Burke did NOT kill JonBenet

Additionally, that skull fracture was not visible. So why, if you believe the parents are guilty, why did they assume she was dead from unconsciousness? Seriously, they could have called Dr Beuf and he would have helped them…
The coverup wasn’t about protecting Burke. It was to protect the secret of the SA of JonBenet.
The fracture was not visible. No blood was visible. And I do not think that they assumed that she was dead from the unconsciousness. Who would? I wouldn't. If I'd find an unconscious, I would ask what happened. After learning that she was hit hard on the head I would feel her head with my hands and fingers to see where the blow happened and if there was a huge bump or a visible bruise. One of my family member once fell and hit his head hard - the huge bump and bruise (bleeding under the scalp) got there within minutes. It would be normal for a parent to attend for a wound - if not visible, a parent (or any adult) would search for one. If you touch the scalp you can feel the fracture in the scalp with your fingers. Especially the dislocated part, or a hole in a scalp.
 
Beckner stated that the blow to the head would have kept her alive for some time, but would have killed her eventually.
I'm not aware of Beckner stating this. Kolar has stated the opposite, that with timely medical care, JBR could've made a full recovery.
 
I think that on finding JBs body, it would be very difficult for the parents not to react in away that didn't give away to BR that something catastrophic happened. He was almost 10 years old. I think even if they tried, he was old enough to understand the consequences of his actions. If he was the perpetrator, he knew better than anyone how hard he hit her.
I also think on discovering her, they would have had to suppress any emotion that would have given away the gravity of the situation. If the scream the neighbor heard wasn't JB, then it had to be PR. I'm trying to put myself in their place and I just discovered that my child had been killed, there's to much happening in this moment to jump immediately into mind games with Burke and no matter what mind games he was fed, he still hit her and was intelligent enough to know how hard, with what object, and how she succumbed to the blow. She was lifeless, she may have had a visible reaction like a death rattle and she urinated. Burke would still need to not admit these things to police even if the parents convinced him she was kidnapped. He would have needed to be coached all the same and deny everything just the same if he was to believe she was kidnapped or not Because every part of the night was going to be put under the scope of the investigation. IMHO.
I have always thought the item that caused the skull fracture was the brass giraffe . You can see it in the photo from the scene at the bottom of the spiral stair case. FWIW..imo
 
I'm not aware of Beckner stating this. Kolar has stated the opposite, that with timely medical care, JBR could've made a full recovery.
I am not arguing that it would have been impossible that JB could have made a full recovery. I'm just pointing out that there is a POSSIBILITY that she also may not have.

Beckner stated this in his 2015 AMA. Quoted from.
Mark Beckner:
We know from the evidence she was hit in the head very hard with an unknown object, possibly a flashlight or similar type item. The blow knocked her into deep unconsciousness, which could have led someone to believe she was dead. The strangulation came 45 minutes to two hours after the head strike, based on the swelling on the brain. While the head wound would have eventually killed her, the strangulation actually did kill her. The rest of the scene we believe was staged, including the vaginal trauma, to make it look like a kidnapping/assault gone bad. I have avoided saying who I believe is responsible and let the facts speak for themselves. There are several viable theories.
 
But why did the parents need to act in a way that it didn't give away to BR that something catastrophic happened? I also do not think at all that they acted that way. They must have been shocked and terrified of that situation and did not hide it. I also believe that Burke himself too was shocked and they all showed it, not hided it. I believe there was panic and terror in all of them. I never said that they tried to hide anything from Burke. They did not need to. And neither did Burke.
If it was an "accident" that happened - he just meant to hit her, not kill her. He saw her falling down to the ground after the blow and was scared that it happened. He must have been shocked and terrified himself too. Crying and panicking, trying to wake her up. He knew he hit her hard and told that to his parents after they came to the scene.
They never suppressed any of their emotions at that time. Why would they? It was an awful and unimaginable scene. Why would Patsy, John or any of them scream in this situation? It is possible.

