By midafternoon, after studying the autopsy results, [Cmdr] Eller still had unanswered questions about the body. What about the massive skull fracture? What and where was the murder weapon? What about the vaginal trauma? A lot of points needed to be covered.
Chief Koby pointed out to him that the body itself had become evidence, and to release it at this point could affect the investigation. Eller and the coroner agreed.
But only a few minutes passed before Deputy District Attorney Pete Hofstrom called to say that the Ramseys were asking about burial. His appearance raised an important question that was not addressed: Why were the Ramseys already communicating through the DA's people rather than directly to the investigating detectives? That indicated they were talking through a private lawyer, and with the strong links between the DA's office and the defense attorneys in Boulder, that could only mean trouble for the police.
Eller told Hofstrom that Koby, the coroner, and he had decided to hold the body for further evidentiary tests, and thought no more of it.
His attention at the moment was focused on setting up formal Q-and-A sessions with the Ramseys.
[snipped]
A short time later an agitated Pete Hofstrom came into Eller's office.
"Pete, we need to talk to the Ramseys," the commander told the prosecutor.
"You can't ransom the body for an interview," Hofstrom shot back.
"We are not 'ransoming' the body. It's just premature to release it."
"You can't ransom the body," Hofstrom repeated, as if he had not heard Eller's words.
"I'm not suggesting that," the commander said, laying out the forensic and evidentiary concerns.
"You can't ransom the body," Hofstrom insisted for a third time.
Eller grew irritable. "Pete, they are unrelated issues. Go make your deal with them, that's what you do. We need an interview."
We would later learn that Hofstrom went to see Mike Bynum, who was already representing the Ramseys behind the scenes, and announced, "We've got a problem." We was the word that shook us.