes that the prior vaginal trauma that Jon Benét allegedly suffered was at the hands of her frantic mother handing out punishment for regressed toilet training. We can see this possibility from Thomas's account of Patsy Ramsey being questioned by retired Denver homicide detective Captain Tom Haney (pp. 325-327). Patsy comes across as a very tough broad indeed, even a little on the crude side. Thomas concludes that beneath her mask, he saw "cold rage." Perhaps John Ramsey was afraid of going against his wife. Perhaps she knew something very embarrassing that he wanted to keep hidden.<br /><br />Because Thomas had intimate and extensive knowledge of the facts of the case second to none, there are bits of evidence here that the other books I have read do not contain. The fact that the Ramseys video taped the police at the empty Ramsey house in Boulder as they were acting out scenarios is an example. The plan with the Georgia police to wire tap the Ramsey's Atlanta home is another. The details of the textual analysis that Vassar College linguist Don Foster did on the writings of Patsy Ramsey that led him to assert that she wrote the ransom note is a third. The conclusion of the FBI's team from its Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit that the ransom note "was a cathartic act that allowed the offender to ‘undo' the murder in one's own mind" (p. 217) is a fourth. There are many others. Incidentally this is a better book than Schiller's Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, not only because it presents facts and an intimate point of view not found there, but because it is more focused and leaves out a lot of unnecessary media material.<br /><br />I think the most important lesson we can learn from the Ramsey case is that the rich really are different. For one thing, they can more easily get away with murder. I am thinking also of the Martha Moxley case in Connecticut, the Cullen Davis case in Texas, and of course the O.J. Simpson case in Los Angeles. What's the answer? It's the same thing that compromises our political system: money gives those with it a tremendous political advantage over those of modest means. I wish I knew the answer.<br /><br />I like the way Thomas ends the book with a tribute to Jon Benét whom he calls "a strong-willed little spirit" who "would have chosen her own course in life, not one mapped by a mother living vicariously through her daughter's beauty...an incredible little kid who loved to be tickled." He adds: "Miss America was the least she could have been."<br /><br /> --Dennis Littrell, author of the sensational mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”

If you care about justice this book will make you so mad you will want to find all the members of the Boulder DA's office from back in the 90's and slap them silly. You will also want to hunt down a few higher-ups in Denver LE from back then and slap them around as well. Of course you want to do alot more than slap the Ramseys around, despite the fact that one of them is dead. <br />Thomas was the lead detective on the Ramsey case and he makes it clear that things were messed up beyond belief even before he was placed on the team tasked with solving the murder of the tiny beauty queen. Denver had a hands-off policing policy and legal system in the 90's that had no interest in going after criminals and really went above and beyond the call of duty to plea everybody out as quickly and painlessly as possible. That was bad enough. But when the precious Ramsey's were suddenly in the middle of a crime their money and influence really made clear that things were rotten in the city of Denver.<br />Thomas chronicles how the DA's office, working hand-in-hand with a police chief more interested in a peace and love philosophy than going after murderers, destroyed this case. Huge swaths of evidence were handed over to defense attorneys, confidential information was leaked to the media and every attempt to do real detective work was crippled by a system so corrupt it is breathtaking. <br />After reading Lawrence Schiller's "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" I was horrifed by the lack of justice in Denver and convinced that Patsy Ramsey and most likely her husband, John Ramsey, were somehow involved in the death of their daughter. After reading Thomas' book I am convinced that they weren't just involved, I believe that Patsy Ramsey committed the murder and John has been actively protecting and covering up for her ever since. <br />This book is a horror show of what goes wrong when the wealthy and well-connected get away with murder. Another little girl who will never receive the justice she so richly deserved.