I'm just saying that Burke, as a 9-year old, could have also thought differently - not immediately believing that yes now she must be dead, but thinking that maybe she is just unconscious at his parents will come and wake her up. I see that happening in a 9-year old's mind. Even I, as a parent, when I would come to a scene when my child has fallen down to the ground and my other child says that he hit her - I would not first assume the worst, that now she definitely is dead - I would also think that she is unconscious/ in a coma, or anything but dead. I do not think any parent who was not there when the blow to the head occurs, to see and witness the severity of the situation, would come to the scene and just assume that the child is dead. Not even if there was visible blood on the scene, witch there was not. There has to be something that makes you believe that your child is dead - you can not find her pulse , see a pool of blood or not feel her breathing.

I do not believe any mind games happened. Why should there have been? It was an scene of an accident. Parents did not witness the accident but heard from Burke what had happened and he explained it to them the way it did happened - he hit her hard on the head. They were all in shock - crying, screaming, yelling, saying sorry, asking questions, trying to wake her and etc - it is all possible. Burke told them that he hit her on the head and I see Patsy and/or John feeling her head with their fingers (as a parent would look for a bump) and by touching finding/feeling the fracture beneath her scull, understanding the severity of the situation for the first time - now they know that this is not just a hit on a head with an unconscious child, but rather a brain dead child who would never be herself again. The breathing must have been so shallow that they, in their panic, were not detecting it. The pulse must have been so weak that they could not feel it. Now they assume that their child is dead.

They send Burke away because he is panicking and crying, asking questions like "will she be ok?". They see that he needs to be consoled himself but as they are dealing with JB they are not able to deal with Burke, so they send him away and do not tell him that "you killed your sister" - why would they say that to their child? They loved JB and Burke. Burke went to bed without knowing if JB would wake up or not. And if his parents tell him that everything was fine and JB woke up later, a child believes his parents...

Anyway, I feel like my theory that I presented here is not seen as possible by many. I was hoping that by after all those years thinking about it writing it down here would help see things from another point of view, but I feel that maybe it does not serve this purpose. I'm not stating this all as the truth of what happened - it is just my theory and opinion that I see very possible. I do not want to defend it or explain why I think so over and over again...
Sorry. No more questions on theories.
 
Personally, I don't see how or why Burke would not connect the dots. JonBenet is gone, in Heaven with Beth as his father told him. And he is supposedly the one who delivered the blow to the head. How does he not recognize that he is responsible? Even if his parents tell him he wasn't and that she woke up later, and then something else happened that caused her death? It just seems a little far fetched IMO. Burke was a smart kid.

I also believe that Patsy was so enmeshed with JonBenet and the pageant stuff, she and her mother & sisters had her on the trajectory to be Miss America. The Holy Grail of pageantry in those days. A title that had eluded two of the sisters in their heyday. It was so important to them, to Patsy, it was an all consuming obsession despite the Ramseys protestations that it wasn't. We have seen the lengths to which Patsy would go with JonBenet, her concerns were more centered around anything that might have a negative effect on her chances of winning, rather than the well being of her child. Patsy exhibited signs of being as narcissistic as John. I very much believe her "love" for JonBenet was inextricably interwoven with the pageant stuff and her potential to win it all to which end Patsy was completely and overwhelmingly invested in. If it was Burke who took that from her I don't see how she would not have felt resentment and perhaps even a level of hatred for him. He took away her "baby" whom she was grooming in her own image....he took away her dream.

Burke would likely have recognized this. JonBenet was the "golden child", Patsy's ticket to some sort of immortality.....she was described by people who were involved in the pageant circuit as the "ultimate stage mother". This is what Burke grew up with. He witnessed first hand his mother's obsession. The knowledge that you destroyed your mother's dreams would be hard to live with, a heavy burden to bear for a young child.

For me a big part of the puzzle is the SA and John's potential involvement. Discovering that and having knowledge of that would be also seen as a threat to her dream. The potential for JonBenet's recovery from the head blow is a complete unknown, but given the severity of the wound some sort of permanent deficit definitely would've been on the table. But the SA also played a part in what ultimately happened too. There was a lot at risk had that been discovered, which had they gotten her medical intervention it surely would have been. I believe it was Cyril Wecht who put forth that John would've probably immediately been arrested. That simply could not have been allowed to happen, at any cost. I

IMO Patsy wrote the ransom note. And within the words that it contains one gets a very distinct feeling of contempt for John, which fits perfectly with some of the feelings Patsy might have for him at that moment in time. But without saying who I feel was the perpetrator of the head blow (you can probably guess by now I do not think it was Burke), I think the cover up was seen as a necessity in order to protect both parents from the unthinkable.....knowledge of the SA and responsibility for the death or perhaps permanent disability of JonBenet all of which would have destroyed their "perfect" life.

