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JonBenet: Bribery Charge (12/21/99)
(source: People Magazine Online)
An editor of the Globe supermarket tabloid was arrested Monday after being indicted on extortion and bribery charges for his efforts to obtain info about the JonBenet Ramsey murder case (which marks its third anniversary this week). Craig Lewis, 44, is accused of offering $30,000 for a copy of the ransom note that JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, reported finding hours before her daughter was found dead. He faces up to nine years in prison if convicted. A jail officer said he was released on $5,000 bond after he turned himself in. "Mr. Lewis has done nothing wrong," said his lawyer, Jeffrey Pagliuca.

Ramseys: The Book (11/18/99)
(source: People Magazine Online)
The parents of JonBenet Ramsey say they hope the investigation into their 6-year-old daughter's 1996 murder continues -- and that publication of their forthcoming book (due in March) helps fuel it. "If the publicity from this book keeps it hot, keeps it on the minds and on the forefront of the public, great," Patsy Ramsey told Nashville's WSMV-TV in an interview broadcast Tuesday night. "Because somewhere out there is a killer and we're going to find out who that is." A grand jury last month ended its 13-month investigation without an indictment, but Colorado authorities say the Ramseys remain under suspicion. Authorities also acknowledge that they have little money left to continue the investigation.

Ramseys: The Movie (11/18/99)
(source: People Online)
In other news of the Ramseys, Kris Kristofferson has signed up to play a detective in an upcoming CBS miniseries about the JonBenet case. Along with Kristofferson, the miniseries will star Marg Helgenberger ("China Beach") and Ronny Cox ("Beverly Hills Cop") as JonBenet's parents, the network announced. Six-year-old Dyanne Iandoli will play the 6-year-old beauty queen victim. Production on "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," based on the book of the same name by journalist Lawrence Schiller, began production last week. The air date has yet to be announced.

10/26/99 Colorado Governor Owens addresses the Jon Benet Ramsey case....

. . . Given the unique facts and history of the JonBenet Ramsey case, many Coloradans - and indeed, many citizens from across America - have urged me to intervene in this case. To help me weigh these competing considerations, I asked a team of seven legal experts - including experienced prosecutors from both political parties, the attorney general of Colorado, my own chief legal counsel, and the former chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court - to help me review the law and the evidence in this case. My decision reflects their advice, as well as conversations I have had with many other people connected with this case. But let me stress that this decision is mine and mine alone. In approaching the Ramsey case, one question has guided me: Will my appointment of a special prosecutor at this stage of the investigation help bring the killers of JonBeneÚt to justice? Or will my appointment of a special prosecutor at this stage of the case make it harder to win a conviction? Ladies and gentlemen, any unsolved crime of violence tears at the fabric of our society, none more so than the murder of a child. This particular case presents a special threat to the public's respect for our criminal justice system. The killers in this case made some serious mistakes, but they are also very smart. They have stonewalled effectively and covered their tracks well. And the legal burden that the prosecution must satisfy - proving guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt'' - is a difficult standard to meet in this case at this time. Add to this the fact that from the very first day, the Ramsey tragedy has been subjected to an almost unprecedented amount of media cpverage. In the face of this media blitz, the initial handling of the Ramsey case certainly failed to inspire public confidence. As someone who was watching the case from the outside, what I sensed back then I now know to be true: The conduct of the Ramsey investigation at that time was far from perfect. We may never know if any of those initial mistakes were serious enough to affect the outcome of this case. Yet there can be little doubt that the Ramsey case will be harder to prove in court because of the way it was handled during those early months. In the months since (Boulder District Attorney) Alex Hunter recruited them, Mike Kane, Mitch Morrissey and Bruce Levin have effectively served as "special prosecutors'' in this case. Both they and District Attorney Hunter have assured me they will continue on the case. Under Colorado law, the prosecution may bring charges at any time - without the need for a grand jury indictment. During my own review of the Ramsey case, I have learned that substantial new evidence - including evidence that did not originate in the grand jury proceedings - is presently being analyzed and will continue to be analyzed by the prosecution team. I will not comment on the nature of that evidence, either now or in the future. I will say this: The right people are now working the Ramsey case, and they are working together as a team. And based on the evidence available to me, they are now targeting the right murder suspects. For these reasons - and with the unanimous support of my legal advisory team - I have decided not to appoint a special prosecutor at this time. Finally, to the killers of JonBenet Ramsey, let me say this: You only think you have gotten away with murder. There is strong evidence to suggest who you are; I believe that the investigators are moving closer to proving their case. They will keep pursuing you. And I am confident that each day brings us closer to the day when you will reap what you have sown.