Another disgusting account of how there is a fine line for justice between the poor and the rich. This is about as close to the truth as anyone is ever going to get with this case. It saddens and shocks and enfuriates me how political gain, money and greed were more important to the Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter than solving the murder and getting justice for a 6-year-old innocent little girl who was murdered in her home on Christmas Night. Author and Detective Steve Thomas wasn't out to make money with this book. He wasn't out doing talk shows and interviews. After writing this, he went back into leading a life of privacy and doing construction work. I believe he truly cared about this case, devoting his life 24/7 for years to try to get to the bottom of the mystery, and I believe he did. Truth and justice meant more to him than the DA, which is why he had to lay down his badge to speak the truth instead of remaining silent to the powers that be. It is amazing that there are still some "good guys" out there like Steve Thomas. It's too bad that his career and reputation were smeared by the DA and others for uncovering and speaking out against the extreme corruption in Boulder. <br /><br />After reading this book, it is evident that there was MORE THAN ENOUGH probable cause to arrest if not both of the Ramseys at least arrest Patsy Ramsey. Thank you, Steve Thomas, for being honest and exposing the DA for what he is.

I can’t believe that this book has such high reviews. <br />For those that read it, did you not understand that this book had so many discrepancies? This man investigated one murder in his career. This one. Everyone is wrong but him. He clearly has an axe to grind and he is making the case. He should have seriously stayed in Narcotics and not Homicide. <br /><br />This is a terrible book.<br /><br />Steve Thomas. Where do I begin? The bias is strong here people. This man has made up his mind about who the killers are and it’s the parents. He is convinced that he has the answers and everyone does not. This book spreads the blame around, except for himself. He’s the appointed angel here and if people would just listen to what he is saying and let him do what they wanted, then this case would have been solved and the innocent Ramseys would be in jail right now.<br /><br />However, as you read the book there are things that don’t make sense. He contradicts himself and doesn’t even realize it. Remember, this is a man that had never ever been on a murder case, but yet he knows better than Lou Smit, a man that solved 90% murder cases? REALLY? THIS GUY CAME FROM NARCOTICS AND SHOULD HAVE STAYED THERE. In fact, this guy should have never been in law enforcement. He also employs the “blame the liberals” defense as to why these people didn’t want to prosecute. You really think that if they believed the Ramseys were guilty, then they would have protected child killers? It just defies logic.<br /><br />He keeps talking about an accident. He believes that the Ramseys got mad at her and then killed her by accident. So then why look for premeditation? Why look for previous purchases that Patsy made since it was the heat of the moment? Was it an accident or premeditation? Let’s get this straight. The Boulder Police Department was the first to drop the ball in this case. The FIRST. But in this book, Steve spreads the blame to everyone else but the police department. It shows how blockheaded and narrow minded cops can be. The justice system worked here, no thanks to the gung ho police officers.<br /><br />Also, they were the first to point the finger at the Ramseys. Would it not be better than to cozy up to the Ramseys and let them hang themselves if that were the case? The worst thing and I mean the WORST thing they could have done was treat these people like suspects early! If they would have pretended that they were on their side, they could have gotten more cooperation. IF the police believed that I killed my child, I wouldn’t talk to them either. They did right. Never talk to the police in the first place. Thanks to the Boulder Police Department, the original screw ups in this case, the Ramsey family will have to live with this all their lives. Live with being a suspect when these people did nothing wrong. Steve Thomas is going around checking up on “duct tape” but then saying that this was an accident. So now Patsy knew that she was going to kill her daughter before hand, buying duct tape, and then killing her in the heat of passion. IT. DEFIES. LOGIC. The entire book is just him whining “Why won’t you let me screw up this case!??!” Sorry Steve. You’ve done enough. Now you have an ax to grind and you’ve done it with this incredibly stupid book. I wish I never spent my money on this trash. Please look for a book that is more nuanced and objective than this. Or if you like wasting your time, or perhaps you have something against trees. If you do, by all means, buy this nonsense.

