25 years ago JonBenet Ramsey was murdered. Who do you think most likely did it?

An accident within the family

It was an accident in the house.

I doubt it was John.
It was either Patsy or Burke. I lean more towards Burke.

There was no intruder. No crime before or since can be linked to it. No one's been running around terrorizing Boulder.

It was an accident in the house.

I doubt it was John.
It was either Patsy or Burke. I lean more towards Burke.

There was no intruder. No crime before or since can be linked to it. No one's been running around terrorizing Boulder.

Agreed on all accounts. There are just way too many inconsistencies with the whole “intruder” theory for me. The ransom note in and of itself is enough evidence to me that it was an inside job. The way that Patsy changed the way she wrote the letter “A” for the rest of her life immediately following the crime is just so telling to me. She most definitely wrote the note. I think Burke killed her in a fit of rage and the parents covered up the crime.

Burke accidentally injured her in some way and then her parents (or at least her mom) staged everything else in order to keep the public at large from finding out just how f***ed up he really was.

This thread (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=118478&highlight=jonbenet) makes for interesting reading there (and expands upon Burke's "issues")

"I'm not sure whether his parents ignored his issues & swept them under the rug, or chose to remain ignorant in an effort to preserve the illusion their family was 'perfect', but either way, it's obvious Burke was (and probably still is) one f***ed up kid.

Occam's Razor would have him seriously injuring her in some way. Given the fact the autopsy lists strangulation as the cause of death, I think he probably knocked her out initially (feel free to correct me here if I'm wrong).

If the Ramsays would've taken her to the hospital and it eventually got out Burke was responsible, Patsy's illusion of the 'perfect family' would've been shattered I'm sure. The thought of being mired in such shame & scandal was totally inconceivable to her and so she went off the deep end and actually killed Jon Benet.

As many criminals failed to do though, Patsy didn't think this through. Fashioning a garrote using one of her own paintbrushes, writing a three page ransom note, mentioning a ransom amount that would only be known to John, his employer and his family and then leaving that note in an obscure location of the home used only by the family are dead giveaways IMO.

The sloppy, incompetent response on the part of the police to me, means that other things like DNA, footprints, the pineapple, are red herrings (the pineapple could've set Burke off, sure, but the mere presence of it in Jon Benet's body and how long it had been there is of little consequence) "

I agree with everything said so far. I believe Burke killed her on accident or snapped and the parents didn't want to lose both kids, so they covered it up. Eventually, the cops covered up for the Ramsay's.

I can't picture any of the family putting a garret around the the little girls neck. What was so terrible to me that the crime scene had people walking all around. The minute the child was found, the police should have order everyone out. Everyone out.

Detective Joe Kenda of "Homicide Hunter" fame was approached after he retired from Colorado Springs P.D. by Boulder Colorado P.D. to come out of retirement and take over the case. Joe Kenda has the national record of highest percentage of homicide cases solved, 92%. And some of the "unsolved" ones he knows who did it but had a lack of evidence or suspects passed away. He stated on a cruise that he took many of the files home and read through them. He returned all the files and said "You'll never get a conviction, the investigation was bumbled from the very start." He then went on to say he firmly believes it was a family member but the horrible investigation that was done will prevent a conviction from ever coming.

I can't picture any of the family putting a garret around the the little girls neck.

I don’t think anyone in the house did that for their own sick pleasure. It was done to deflect off anyone in the house to get your exact reaction.

You want to protect your family, but once one of them is dead, the priority goes to the living. If others in the house are now facing jail time, defiling the dead might be a necessary evil. Then people think, a family member wouldn’t have done that. Mission accomplished.

Burke accidentally killed her. The next door neighbor witnessed him swing a golf club at JonBenet the previous year, barely missing her face. An inch closer and he could have killed her then. The kid needed therapy then and nothing was done about it.

For me, the biggest question is when or if the Ramseys ever made it known to Burke that his sister died at his hand. Being young, you might have been able to convince him at first. Eventually, he might have started asking questions and the parents would convince him that they knew it was a tragic accident and this must be kept secret.

