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Death of a Beauty Queen: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey

Death of a Beauty Queen: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Katie Peppers and Kenita Jackson Forensic Chemistry: Spring 2009. Background. JonBenet Ramsey was found dead at age 6 in her Colorado home on Dec. 26, 1996 Parents were John and Patsy Ramsey Older brother Burke Ramsey age 9.

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Death of a Beauty Queen: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey

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  1. Death of a Beauty Queen: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey Katie Peppers and Kenita Jackson Forensic Chemistry: Spring 2009

  2. Background • JonBenet Ramsey was found dead at age 6 in her Colorado home on Dec. 26, 1996 • Parents were John and Patsy Ramsey • Older brother Burke Ramsey age 9

  3. JonBenet Ramsey http://caosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/pl_jonbenet_060817_ssv.jpg Ramsey Family i.cdn.turner.com/.../family-gallery-081806.jpg

  4. Background • Parents testified that JonBenet was in bed at 9:30 pm on December 25 • Patsy Ramsey awoke at 5:00 am • Found a ransom note • JonBenet is not in bedroom • Police are called at 5:25 am • Arrive 7 minutes later and no search of the premises is conducted at this time • Do not secure home as crime scene • Friends and family allowed to enter to be with the Ramseys

  5. Background • John Ramsey and detectives eventually conduct search of home and find JonBenet in basement at 1:05 pm • Daughter had been strangled and beaten • John Ramsey removes daughter from basement • The question becomes: Who Killed JonBenet?

  6. Case History • John and Patsy Ramsey were suspects from the beginning • Media speculation begins immediately as details are leaked to press • Boulder police department under fire for improper processing of a crime scene http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/03/article-1134823-053413B10000044D-519_468x286.jpg

  7. Case history • Cause of Death • Asphyxiation due to strangulation • Blunt force trauma to the skull • Time of death • Indicated using 3 common methods

  8. Case History • Time of death determined by: • The rate of advancement of rigor mortis (stiffening of muscles caused by chemical changes in muscle tissue after death) • Onset usually begins 2 to 4 hours after death. • Takes 6 to 12 hours to set in for entire body. • Dissipates after 24-36 hours • The rate of cooling • Normal body temp. is 96-degrees F and gradually decreases after death at approx. 1.5-degrees per hour (varies with room temperature, age and gender) • Determined by ambient temp. around the body and body size and clothing. • The odor of decomposition • Depends on room temperature and levels of bacteria and enzyme activity • For every 10 degree increase in room temp. the rate of decomposition doubles

  9. Case History • Time of death • Last seen at 10 pm on 12/25/1996 • Body found approx. 1:05 pm on 12/26/1996 • Advanced rigor mortis was already present when body was found • Time of death between 10pm on Dec. 25 and 6am on Dec. 26. • Based on the odor of decomposition, death probably occurred at the beginning of this time frame

  10. Case History • John, Patsy and Burke Ramsey • Media began circulating reports that the family was responsible for the death beginning as early as December 28, 1996 • Media lambasted Ramseys for “exploiting” daughter in beauty pageants • Parents maintained innocence and suggested the presence of intruder • 2000 released book “The Death of Innocence” • Libel suits brought against Fox Network for saying no evidence suggested intruder in a 2002 broadcast

  11. Evidence • Two theories • Intruder committed murder • Family committed murder • Evidence to support both

  12. Evidence • Ransom note • DNA trace on body and under fingernails • White synthetic cord and paint stick used as murder weapon • Broken/open basement window • Palm print found outside basement window • Baseball bat found with carpet fibers present • Abrasions from stun gun? • Footprint in basement • Pubic hair

  13. Evidence • Ransom note analysis • Handwriting analysis • Use comparison microscope • Need examples from suspects • Visual • Letter – curves, slants, size • Line –smooth, dark lines • Formatting - spacing • Individualizing evidence • If too many differences exist between the samples and ransom note than it is not a match http://www.miami-criminal-defense.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/jonbenet_ramsey_ransom_note.jpg

  14. Evidence • Many investigators believed that the Ramseys were responsible • Paper/pen found in Ramsey home • Wording indicated a “female” voice • $118,000 demand unusual • Amount of John Ramsey’s bonus • 3 pages in Length • Signed S.B.T.C?

