I was hooked from the first moment I heard reports of the crime. I can remember it all very well, because on that Christmas of '96 I was literally just a few days away from giving birth to my first child. So I was resting and loafing on the couch, watching a lot of TV, including of course, CNN. I remember very well Patsy's shaking finger and "hold your babies tight" warning. From the first something did not sit right with me at all about the behavior of the Ramseys, and as a very young, expectant mom, i was horrified by the nature of the crime, and the creepy pageant footage that made it's way into the news.
Over the years I read Schillers and Thomas's books, followed a lot of the online discussion. I've pretty much always thought it was RDI, but I'm torn as to how and why. I'm not sure that Thomas's bedwetting rage theory flies, given the chronic sexual abuse findings. I could believe a late night rage on Patsy's part, with poor little Jonbenets head hitting against a bathroom fixture, but that doesn't expalain the abuse evidence, unless that could be attributed to rough wiping/cleaning by Patsy. I can also believe a horrified Patsy finding someone abusing JB, and bashing her accidentally, when she meant to bash the abuser - but this wouldn't explain participating in a cover up, unless once she turned on the lights, she found the abuser to be someone she loved - perhaps BR? Her father? JR? Though I'm not sure Patsy would cover for JR. I've probably held every RDI theory at one time or another. One thing I do think, is that if Patsy were somehow the cause, then it was an accident, or unintentional. I cannot see her harming her beloved daughter to the point of mortal injury deliberately; she poured her heart and soul into JB, overly so, and, it always seemed to me, to the detriment of BR. I can see her being angry, and even a little rough with JB over the toileting issues, but not deliberately violent.
So the mystery of how and why is fascinating and horrifying simultaneously, and because of the date of the crime, it's probably forever seared into my memory. As my oldest was born, a poor little girl, not much more than a baby herself, was being buried after suffering such a violent death. And At Christmastime. So strange and awful.
And it's so hard for me to believe that was almost 15 years ago now...seems just like yesterday!
Sorry for the novel, on this, my first JBR forum post.