Whatever the case, Burke was a messed up kid who's creepiness was still apparent as an adult when he did that Doctor Phil interview a couple years ago. His family is extremely wealthy so they can keep him hidden from public and the less people he's around, the better.

Detective Joe Kenda of "Homicide Hunter" fame was approached after he retired from Colorado Springs P.D. by Boulder Colorado P.D. to come out of retirement and take over the case. Joe Kenda has the national record of highest percentage of homicide cases solved, 92%. And some of the "unsolved" ones he knows who did it but had a lack of evidence or suspects passed away. He stated on a cruise that he took many of the files home and read through them. He returned all the files and said "You'll never get a conviction, the investigation was bumbled from the very start." He then went on to say he firmly believes it was a family member but the horrible investigation that was done will prevent a conviction from ever coming.

I remembered hearing something on one of the episodes of "Homicide Hunter." However, I believe you may be thinking about detective Lou Smit, a friend of Kenda's. Lou retired and then came back to investigate JonBenet. He passed away in 2010.

I believe that I did read that Kenda said this.

I can't picture any of the family putting a garret around the the little girls neck.

If you read the ransom letter, the writer seems to live in their own little, overdramatic, over-the-top world. I could see them do it, because in their mind it would make sense, even though it wasn't
actually necessary to go to such lengths.

Your love for your child is unconditional. Your love for your spouse is conditional; you murder my child I don't love you anymore.

John Ramsey (https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/04/11/Ramseys-call-Thomas-book-a-disgrace/8615955425600/). Take of that what you will.

I believe Burke did it, more than likely accidentally. Patsy panicked and covered it up.

I believe Burke did it, more than likely accidentally. Patsy panicked and covered it up.

A 9 year old kid who murders a sibling in cold blood, or even accidentally.. I don't particularly see them becoming a solid citizen.. Which Burke seemingly has done.

While we don't know the details on one of them, the killers of James Bulger were released and one of them has seemingly stayed out of trouble while the other has been in and out of prison and other trouble with the law since his release.

Do i think everyone in that house knows/knew absolutely nothing? No. Did the kill her? No, i don't think so. Complicit? Perhaps.. With 'complicit' being a pretty wide scope.. I do think they know something.

I believe Burke did it, more than likely accidentally. Patsy panicked and covered it up.Yea the parents def kniw what happend!!

"Don't look for outlaws until you've cleared the in-laws" still seems to be the best saying with regards to this case.

A 9 year old kid who murders a sibling in cold blood, or even accidentally.. I don't particularly see them becoming a solid citizen.. Which Burke seemingly has done.

That's the only thing that (sometimes) nags at me. He's allegedly a solid citizen. But when you get right down to it, what little we know of his life today are only snippets from Ramsey family members. That may not be very reliable. The family has tons of money. And rich people always use their money to hide their dirty laundry from the public.

Burke has creeped me out ever since I first saw the video of him talking to the child psychologists shortly after Jonbenet's death. Nothing about his behavior would tell you this is a kid who had just gone through the traumatic experience of an intruder entering his home and murdering his sister. A kid in that situation would be an emotional mess. He would be too scared to sleep in their own bed for fear of the man coming back and killing him too. For Burke, it's like a perfectly normal day. He excitedly keeps talking about video games. When he describes how he thinks his sister was killed, his voice and manners are so carefree, you'd think he was describing something he saw on a TV show. He's not the least bit disturbed about what just happened.

Something is...off about him.

That's the only thing that (sometimes) nags at me. He's allegedly a solid citizen. But when you get right down to it, what little we know of his life today are only snippets from Ramsey family members. That may not be very reliable. The family has tons of money. And rich people always use their money to hide their dirty laundry from the public.