  15. Evidence • Fingernail scrapings • Identified by Y-STR markers • Y chromosome short tandem repeats • Difficult to separate epithelial cells of males and females • Ideal method when victim is female and suspect is supposedly male • Use PCR to amplify and analyze • Not individualizing because all males of the same paternal line would have matching results • Same as mitochondrial analysis http://www.forensicmag.com/articles.asp?pid=140

  16. Evidence • DNA found underneath JonBenet’s fingernails was unidentified male DNA • Did not match father or brother • Pointed to possibility of intruder theory

  17. Evidence • DNA was found on the victim’s underwear • Analyzed by V-NTRs • Use specific restriction enzyme sites to compare suspects DNA to unknown sample from crime scene • DNA must be isolated from matrix • Measure quantity of DNA from sample • Amplify with PCR • Gel Electrophoresis to compare with reference samples • Results can be inclusive, exclusive or inconclusive • 1997 results were inconclusive

  18. Evidence • Pubic hair samples • Not individualizing • Match color, length, diameter • Use comparison microscope • Pubic hair at crime scene did not match any family members

  19. Evidence • Murder Weapon • Synthetic white cord that was tightened with a paint stick around child’s neck and wrists • Korea printed on stick • Several types of paint • Duct tape found on mouth • Removed by John Ramsey • No photos taken • Could not find any evidence that duct tape was from home • Need to have something to compare to under a microscope • Analyze adhesive backing by FTIR • Could have been useful if comparison sample was available

  20. Evidence • Open basement window • Point of entry for intruder? • Unidentified palm print found outside basement window • Did not match any family members • Stun gun marks? • Foot print made by Hi-tec stamped hiking boot found in dust in cellar • Did not belong to anyone in family • Baseball bat found outside with fibers matching carpet from basement

  21. Boot Basement window i.cdn.turner.com/.../PG-Basement-window.jpg www.tripleblaze.com/.../2008/10/hi-tec-boot.jpg Murder weapon i.cdn.turner.com/.../Gallery/PG-Garrote.jpg Stun gun http://www.spycentre.com/images/Air_Taser_Gun_Style.jpg

  22. Contamination of a Crime Scene • Police arrive around 5:40 am • Do not search home or treat as active crime scene • Friends and family are allowed to enter the home for hours until they find JonBenet • John Ramsey finds daughter • Removed from basement • Removed tape • Locard’s principle • Lack of crime scene photos • Only murder in Boulder for over a year

  23. Ramseys : guilty until Proven Innocent? • Media circus • Ridicule Ramseys for “exploiting” daughter in beauty pageants • Guilt indicated by “lawyering” up, not “cooperating” with police, and hiring a PR firm • All leaks to media • “staged” crime scene • “intentional” contamination of crime scene • No signs of forced entry http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060624/060624_patsy_ramsey_hmed_8a.hmedium.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10892646/&usg=__6M1eIuRPqlKTzKLSmZb3CuznW7Q=&h=273&w=375&sz=15&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=ZjFusNnEkgBCRM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djohn%2Band%2Bpatsy%2Bramsey%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS315US315%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

  24. Vindication? • 2003 • DNA profile of unknown male assailant • No match in database • 2004 • Patsy Ramsey dies from ovarian cancer • 2006 • John Mark Karr admitted to killing JBR • Was being held on child pornography charges • DNA did not match profile • Possible accomplice – handwriting possible match for ransom note • Charges eventually dropped

  25. Current • July 2008, Boulder District Attorney office releases statement that Ramseys are no longer suspects • New DNA technique • Touch DNA • Based on skin cells (7-8 cells) • Analyze what is left behind on victim or murder weapon • Use PCR • Fluorescent compound mixed with 13 specific locations on DNA • Guess work : Where was a victim touched?

  26. Current • As of February 2009 the new district attorney of Boulder, Colorado has reopened the case based on touch DNA evidence Nancy Grace Clip: Reopening JonBenet Ramsey Case

  27. Works Cited • http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/ramsey/evidence_2.html • http://forensicscience.suite101.com/article.cfm/forensic_evidence_in_the_ramsey_case • http://edition.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/18/ramsey.crimescene/index.html • http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/famous_crime/121/the_investigation/1/JonBenet_Ramsey.htm • www.dropshots.com/.../63223/20060816/173551.jpg

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