I've been interested in this case for 20 years now. It makes me very angry. Why? In America if you are rich and white you can get away with anything. This case also makes me very sad. I didn't know JonBenet Ramsey but in a way I did through all her photos and videos. And I absolutely adored her. My children were little too back in 1996 when this murder took place so it really hit home with me. R. I. P. Sweet little angel JonBenet. <br /><br />For what it's worth, Patsy Ramsey, JonBenet's mother, is now sleeping with the worms. There is still no Justice for this little 6 year old but karma has been a bitch for her mother. <br /><br />The author has written an outstanding and detailed account of the events surrounding this cold case. <br />My hope is that one day her father will finally put the case to rest and make a final confession regarding what truly happened. Until then just look at where all the evidence points and draw your own conclusion. <br /><br />5 very sad stars for this book.<br /><br />

Well, I read another one. This one is by one of the lead detectives on the case (and the guy whose public resignation letter finally took the case out of the DA's hands and made the governor step in and call for a grand jury investigation (though of course in the end the DA just ignored their secret, sealed indictment recommendations anyway)). I liked this book much more than Schiller's <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/238926.Perfect_Murder__Perfect_Town_The_Uncensored_Story_of_the_JonBenet_Murder_and_the_Grand_Jury_s_Search_for_the_Truth" title="Perfect Murder, Perfect Town The Uncensored Story of the JonBenet Murder and the Grand Jury's Search for the Truth by Lawrence Schiller" rel="noopener">Perfect Murder, Perfect Town</a>, if only because Thomas was an involved party, not a journalist, and hence writes with passion and a distinct viewpoint. He's definitely a guy who has a real beef with the DA's office and the way they handled (or refused to handle) the case, but if only one tenth of the stuff Thomas says happened, happened, I'd be pretty pissed off, too. <br /><br />So hard to understand what the DA was thinking.

This book will have you screaming at the injustices of this investigation. Excellent read even if I want to throw the book across the room once or twice.

Wow. True crime books make me flip pages faster than any other books, I swear. This book is AMAZING. Truly all I knew about JonBenet was that her case was never solved, and that the parents were in the spotlight of potentially being involved in the crime. But I honestly thought she was maybe kidnapped, and they never found what happened. I had no idea that she was brutally murdered and in her own home.<br /><br />Any true crime book written by someone actually involved in the investigation are always the best, most detailed account of what actually happened. The book states actual facts, opposed to a mother writing the story of what happened because they are clearly going to have a bias. And that is exactly what I wanted from this book. I am in utter awe of all things to do with the JonBenet case and how it was handled. It absolutely disgusts me, but I also need to remember that the investigation was happening in 1996, and the true crime books I have read in the past few years have been very current cases that they knew how to handle. But still, even taking the time period into account, so much was botched in this investigation, and it is so sad that we truly may never know what happened to her because the lack of DNA, and the DNA that they do have was compromised because even when her body was still in the house, guests were invited over and touched all over her, moving around the crime scene which is SO important in finding what happened. <br /><br />I am 99% sure the Ramsey's actually commited the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. I am not saying that that was their intention from the start, but I do believe they ended up killing her, whether accident or not. This book has ALL things JonBenet Ramsey, and if you are at all interested in the book, this will blow you away. But it will also anger you to no end that JonBenet will probably never get the justice that she deserves.

This is the detective's-eye view of THE great unresolved murder case of the 1990s, aside from the OJ case. I expected to be bored with this one because Schiller's <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/238926.Perfect_Murder__Perfect_Town_The_Uncensored_Story_of_the_JonBenet_Murder_and_the_Grand_Jury_s_Search_for_the_Truth" title="Perfect Murder, Perfect Town The Uncensored Story of the JonBenet Murder and the Grand Jury's Search for the Truth by Lawrence Schiller" rel="noopener">Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: The Uncensored Story of the JonBenet Murder and the Grand Jury's Search for the Truth</a> was too dull to finish. I'm glad I was wrong. This book riveted me from the first page and I was totally engaged all the way through. It's a book you'll cheerfully skip a meal to keep reading. I was as satisfied as I can be with the conclusions drawn by the author, considering that this case was sabotaged, not to say torpedoed, from the day JonBenet died. The expose was cutting, the facts compelling, and the injustice utterly galling. This is the ONLY treatment I've seen of this case that makes the injustice to JonBenet the central message of the book, and that alone would have made it worth reading. Don't miss this one.