Ah, but if it makes perfect sense, then why is it that I read so many different versions from the posters here that are 100% convinced that Jonbenet died at the hands of her family.
Burke hit her on the head. John had been sexually molesting her and finally killed her to cover it up. Patsy killed her in a rage over bedwetting. Burke tied her up. John tied her up. Patsy tied her up. John wrote the letter. No, he dictated it. No, he slept through it while Patsy did it. Read the posts. There are so many versions, and thats one reason why I find it hard to make perfect sense out of it. If it makes perfect sense, it shouldn't be this muddled.
The facts that lead the RDI group to believe that she was killed by a family member are too numerous to list here. Precisely who hit her on the head with an object, or what the object was, continued to be argued back and forth with all sorts of theories until we learned that JR used the flashlight to put BR to bed, BR got up after everyone was asleep, BR had HiTech boots, Dr. Spitz demonstrated that the wiped-down flashlight was a match to the wound and that a 10 year old could easily inflict that kind of damage.
The autopsy report revealed 'chronic' sexual abuse and recent abuse but was unable to ID the culprit. That evidence along with all that confirms RDI lead to speculation as to who would have perpetrated these crimes against JBR. Little was known about BR and he was said to be asleep all night, so the speculation focused on the two adults. Some suggested JR was a child molester, some suggested PR was douching the child. The majority of child molesters are men, so naturally suspicion rested with JR. Then we see finally see BR in the early interviews from 18 years ago, the more recent interview on DP and his odd behavior combined with the books found in the house regarding sexually aggressive children and "Why Johnny Can't Tell Right From Wrong", which we add to the HiTech boots, the use of the wiped-down flashlight and sneaking downstairs in the night, the fecal smearing and the focus comes off of JR and points to BR in an "aha" moment. The change is due to more recently acquired information.
Theories are fluid and change when new information is acquired. This is true for all theories. It is especially true for us armchair sleuths who are privy to very limited information. Like that of any good detective, our theory changes as the investigation continues and more evidence is revealed. Surely, you would not expect any theory made in the first month should be held fast despite evidence that leads elsewhere.
Since PR's sweater/jacket fibers were found entwined in the cording, in the paint tray from which the noose stick came, and on the sticky side of the duct tape over the child's mouth, it is not unreasonable to suggest or even to state with authority that PR fashioned the noose and strangled the child. Absent any information regarding the DNA found on the cord, the logical conclusion is that PR applied the final insult to the child. Is anyone 100% sure? No. Is it more reasonable than not that PR did it? Yes, based on hard evidence.
However, we can not forget the evidence of fibers from JR's shirt found on JBR's body/underpants which could not happen from him carrying her dead body up the stairs. Does this mean he was present during the clean up or that the panties came into contact with his shirt? Impossible to tell. I tend to think that these fibers were, like the unidentified tDNA, simply artifacts.
It was long thought that the vaginal injuries observed as 'fresh' in autopsy were to cover up the chronic nature of the sexual molestation. Drs. Spitz and Lee discount any sexual assault at all. They discount any sexual motivation to the crime which may work to negate all theories regarding JR, BR or PR causing damage to JBR's vagina. Again, theories are fluid. A working theory based soley on the autopsy report must necessarily change if Dr.s Spitz's and Lee's opinions withstand vigorous cross exam.
No one ever thought JR wrote the letter as his handwriting was ruled out immediately. But, because of the "Listen carefully!" sentence, some thought that is was dictated and written literally and therefore JR was involved in the RN. Personally, as PR was the drama queen and JR the level headed pilot, I do not think JR had anything to do with the over-done RN other than maybe instructing PR to write one in a disguised handwriting. I am not even sure that JR knew anything until he awoke that morning. His part in the cover up may have started with a light-bulb moment when he realized that PR wrote the note or after he found the body. "It's an inside job", "I don't think he meant to kill her, he wrapped her in a blanket" seem to point to him realizing that someone in the house killed her and that 'he' did not do it intentionally. The only other male in the house was BR and no parent would ever think a perverted, sick, twisted intruder killed the child by accident..
Bottom line, there is no evidence that supports the intruder theory but mountains to support RDI. New evidence suggests that BDI is the most likely and most reasonable conclusion. It makes perfect sense and many of the puzzle pieces now fit. The details of exactly who did what, what part each member of the family played or who knew what and when may never be known. The Ramseys did not cooperate with LE then and still do not cooperate with LE to help solve the murder of JBR so many questions will remain. What we do know is that they lied.
What was it that smug Dr. Phaux told Terri Harmon just 2 days after the Ramsey show? "People with nothing to hide, hide nothing." I suppose that does not apply to the Ramseys, they hid plenty.
Some theories are more probable than not. Whether they rise to proof beyond a reasonable doubt is for the trier of fact after all admissible evidence is presented. We are not in that position, thus theories morphed along the way. In my opinion, the most reasonable conclusion is BDI and both parents conspired to thwart resolution. Seems the GJ thought the same.