Burke has creeped me out ever since I first saw the video of him talking to the child psychologists shortly after Jonbenet's death. Nothing about his behavior would tell you this is a kid who had just gone through the traumatic experience of an intruder entering his home and murdering his sister. A kid in that situation would be an emotional mess. He would be too scared to sleep in their own bed for fear of the man coming back and killing him too. For Burke, it's like a perfectly normal day. He excitedly keeps talking about video games. When he describes how he thinks his sister was killed, his voice and manners are so carefree, you'd think he was describing something he saw on a TV show. He's not the least bit disturbed about what just happened.

Something is...off about him.

I'd argue to you that every child experiences trauma differently. (I actually argue that in court a lot, especially when people try to say that traumatized kids should act traumatized--sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.)

That being said... I absolutely agree with you about the fact that Burke could be hiding all his bad deeds with the Ramsey money. We see that happen a lot and we've heard about people bragging about family money and connections (i.e., "I'm going to get away with it because I'm a Kennedy.")

The reason I think Burke did it is because it's the only thing that's made sense to me. While I understand that he *should* have acted up in the time since then, perhaps his anger issues have been addressed in the years since his sister's death. Admittedly, I don't know much about the Ramsey family after JB's death....

That being said... I absolutely agree with you about the fact that Burke could be hiding all his bad deeds with the Ramsey money. We see that happen a lot and we've heard about people bragging about family money and connections (i.e., "I'm going to get away with it because I'm a Kennedy.")


But, in those cases, there's always the whispers, the rumblings or the flat out court cases where you have the 'where there's smoke there's fire' thoughts.

Look at.. Kevin Spacey.. Those rumors were out there well before his.. issues.. really came to light. A number of other people. Michael Jackson would be a good example.

Even the Kennedy that killed the girl.. i forget which one it was, but remember not only was there that, but there were all the rumors of his issues at boarding schools and other things.

We don't have any of that with him. While what i'm saying is in no way definitive and I won't say 100% that i'm right and anyone who thinks Burke did it is wrong.. He's way, way down the list of suspects in my mind. Crazier things have happened, obviously. So while I'd certainly be shocked if it were him, I wouldn't say it's impossible.

He's way, way down the list of suspects in my mind. Crazier things have happened, obviously. So while I'd certainly be shocked if it were him, I wouldn't say it's impossible.

This is where I'm at. I strongly suspect Patsy over anyone else in the house that night.

This is where I'm at. I strongly suspect Patsy over anyone else in the house that night.

Well.. Let me tell you why I don't.. And, again.. I don't really know what to think, because what makes the most sense in my mind is an intruder.. However.. The 'no footprints' thing kinda kills that idea.

Burke defends his mother. Speaks very highly of her. I can't imagine him doing that.. UNLESS.. He doesn't know she actually did it. But, you'd also think by this time, he'd do some independent thinking to figure out that it almost had to be someone inside the house.

Patsy is higher on my list than Burke. Certainly will say that.

Honestly.. I wonder if the intruder idea is still valid and the investigation was just so screwed up that footprints were missed. Or.. Honestly, things were screwed up so bad, I wouldn't fall out of my chair to hear that it was intruders who remained in the house and snuck out past the police. After all, it took them hours to find the damn body inside the house. Whose to say they would have found someone hiding in the basement?

I'd argue to you that every child experiences trauma differently. (I actually argue that in court a lot, especially when people try to say that traumatized kids should act traumatized--sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.)

You're right. And it's not just children. Every adult experiences trauma and grief differently as well. I just feel uneasy seeing that footage. Burke was not the kind of kid to keep his emotions to himself. Hence, getting angry enough to swing a golf club at his sister's face or having constant tantrums when he wasn't getting as much attention as Jonbenet.

But trauma is probably an entirely different department.

I don't really know what to think, because what makes the most sense in my mind is an intruder.. However.. The 'no footprints' thing kinda kills that idea.

What makes me discount the intruder theory is the alleged ransom note. If an intruder broke into the home waiting for the family to return so they could abduct JonBenet and essentially hold her for ransom...why abandon said plan and murder her and leave her body inside the home? And if the intruder abandoned the plan and was there to sexually assault and murder JonBenet, why not take the note? Patsy was the only subject (of over 70) who could not have been ruled out as the author of the ransom note.