December 23, 1996: The Ramseys host a Christmas party, with 100 guests attending, and with former journalism professor Bill McReynolds playing Santa Claus. At 6:47 p.m., someone attending the party placed a 911 call, which was answered by police dispatcher Therese Hilleary. The caller hung up without saying anything; police call back only to get the Ramseys' anwering machine. Officer "B.O. 266" goes to the home at 6:54 p.m. and leaves at 7:09 p.m.
December 24: The Ramseys attend twilight service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder. At 9 p.m., John Ramsey gets a new silver bike kept in neighbor Joe Barnhill's garage and places under the Christmas tree for JonBenét.
December 25: JonBenét is sent to bed at about 8:30 p.m. The family had plans to fly to Michigan early the next morning. Sometime before dawn, JonBenét is killed; her skull is fractured, she is strangled with a cord, duct tape is put over her mouth, and her body is dragged downstairs to a small room in the basement. She is wrapped in a blanket, with her feet taped together and her head uncovered and her arms above her head.
December 26: Patsy Ramsey calls the police at 5:22 a.m., ahouting "send help!" and saying that her daughter is missing and that a 2½-page ransom note demanding $118,000 had been left by the kidnapper on the steps of the back stairs leading to the kitchen.
The note begins: "Dear Mr. Ramsey, We have your daughter..." and includes the words "behead" and "attaché." It was printed in block letters and has neat margins. It also makes reference to a Navy air base in the Philippines where John Ramsey had served. Four misspellings in the note appear to be intentional. Patsy Ramsey screams for John and they check Burke's room, but JonBenét is not in there. Patsy begins to phone friends.
Police arrive at 5:35 a.m. and perform a cursory search of the premises. They contact the FBI and begin make plans to deal with the kidnapper. A detective did not arrive until two hours later. Friends began gathering at the home. At 7:30 a.m., John Ramsey obtains the cash for the $118,000 ransom. FBI agents arrive at 10:30 a.m. and set up a wiretap and recording equipment. Around 1:00 p.m., police suggest that John Ramsey search the house to look for clues. At 1:30 p.m., John Ramsey and his friend Fleet White discover JonBenét's body in the basement. The door to the room was stuck, which is why the police said they had not checked it earlier. There is no window in the room. Another window in the basement was found open with a chair underneath. John Ramsey removes the tape from her mouth and carries her upstairs, where he layed her on the floor by the Christmas tree. Guests began trying to revive her. The Boulder County coronor's staff removed the body from the house 10:45 p.m.
December 27: The Boulder County coroner reported that an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide.
December 28: Detectives inspect the body for evidence of semen, blood and saliva, and take blood, hair and handwriting samples from the Ramseys and their relatives and friends.
December 29: A memorial service is held for JonBenét at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder.
December 30: The family takes the body by private jet to Atlanta, where they used to live. It is also reported that the Ramseys have retained Bryan Morgan and their attorney, and that JonBenet's two older half-siblings, John Andrew (who lived at the Ramsey home) and Melinda, were out of town on the night of the murder. A press conference is held by Leslie Aaholm, city of Boulder spokeperson.
December 31: JonBenet is buried at a cemetary in Marietta, Georgia, her birthplace, next to her half-sister Elizabeth, she had been killed at the age of 22 in a car accident in 1992.