Over the years of studying this case I have at various times been convinced that it was BDI, PDI, JDI. The only thing I am 100% convinced of overall is that RDI and there was no intruder. We all have our opinions as to who was the perpetrator and our reasons why. Without undeniable evidentiary proof, our opinions will remain just opinions, no matter how well thought out and reasoned they are. I think what is important when thinking about this case is to keep an open mind, try to source as much available information as possible, don't go down bottomless rabbit holes that prevent keeping that open mind. I have been fascinated by this case for many years, and I am constantly still learning things that I did not previously know. We have been called "amateur sleuths", "armchair detectives", you name it. There are some on the various internet sites and forums who have actual experience in the different aspects that are involved in this case, and I very much value their input as they speak from the perspective of knowledge. There is currently a lot of renewed interest in this case as a result of the Netflix show and all the interviews JR has been doing. And while I think that the Netflix show was clearly biased by leaving out a lot of known information instead of presenting a more balanced view (and I look at that as a missed opportunity to educate), it has brought the case into the limelight again. What to me remains as being the most important is justice for JonBenet who at the end of the day is the true victim. Will we ever get there? We just don't know. Perhaps someday, when some of the powerful players in this case are no longer around, someone will feel that they can speak up. Until then we share ideas and venture forth our opinions, try to wade through the rumors and oft repeated misinformation. It isn't about having to defend one's opinion, it's an attempt to search for the truth. Putting forth the opinions is part of the process.
 
I apologize, I did not mean to be rude in any way. I may have gotten a little carried away, sorry. I'm always open for a friendly discussion and happy to theorize. Your comments are interesting to read and I like to think along with them.
No worries. We all get a little passionate about our theories.
Guilty here for sure! I hope I'm gentle in my debates. Sometimes, I realize I'm quickly getting a thought down and don't always finesse my thoughts due to my crazy schedules. I thoroughly enjoy your content and hope one day we can learn the answers to this mind bending case! Happy New Year!
 
It has been a long time since I have caught up on the evidence. Last I heard the blue pants in JBRs bathroom may have been BRs. Do you know if the DNA was ever tested? The amount of evidence in this case is overwhelming.
The more I dig the more my suspicions go against BDI. The paintbrush used in the ligature had not been whittled. There is no forensic evidence on that ligature, clothing, body that points to Burke. There is one sample of his DNA on the Barbie nightgown, Is is possible BDI. Yes, but which part or all?
That’s the issue for me. Assult on neck (twisting of collar producing that large triangular shaped abrasion on her neck) SA (there were microscopic traces of “birefringent material” - much attributed to a paintbrush. However forensic experts I have read cite glove as most commonly associated with that material. Patsys fibers in paintbox, ligature ..
Etc. Etc.
All the solid evidence my cursory understanding of belongs to Patsy and John and JAR. Fibers, fingerprints, DNA…
Don’t know about the blue underwear. But it seems like JB wore pink and Burke wore blue.
I'm not aware of Beckner stating this. Kolar has stated the opposite, that with timely medical care, JBR could've made a full recovery.
The whole time line of this murder is iffy. But JB would have lived given medical care. There are numerous scenarios that could be imagined about which came first. Was there a time lapse between skull fracture and strangulation?
Why and how long? If not, why?

Who did what when? The one thing that gets me is the large abrasion on JB neck - the triangle shaped one attributed to someone grabbing a collar and twisting it into her neck. From Wechts book this type of assult and its physical consequences are well documented and common.
Was that the beginning? Who knows that technique? That looks like an assault where the perp and JB were facing each other. The fracture to her skull was made when JB was standing or sitting (?) struck from the back? Or front?
Questions….
 