Look at.. Kevin Spacey.. Those rumors were out there well before his.. issues.. really came to light. A number of other people. Michael Jackson would be a good example.

Even the Kennedy that killed the girl.. i forget which one it was, but remember not only was there that, but there were all the rumors of his issues at boarding schools and other things.

All those people you used as examples are much more well known celebs who were always out in the open and in constant interaction with public figures. Paparazzi were going to follow them 24/7 no matter what.

With the Ramseys, they have much more freedom to hide Burke's issues (if he does indeed have them) from the public with their money. He could have had multiple stays in psychiatric wards and nobody outside their circle would know.

With the Ramseys, they have much more freedom to hide Burke's issues (if he does indeed have them) from the public with their money. He could have had multiple stays in psychiatric wards and nobody outside their circle would know.

THAT'S the part that I keep coming back to. You're absolutely right.

What makes me discount the intruder theory is the alleged ransom note. If an intruder broke into the home waiting for the family to return so they could abduct JonBenet and essentially hold her for ransom...why abandon said plan and murder her and leave her body inside the home? And if the intruder abandoned the plan and was there to sexually assault and murder JonBenet, why not take the note? Patsy was the only subject (of over 70) who could not have been ruled out as the author of the ransom note.

Playing devil's advocate here. I believe some have theorized he wanted to take her with him through the window in the basement, but wasn't able to. Leaving through the front or back door up stairs was too risky, so he decided to assault and kill her right in the basement. And didn't go back to retreive the note, I guess.

Playing devil's advocate here. I believe some have theorized he wanted to take her with him through the window in the basement, but wasn't able to. Leaving through the front or back door up stairs was too risky, so he decided to assault and kill her right in the basement. And didn't go back to retreive the note, I guess.

The intruder risked walking up from the basement to her bedroom to abduct her without waking anyone up. Seems weird that he didn't go out the front door as he took her from her bedroom.

The intruder risked walking up from the basement to her bedroom to abduct her without waking anyone up. Seems weird that he didn't go out the front door as he took her from her bedroom.

Perhaps he thought there was an alarm on the door or it would make too much noise. I'm not at all a supporter of the intruder theory myself.

Playing devil's advocate here. I believe some have theorized he wanted to take her with him through the window in the basement, but wasn't able to. Leaving through the front or back door up stairs was too risky, so he decided to assault and kill her right in the basement. And didn't go back to retreive the note, I guess.

He could fit through a window, but a 6 year old girl couldn't? The intruder theory is that he "stunned" her. Not that hard to push her unresponsive, tiny body through a window.

Also, he was in the house all day, according to the intruder theory. Not once did he think about how he was going to get out?

And this was a ransom, turned assault/murder? Instead of the murder, he could have just grabbed the note, and put her back to bed, or even left her in the basement and crawled out the window with the note. Do you think the parents would have believed her when she told them a man brought her down? They would have just wrote it off as a 6 year old making an excuse for going downstairs during bed time. This would have been a non-issue.

The intruder theory is absurd.

He could fit through a window, but a 6 year old girl couldn't? The intruder theory is that he "stunned" her. Not that hard to push her unresponsive, tiny body through a window.

I thought limp bodies were pretty heavy? I'm not sure how high the window was. Maybe he had weak upperbody strength and couldn't lift her up or push her all the way through.

Also, he was in the house all day, according to the intruder theory. Not once did he think about how he was going to get out?

I agree with that. He's smart enough to not to leave any trace, but doesn't think his plan all the way through. He doesn't even write a note beforehand.

The intruder theory is absurd.

Hey, it's not MY theory. I agree it makes no sense.

I thought limp bodies were pretty heavy?

Just need you to think on that statement a second.

Bodies weigh the exact same when they're limp as when they're not. While you might think it.. You don't actually put on extra pounds while you're asleep.

