I'm trying to summarize the "intruder with a grudge" theory that has been coming up frequently in recent videos (e.g. 60 Minutes Australia):
1/In 1996, someone (a co-worker, a business contact, a pageant rival, a contractor, even a "friend" etc) is holding an obsessive grudge against John Bennet Ramsey. The whole kidnapping is directed at him (e.g. the ransom doesn't mention Jonbenet's name once but it mentions John's 3 times and every other sentence has "you" in it). It seems that the intruder is more obsessed with John than with Jonbenet.
2/The intruder wants to hurt John both financially and emotionally (through his daughter), hence the ransom plus the molestation.
3/ The intruder knows the house well. He's worked or been invited there (e.g. the Ramseys's lavish Christmas parties). The intruder realizes what a maze the house is (7,000 sq. ft.), how isolated Jonbenet's bedroom is, how many windows/doors there are. He may notice a window that isn't properly closed or even unlock one discretely. He can even steal a key (7 doors in the house).
4/ The intruder accesses the house several times when the Ramseys are away. He familiarizes himself with the layout. He searches through drawers and finds information on the bonus. He can steal Patsy's notepad and pen.
5/ The intruder takes his time to write the ransom note, several days before the kidnapping (he never mentions Christmas day). He is still hesitating about the date or even the plan itself. He probably enjoys writing the letter. He teases/taunts John, alternating threats against Jonbenet and sacarstic concerns about John's well-being.
6/ The intruder decides to take action on Christmas Eve because the Ramseys are leaving for a trip the day after. He can't wait any longer.
7/ The intruder was in the house Christmas Eve before the Ramseys come home. He's hiding somewhere in the house.
8/ At night, he drops the note on the stairscase, goes to Jonbenet's room, gags her with a piece of cloth or his hand and carries her to exit he's selected.
9/ She fights back more than he expects so he hits her with his flashlight. Because of the noise, he rushes her to the basement. He gives up leaving the house because of the risk.
10/ On the way down, he notices the pain brush. He has brought ropes to tie her up and he uses one to make the garrot. As she continues to struggle or because he thinks the kidnapping can't work he kills her. He molests her for his own gratification.
11/ He hides her in the basement room he's noticed before. [Or maybe he does not hide her body, John does (see below).
12/ When John hears Patsy in the morning, he looks for Jonbenet and finds her body somewhere in the basement.
13/ He thinks Burke did it and that Patsy covered up to protect him. That would explain his weird attitude]
This scenario seems much more likely than the cover up by the parents. If Burke had hit Jonbenet on the head, the Ramseys just had to say that it was an accident: kids were throwing objects at each other and he hit her with the flashlight etc... And if Burke was molesting her and the parents were concerned that it could be discovered during the autopsy, why would they write such a weird ransom note? Three lines would have been enough. But they were genuinely concerned that Burke might have done it.
1/In 1996, someone (a co-worker, a business contact, a pageant rival, a contractor, even a "friend" etc) is holding an obsessive grudge against John Bennet Ramsey. The whole kidnapping is directed at him (e.g. the ransom doesn't mention Jonbenet's name once but it mentions John's 3 times and every other sentence has "you" in it). It seems that the intruder is more obsessed with John than with Jonbenet.
2/The intruder wants to hurt John both financially and emotionally (through his daughter), hence the ransom plus the molestation.
3/ The intruder knows the house well. He's worked or been invited there (e.g. the Ramseys's lavish Christmas parties). The intruder realizes what a maze the house is (7,000 sq. ft.), how isolated Jonbenet's bedroom is, how many windows/doors there are. He may notice a window that isn't properly closed or even unlock one discretely. He can even steal a key (7 doors in the house).
4/ The intruder accesses the house several times when the Ramseys are away. He familiarizes himself with the layout. He searches through drawers and finds information on the bonus. He can steal Patsy's notepad and pen.
5/ The intruder takes his time to write the ransom note, several days before the kidnapping (he never mentions Christmas day). He is still hesitating about the date or even the plan itself. He probably enjoys writing the letter. He teases/taunts John, alternating threats against Jonbenet and sacarstic concerns about John's well-being.
6/ The intruder decides to take action on Christmas Eve because the Ramseys are leaving for a trip the day after. He can't wait any longer.
7/ The intruder was in the house Christmas Eve before the Ramseys come home. He's hiding somewhere in the house.
8/ At night, he drops the note on the stairscase, goes to Jonbenet's room, gags her with a piece of cloth or his hand and carries her to exit he's selected.
9/ She fights back more than he expects so he hits her with his flashlight. Because of the noise, he rushes her to the basement. He gives up leaving the house because of the risk.
10/ On the way down, he notices the pain brush. He has brought ropes to tie her up and he uses one to make the garrot. As she continues to struggle or because he thinks the kidnapping can't work he kills her. He molests her for his own gratification.
11/ He hides her in the basement room he's noticed before. [Or maybe he does not hide her body, John does (see below).
12/ When John hears Patsy in the morning, he looks for Jonbenet and finds her body somewhere in the basement.
13/ He thinks Burke did it and that Patsy covered up to protect him. That would explain his weird attitude]
This scenario seems much more likely than the cover up by the parents. If Burke had hit Jonbenet on the head, the Ramseys just had to say that it was an accident: kids were throwing objects at each other and he hit her with the flashlight etc... And if Burke was molesting her and the parents were concerned that it could be discovered during the autopsy, why would they write such a weird ransom note? Three lines would have been enough. But they were genuinely concerned that Burke might have done it.