No worries. We all get a little passionate about our theories.
Guilty here for sure! I hope I'm gentle in my debates. Sometimes, I realize I'm quickly getting a thought down and don't always finesse my thoughts due to my crazy schedules. I thoroughly enjoy your content and hope one day we can learn the answers to this mind bending case! Happy New Year
The fracture was not visible. No blood was visible. And I do not think that they assumed that she was dead from the unconsciousness. Who would? I wouldn't. If I'd find an unconscious, I would ask what happened. After learning that she was hit hard on the head I would feel her head with my hands and fingers to see where the blow happened and if there was a huge bump or a visible bruise. One of my family member once fell and hit his head hard - the huge bump and bruise (bleeding under the scalp) got there within minutes. It would be normal for a parent to attend for a wound - if not visible, a parent (or any adult) would search for one. If you touch the scalp you can feel the fracture in the scalp with your fingers. Especially the dislocated part, or a hole in a scalp.



I am not arguing that it would have been impossible that JB could have made a full recovery. I'm just pointing out that there is a POSSIBILITY that she also may not have.

Beckner stated this in his 2015 AMA. Quoted from.
Mark Beckner:
From what I have gleaned so far, JB could have made a full recovery if medical attention have been given. But it wasn’t. This is if you believe the skull fracture came first.

Wecht (from his book “Who Killed Jon Benet”) believed that the blow to the head came when JB was near death. This was because the fracture was so severe that it should have caused massive internal bleeding in the skull. But JB had very very little bleeding because she had no or very little, heartbeat.
I am combing over Wechts book. There are some very interesting items;
Meyer/DAd office had fought to Colorado Supreme Court to withhold autopsy reports to public. The reports were released piecemeal. Apparently this is unusual.
I don’t know what happened - but when combing through the hard facts and reading y’all’s opinions maybe a better understanding can emerge. Cause this frickin murder just eats at me on so many levels…
 
The fracture was not visible. No blood was visible. And I do not think that they assumed that she was dead from the unconsciousness. Who would? I wouldn't. If I'd find an unconscious, I would ask what happened. After learning that she was hit hard on the head I would feel her head with my hands and fingers to see where the blow happened and if there was a huge bump or a visible bruise. One of my family member once fell and hit his head hard - the huge bump and bruise (bleeding under the scalp) got there within minutes. It would be normal for a parent to attend for a wound - if not visible, a parent (or any adult) would search for one. If you touch the scalp you can feel the fracture in the scalp with your fingers. Especially the dislocated part, or a hole in a scalp.

I don't think we can pin point when the blow happened and when she was found to assume he wasn't entirely responsible or partially responsible.
I've heard theories for the ligature being applied prior, theories that she was deceased when it was applied, and the theory that it was a mercy kill.
These details really muddy the water unfortunately. I think even those who think BDI disagree as to how all the events played out. My theory is that what ever happened, there was a reason fir the cover up. This could be for several different scenerios.
I agree. Walking in mud for sure.

Just finished/combed through Wechts book and he has different theories. Solid, but different.
But which part was the cover up? The strangulation? Which killed her. If you believe Wecht that was an accident. But then why the skull fracture?
The Grand Jury stated in the indictments that both parents KNOWINGLY placed JB in a dangerous environment.
Thst implies “history” to me. Some reason(s) that they both were aware of, but ignored. I don’t necessarily believe this totally points to Burke. As others have pointed out - it could just mean the GJ indicted both parents because they were unsure which parent was responsible,
 
Yes. It frickin defies imagination the amount of coaching etc etc that kid would have had to endure. To keep a secret.
In considering this case and its evolution, IMO if that was the scenario and required ‘coaching’ and other handling…… from what it seems the R family utilized from the beginning with attorneys, ‘orchestrated’ interviews, avoidance, and public relations matters - this seems entirely plausible. MOO
 
In considering this case and its evolution, IMO if that was the scenario and required ‘coaching’ and other handling…… from what it seems the R family utilized from the beginning with attorneys, ‘orchestrated’ interviews, avoidance, and public relations matters - this seems entirely plausible. MO

Evolution “
Exactly. Wonder if he has the same (seemingly) budget as before.
His contacts and influence have not wavered, for 28 years. But for all the money he has spent, the Ramsey team has kept out of prosecution. Yet, their best defense is DNA.

The murder of Jon Benet Ramsey remains big business.
 