"Dead" weight is just much more unwieldy. It's far easier to pick up a 200lb barbell than it is a 200 lb sack of potatoes. And, an unconscious person is more like the sack of potatoes than the barbell.

This being said.. A 6 year old child. Average weight of 45lbs. Few adults will have issues with that, unless they're lifting it above their heads.

Just need you to think on that statement a second.

Bodies weigh the exact same when they're limp as when they're not. While you might think it.. You don't actually put on extra pounds while you're asleep.

Come on, you know I don't mean they actually weigh more:

https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/why-do-unconscious-people-feel-heavier.html

This being said.. A 6 year old child. Average weight of 45lbs. Few adults will have issues with that, unless they're lifting it above their heads.

I haven't seen the window, maybe it actually is situated that far up. I remember something about the intruder having to stand on a suitcase or crate or something.

I have forgotten a lot about the case over the years, but with Burke my thought is I am not sure if this is a "Prom Night" scenario. In that movie the kids accidentally kill another schoolmate and while they are at pretty much the same age Burke was, they all vow never to speak of it again.

I love that movie, but you have to sort of overlook that a child of that age is never going to speak of it and confess. Or act out very differently, or act guilty or whatever.

I don't necessarily disagree that it was Burke and it was an accident, but I also don't know for sure. I do seem to at the very least suspect Patsy, maybe not John, but Patsy for sure. She gave me the creeps.

Burke was (and possibly still is) messed up in the extreme. Am pretty sure he did it by accident.

His mom--Patsy--seemed just as bad, given the lengths she went to to cover things up - Fashioning a garrote using one of her own paintbrushes, writing a three page ransom note, mentioning a ransom amount that would only be known to John, his employer and his family and then leaving that note in an obscure location of the home used only by the family are dead giveaways IMO.

The parents are very suspicious l00king!!

I highly recommend the Netflix documentary that came out on this last year. I watched it, and I have to admit there are sides of it I never thought about before. Patsy has long been gone, but John is still alive, remarried, and speaks quite openly about the case. I'm not sure John had anything to do with it to be honest. If it was an accident with Burke, then yes he had to have been involved in the cover up.

Again, I am not sure. The circumstantial evidence seems to be it is the accident theory followed by the cover up. But we also have to remember the pop culture references with the Ramsay family. The MadTV sketches and such with the parents, the media coverage, etc. How much of that influenced our view of things if we are honest? Even Patsy, as weird as she could act, it was the media picking the right time to show you the things they showed you. This happens often, even with Elizabeth Smart's family before Elizabeth was found. And they were innocent. Even the Smart family got a MadTv sketch done on them after Elizabeth was found.

Ya being an accident may very well be..

They couldnt handle what they did so they covered it up...

They should give her some respect though and come clean.. ITS BETTER THAN LYING!!

One person inside that house had fibers from their clothes on the garrote knots, the paint try just outside of where her body was found, duct tape, and the blanket that was used to wrap JonBenet's body. It wasn't Burke. And it wasn't John.

Ya its very strange........ It would be nice if a resolution could be had!!

I’m on the fence as to whether it was Burke or patsy. I lean toward it being an accident with patsy over JB soiling herself yet again.

Cyril Wecht gave a talk once on various cases and included this one. Once you get the inside baseball on the pathology its pretty straightforward.

Cyril Wecht gave a talk once on various cases and included this one. Once you get the inside baseball on the pathology its pretty straightforward.

I'd love to hear that.

One person inside that house had fibers from their clothes on the garrote knots, the paint try just outside of where her body was found, duct tape, and the blanket that was used to wrap JonBenet's body. It wasn't Burke. And it wasn't John.

So you figure Patsy then? Even so, wouldn't John be at least awake at that time and be involved in what happened?

On another note, I will say that random kidnappings are very much remote. They might happen a rare time, but there is always a reason why it happens. Like if the mother is hanging around shady people or something like that. Same thing happens here, how often does a random kidnapping/murder happen inside the home? Elizabeth Smart would be one I guess you could say. We still don't know the full story on Jacqueling Dowaliby. So the obvious choice is always looking within the home for the suspect. The fact that you can never rule Patsy out has always been troubling for me.