January 1997

January 1, 1997: John and Patsy Ramsey appear in an interview on CNN and state that they are not the killers and that "there is a killer on the loose." They also say that they have hired their own investigators (Ellis Armistead and David Williams) and were offering a $50,000-reward for information on the killer. It is reported that Patsy Ramsey has retained defense attorney Patrick Burke. Boulder detectives go to Georgia to interview relatives, friends, and associates of the family.
January 2: It is reported that JonBenet had been sexually assaulted. In response to Patsy's comment on CNN, Boulder Mayor Leslie Durgin made a statement denying that there was a killer on the loose in Boulder.
January 3: The Ramseys return to Boulder and begin staying in the homes of family friends. The family hires media consultant Pat Korten, from Washington, D.C., to handle inquiries from the press. It is reported that there was forced entry into the Ramsey's home and that as many as 15 people had keys to the house. Durgin states in a press conference that thirty police had been assigned to the case.
January 4: Police complete 10 days of evidence-gathering at the house. It was reported that the note had been written on a legal pad found inside the house and also contained a warning that the Ramseys prepare for a rigorous ordeal. It was also reported that the Ramsey's security system was not operating at the time of the murder.
January 5: Police submit a list of written questions to John and Patsy Ramsey and begin searching the Ramsey vacation home in Charlevoix, Michigan. Lead investigator Sgt. Larry Mason is reassigned, supposedly because of leaks to the media.
January 5: Pat Korten arranges a photo opportunity for the media when the parents and son Burke attend Sunday church service in Boulder.
January 6: A school-wide assembly is held at High Peaks Elementary School to inform the students about the murder. Meanwhile, detectives return from gathering information in Georgia. The Colorado Daily reports that the police had searched the windowless room earlier than John Ramsey and that the body was not there at that time. The media attempt to use legal means to obtain information about evidence removed from the house.
January 7: Boulder District Judge Diane McDonald seals all documents, including the search warrant, relating to the case for 30 days. A Michigan judge seals the search warrant for the vacation home. It is reported that investigators had found a small portion of a "practice" ransom note in the house, which was produced using the same pen and pad of paper.
January 8: The Ramseys provide written reponses to the questions submitted by investigators. It is reported that detectives in Michigan are looking for any information documenting threats to the Ramseys.
January 9: It is reported that a cord tied around JonBenét's right wrist matched the cord around her neck. Police Chief Tom Koby announces at a press conference that the investigation has narrowed, but does not name suspects. The Rocky Mountain News reported that police did not search the room where the body was found the morning of the 26th.
January 10: It is reported that the 911 call made during the Ramsey's party three days before the murder was a nonemergency call accidentally made by an inebriated guest.
January 11: The Globe obtains stolen photos of the body and the crime scene.
January 12: Local stores announce they will refuse to sell the Globe edition containing the stolen photographs.
January 13: The photos appear in the Globe. The Boulder coroner sues to stop publication of further photographs.
January 14: It is reported that the Ramseys have hired their own handwriting analysts to evaluate the ransom note, along with former-FBI agent, John Douglas, known for his work in in profiling criminals. The Globe agrees not to publish additional photographs, but retains rights to those that were published.
January 15: Lawrence Shawn Smith, an employee of Photo Craft Laboratories, Inc., the photo lab that processed the crime scene photos, is arrested, along with Brett Allen Sawyer, a Boulder private investigator and former Boulder County Sheriff's deputy, in connection with the stolen photos.
January 21: It is reported that investigators have provided a copy of the ransom note to the Ramseys. Police state that the $118,000 demanded in the ransom note is the amount received recently as a bonus by John Ramsey.
January 22: An attorney for John Ramsey stated that the District Attorney had reported that JonBenét had not been abused; however, the DA's office responded that it had made no statement "one way or the other'' on the subject. It is reported that the Ramsey family has been asked to take polygraph tests,and that the family had refused.
January 24: Burke Ramsey returns to school. Police have collected handwriting samples from employees of Access Graphics.

February 1997

February 12: It is reported that police obtained hair and blood samples from Bill McReynolds (Santa Claus).
February 14: A Boulder County judge seals portions of the autopsy report unsealed for 90 days or until a suspect is arrested.
February 15-16: Detectives return to Atlanta to conduct additional interviews.
February 19: Ramsey media consultant Pat Korten states that investigators have requested a third handwriting sample from John Ramsey. February 25: A judge orders case documents sealed for another 90 days or until an arrest is made. Pat Korten states that police appear to view John Ramsey as the main suspect.
February 26: It is announced that investigators have interviewed Patsy's friends and relatives in West Virginia, where she grew up.
February 27: Alex Hunter, Boulder District Attorney, says police are checking John Andrew's alibi

March 1997

March 6: It is announced that both John Andrew and Melinda Ramsey have been cleared as suspects.