Evolution “
Exactly. Wonder if he has the same (seemingly) budget as before.
His contacts and influence have not wavered, for 28 years. But for all the money he has spent, the Ramsey team has kept out of prosecution. Yet, their best defense is DNA.

The murder of Jon Benet Ramsey remains big business.
Agree with all except DNA as a best defense, and big business. IMO the ‘DNA’ is simply further obfuscation. This entire case has been stonewalled from the outset. Confusion, distraction, and obfuscation.

And IMO the Boulder DA office didn’t do any favors in the interest of justice for a young child that died under odd circumstances. And to have gone against the GJ recommended indictments. SMH. Four people entered the residence that evening / early morning. And by the next morning only three remained. It’s quite clear IMO what happened.

Lastly, IMO ‘big business’ is simply big money. So unfortunate in the case of a child that ‘died’ in her own home. SMH. MOO
 
Agree with all except DNA as a best defense, and big business. IMO the ‘DNA’ is simply further obfuscation. This entire case has been stonewalled from the outset. Confusion, distraction, and obfuscation.

And IMO the Boulder DA office didn’t do any favors in the interest of justice for a young child that died under odd circumstances. And to have gone against the GJ recommended indictments. SMH. Four people entered the residence that evening / early morning. And by the next morning only three remained. It’s quite clear IMO what happened. MOO
DNA as it pertains to the defense Ramsey is dishing out. Agree that “ “DNA is further obfuscation” Absolutely!

What was going on in Boulder that the justice for horrific murder of a child was the not the primary
objective? Was Lockheed running the show? Steve Thomas was harassed and so was Linda Arndt.
Even just recently watched an interview with Mike Kane and he seemed really uncomfortable talking about this case….inferring maybe too much here -but ya gotta wonder…

I would be interested to know what you think happened. I believe the family is responsible but have reached a dead end after that.
 
DNA as it pertains to the defense Ramsey is dishing out. Agree that “ “DNA is further obfuscation” Absolutely!

What was going on in Boulder that the justice for horrific murder of a child was the not the primary
objective? Was Lockheed running the show? Steve Thomas was harassed and so was Linda Arndt.
Even just recently watched an interview with Mike Kane and he seemed really uncomfortable talking about this case….inferring maybe too much here -but ya gotta wonder…

I would be interested to know what you think happened. I believe the family is responsible but have reached a dead end after that.
Thank you @AddieBoo ….. yes, so true. And unfortunately what I think happened doesn’t matter. If I was perhaps an investigator in the Boulder, CO police department or the Boulder DA office it might. And I am not at all trying to be clipt. This entire case is just beyond frustrating. And even more so the way the authorities with a stake in it have handled it, and they way it was allowed to be ‘handled’.

I agree too with your last sentence entirely. I believe the individual that wrote the note has since passed on. And I believe that individual(s) that might have helped to craft it remain. And I also strongly believe that the Boulder police department, the district attorneys office, and the former DA and the current DA have talked to those responsible for the death of JBR on multiplie occasions. MOO
 
Thank you @AddieBoo ….. yes, so true. And unfortunately what I think happened doesn’t matter. If I was perhaps an investigator in the Boulder, CO police department or the Boulder DA office it might. And I am not at all trying to be clipt. This entire case is just beyond frustrating. And even more so the way the authorities with a stake in it have handled it, and they way it was allowed to be ‘handled’.

I agree too with your last sentence entirely. I believe the individual that wrote the note has since passed on. And I believe that individual(s) that might have helped to craft it remain. And I also strongly believe that the Boulder police department, the district attorneys office, and the former DA and the current DA have talked to those responsible for the death of JBR on multiplie occasions. MOO
Ok. Well that’s a big ol stone in the pond…
I respect your boundaries but remain intrigued.
Nevertheless hope to continue reading your thoughts on this case…despite snd irregardless of the monumental frustrations….
Cheers @iamnotSherlockH
 