So you figure Patsy then? Even so, wouldn't John be at least awake at that time and be involved in what happened?

I think it's possible that John and Burke could have been asleep during the murder and legitimately had nothing to do with the crime or coverup. I think they stubbornly refuse to even entertain the idea that Patsy was involved, so they have continued to insist that an intruder was responsible. The minute I saw the overlay of the house and it's weird construction, I knew that a stranger was not responsible. Someone intimately known to the Ramsey's had to have done this. And Patsy's fibers being found on the inside of the duct tape used to cover JonBenet's mouth has no innocent explanation, IMO.

I suppose Patsy or Burke , with Patsy covering it up. That weird " ransom" note was the clincher that it wasn't someone from the outside.

I think it's possible that John and Burke could have been asleep during the murder and legitimately had nothing to do with the crime or coverup. I think they stubbornly refuse to even entertain the idea that Patsy was involved, so they have continued to insist that an intruder was responsible. The minute I saw the overlay of the house and it's weird construction, I knew that a stranger was not responsible. Someone intimately known to the Ramsey's had to have done this. And Patsy's fibers being found on the inside of the duct tape used to cover JonBenet's mouth has no innocent explanation, IMO.

Yeah, in a big house on a winter night sleeping upstairs, it is quite possible to be unaware of something going on downstairs or in the basement.

I think it's possible that John and Burke could have been asleep during the murder and legitimately had nothing to do with the crime or coverup. I think they stubbornly refuse to even entertain the idea that Patsy was involved, so they have continued to insist that an intruder was responsible. The minute I saw the overlay of the house and it's weird construction, I knew that a stranger was not responsible. Someone intimately known to the Ramsey's had to have done this. And Patsy's fibers being found on the inside of the duct tape used to cover JonBenet's mouth has no innocent explanation, IMO.

How couldn't she have been charged for that though? That is almost like blood or DNA being found on a dead body. Granted Patsy's DNA is all over the house but I agree what is the reason for the tape having her DNA on it? She didn't find JonBenet and touch the body first and unless the killer used tape from the house then I can't think of an explanation either. Patsy's DNA would be on that tape if it came from the house, but I don't believe it was established that it did.

One thing as well, on a side note, the Ramsay's had a huge house, but man oh man, is there a sloppier and more cluttery house? I've seen the footage, and every room in their house had clutter and junk in it. They were messy people despite having a ton of space.

How couldn't she have been charged for that though? That is almost like blood or DNA being found on a dead body. Granted Patsy's DNA is all over the house but I agree what is the reason for the tape having her DNA on it? She didn't find JonBenet and touch the body first and unless the killer used tape from the house then I can't think of an explanation either. Patsy's DNA would be on that tape if it came from the house, but I don't believe it was established that it did.

The 'innocent' explanation is that she removed the tape and that is where the fibers could have come from. She was questioned about this (in the presence of her attorney):

Q: We have found, and I want you to help us, maybe you can offer an explanation for this. We have found fibers in the paint tray that appear to come off of the coat in the photograph we showed you.

Patsy: In the paint tray?

Q: Yes.

Patsy: What's a paint

Attorney: Hold on. Let him ask you his question and then answer his question. What is your question?

Q: I did.

Attorney: You got your answer?

Q: Well, I got, she said what's a paint tray.

The attorney kept attacking the line of questioning to the point that this exchange never went anywhere. You can read the transcript of this interview here (http://www.acandyrose.com/s-evidence-fibers.htm).

This is probably the weirdest true crime case of all time so it does have me in a twist.

I generally think it was an intruder because after seeing the family in the news over all of the years, i don't get the feeling they were involved. Or maybe I just don't want to think they were involved. If pressed, I would allow for the small possibility that Burke and or Patsy were involved but without John's knowledge.

I'm in a twist and allow for that small chance because absolutely nothing about the intruder's behavior makes any sense whatsoever. If there was an intruder this is what they did, based on all available evidence:

1 broke into the house while the family was gone and hid in the basement
2 wrote the ransom note in the house with pen and paper from the house, indicating they either thought "i'll just write it when i get there..." or decided to make it a kidnap for ransom on the fly
3 waited for everyone to go to sleep and walked up two stories and coaxed JonBenet out of her bedroom without waking anyone
4 noticed that JonBenet had wet her pants and either searched for or knew there were unopened new underpants in the closet outside her bedroom and got her to change underpants without waking anyone
5 let JonBenet down into the kitchen where he gave her iced tea and pineapple
6 left the ransom note on the stairs
7 instead of just leaving out the unlocked door off the kitchen into the backyard, he led JonBenet into the basement
8 switched from his apparent plan of putting her in the suitcase and sneaking her out the basement window and decided to assault and kill her right in the house without waking anyone
9 left the body and the ransom note and escaped and has never been caught

That scenario is basically unbelievable. But I guess I think if the family was involved they would have nailed them on it by now?

The 'innocent' explanation is that she removed the tape and that is where the fibers could have come from. She was questioned about this (in the presence of her attorney):



The attorney kept attacking the line of questioning to the point that this exchange never went anywhere. You can read the transcript of this interview here (http://www.acandyrose.com/s-evidence-fibers.htm).

That's just frustrating. And she's dead now. It bothers you when you don't get a clear answer from the person. It isn't hard to be honest if you are innocent.

This is probably the weirdest true crime case of all time so it does have me in a twist.

I generally think it was an intruder because after seeing the family in the news over all of the years, i don't get the feeling they were involved. Or maybe I just don't want to think they were involved. If pressed, I would allow for the small possibility that Burke and or Patsy were involved but without John's knowledge.

I'm in a twist and allow for that small chance because absolutely nothing about the intruder's behavior makes any sense whatsoever. If there was an intruder this is what they did, based on all available evidence:

1 broke into the house while the family was gone and hid in the basement
2 wrote the ransom note in the house with pen and paper from the house, indicating they either thought "i'll just write it when i get there..." or decided to make it a kidnap for ransom on the fly
3 waited for everyone to go to sleep and walked up two stories and coaxed JonBenet out of her bedroom without waking anyone
4 noticed that JonBenet had wet her pants and either searched for or knew there were unopened new underpants in the closet outside her bedroom and got her to change underpants without waking anyone
5 let JonBenet down into the kitchen where he gave her iced tea and pineapple
6 left the ransom note on the stairs
7 instead of just leaving out the unlocked door off the kitchen into the backyard, he led JonBenet into the basement
8 switched from his apparent plan of putting her in the suitcase and sneaking her out the basement window and decided to assault and kill her right in the house without waking anyone
9 left the body and the ransom note and escaped and has never been caught

That scenario is basically unbelievable. But I guess I think if the family was involved they would have nailed them on it by now?

Even with an intruder, that is a lot to ask for the intruder to do. My gut says Patsy without John knowing. John has always been the one in interviews who seems more sure of things and seems to have faith his wife would never do this. Honestly, he could be telling the truth from his point. He may never have seen Patsy do this, nor suspected her simply because she is his wife. She was always bizarre in interviews, like she was hiding something. I am not sure I have ever thought John was hiding something just by his demeanor. Even today, the Netflix special, he sits there for a long interview, candidly answers questions, you don't get that vibe about him that he's lying. Take away the MadTV spoofs of this family and John seems just like a normal dad. And to this day he could still be arrested for it, and yet he just still seems to co-operate.

Cyril Wecht gave a talk once on various cases and included this one. Once you get the inside baseball on the pathology its pretty straightforward.

The secret is safe with you apparently.

It would be nice to find out!

I wonder if her Spirit would help if someone tried to contact her.. Usually people stick around trying to get help for thier unsolved Murder!