Personally, I don't see how or why Burke would not connect the dots. JonBenet is gone, in Heaven with Beth as his father told him. And he is supposedly the one who delivered the blow to the head. How does he not recognize that he is responsible? Even if his parents tell him he wasn't and that she woke up later, and then something else happened that caused her death? It just seems a little far fetched IMO. Burke was a smart kid.
Well, it is debatable weather he could have believed it or not. Sure he could have been able to connect the dots at 9-years-old, but it also could be that he did believe his parents and believed that JB was fine and woke up and all was fine. At least at the time when all this was just a kidnapping.
I had a similar situation with kittens at the same age of 9. My cat had killed her kittens soon after their birth. I was saw them born but was sent away for that weekend and after I came home by my parents told me that they found another home for them. At 9, I did not connect the dots that the kittens were too small to be given away. It was many years later that I learned what had actually happened and I was shocked and even angry at my parents for lying, although they just wanted me to not feel sad at that time and not be angry/afraid of my cat. Of course it is nothing like the case here and I do not compare, but thinking about it helps me to believe that Burke also could just believed his parents when it all happened and it was only a kidnapping - that JB woke up, they all went to bed and all was normal.
When he was at the Whites house in the morning, he could have told Fleet's son about the "accident" that happened, and that mom and dad said everything was fine. Fleet learned that JB suffered a massive head trauma and could also connect the dots with what Burke had talked about previously. That also could be reason for the fall out with the Ramsey's. IMO

I think that later in his life (maybe quite soon after) he must have connected the dots even if his parents told him otherwise. When he learned that JB was dead there must have been questions, if not asked then in his head. John, Patsy and lawyers could just have told him that he is not responsible in any way and he is never allowed to discuss the head blow or say to anyone that he had hit her. That would be all the coaching he would need.

It could be far fetched, but I see it as a possibility.
If it was Burke who took that from her I don't see how she would not have felt resentment and perhaps even a level of hatred for him. He took away her "baby" whom she was grooming in her own image....he took away her dream.
Burke was still their son. Many have theorized that this is the reason why the cover up took place - they just lost one child and could not risk losing the other one too. And, if they hadn't protected him and just had gone and told everyone that Burke killed his sister - how would that serve them and their reputation? If Burkes medical records are sealed for a reason, there also might be guilt - if there was a chance that they could have predicted for something like this to happen they just could feel that they are responsible too, not just Burke. We do not know that there wasn't resentment or hard conversations about it that the public just does not know about. There might have been consequences that remain a family matter. Public does not know how warm their family relationships actually were after all this. We have only seen some family photos that are posed for the public.

Over the years of studying this case I have at various times been convinced that it was BDI, PDI, JDI. The only thing I am 100% convinced of overall is that RDI and there was no intruder. We all have our opinions as to who was the perpetrator and our reasons why. Without undeniable evidentiary proof, our opinions will remain just opinions, no matter how well thought out and reasoned they are. I think what is important when thinking about this case is to keep an open mind, try to source as much available information as possible, don't go down bottomless rabbit holes that prevent keeping that open mind. I have been fascinated by this case for many years, and I am constantly still learning things that I did not previously know. We have been called "amateur sleuths", "armchair detectives", you name it. There are some on the various internet sites and forums who have actual experience in the different aspects that are involved in this case, and I very much value their input as they speak from the perspective of knowledge. There is currently a lot of renewed interest in this case as a result of the Netflix show and all the interviews JR has been doing. And while I think that the Netflix show was clearly biased by leaving out a lot of known information instead of presenting a more balanced view (and I look at that as a missed opportunity to educate), it has brought the case into the limelight again. What to me remains as being the most important is justice for JonBenet who at the end of the day is the true victim. Will we ever get there? We just don't know. Perhaps someday, when some of the powerful players in this case are no longer around, someone will feel that they can speak up. Until then we share ideas and venture forth our opinions, try to wade through the rumors and oft repeated misinformation. It isn't about having to defend one's opinion, it's an attempt to search for the truth. Putting forth the opinions is part of the process.
Of course there are other possibilities - SA could have played part in this crime and cover up. I'm not saying they are not connected, many believe that they are and any one of us could be right or wrong. But... I guess I somehow like to believe a theory that is somewhat different. Let's call it having an open mind. :) I'm too convinced that RDI and when we agree on that then I believe we are already on for the truth. What we should stand against is the fictional intruder theory. Sadly, I do not believe that we will ever learn exactly what happened and who was responsible for what... Thank you for sleuthing, I love reading your takes on this case! :)
 

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