Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: UNSOLVED – JonBenét Ramsey 2

Host: Carter Roy
Release Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode continues the investigation into the 1996 unsolved murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, picking up where the previous part left off. Host Carter Roy details the polarizing investigation, the impact of public opinion, investigators’ clashing theories, failed leads, and the devastating consequences for the Ramsey family, ultimately asking: do we really know the truth, or has the quest for answers only made things more convoluted?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Investigation and Suspects

• Discord Within Law Enforcement
  • Detective Linda Arndt believed the Ramseys staged a kidnapping and ransom note to cover up JonBenét’s murder.
  • The Boulder Police Department (BPD) mainly agreed; the District Attorney’s office leaned toward the intruder theory.
  • Resulted in a month-old stalemate and minimal cooperation from the Ramseys.
  • “By the end of January 1997, just a month after JonBenet's death, the case was stuck in a deadlock between the two agencies.” (04:33)
• Expanding the Investigation
  • Investigators questioned John Ramsey’s adult children (John Andrew and Melinda); suspicious statements but ultimately confirmed alibis; both cleared by March 1997.

2. Theories Against the Ramseys

• Mounting Suspicion
  • Completion of another round of DNA testing; results unreleased but fueled suspicions.
  • John and Patsy named prime suspects; DA’s focus shifted accordingly.
• Police Theories
  • Possibility of sexual assault, accidental killing (either by John or Patsy), and a cover-up staged as a kidnapping.
  • “While the theories varied, the gist was the same. JonBenet's death had been accidental, but the cover up that followed was premeditated.” (04:33)

3. Ramsey Family Response

• Demand for Transparency
  • John and Patsy agree to formal interviews only if allowed access to police files—a highly irregular arrangement.
  • After lengthy interviews, both parents publicly deny any involvement.
  • “John addressed the growing rumors about possible sexual abuse. He called them, quote, unquote, the most hurtful innuendos.” (approx. 07:50)
  • Patsy: “She said she was appalled that anyone could believe she or John had anything to do with their daughter's death. She swore they were both innocent.” (approx. 08:15)

4. Mistakes and Tensions in the Investigation

• Detective Arndt’s Removal
  • Cited for failures: unsecured crime scene, allowing John to move JonBenét’s body, lacking formal interviews, damaging crucial evidence.
  • Public outcry led to her removal in May 1997; she later sued the police chief, claiming abandonment but remained under a gag order.
  • “They'd thrown her to the wolves and allowed her to be swallowed up whole.” (09:42)

5. Shifting Theories and Grand Jury

• Detectives’ Disagreement
  • Steve Thomas fixates on Patsy as the perpetrator (accident after bedwetting), while Lou Smit champions the intruder theory (unknown pedophile, possible stun gun use).
  • “Both detectives were convinced they were right and neither was willing to back down. The two men were constantly fighting.” (12:58)
• Ramseys Remain Informed
  • Because Smit was sympathetic, the Ramseys solicited fresh case files, making it harder for other detectives to secure a case against them.
• Pressure for Indictment
  • Intense media and public scrutiny led the DA to convene a grand jury in March 1998 for possible charges.

6. Burke Ramsey’s Role and Further Complications

• Burke Interviewed
  • At age 11, JonBenét’s brother gave a statement that partly contradicted the parents’ story, especially regarding his awareness and actions the morning of the crime.
  • Analysis of the enhanced 911 call revealed Burke’s voice, contradicting claims he’d slept through the morning.
  • Allegations arisen over the years—but no charges ever brought.
  • “It raised the possibility that Burke had been awake the whole time. If so, what did he see? What did he know? And was there a world in which he'd been involved in JonBenet's death?” (17:12)

7. Collapse of the Case and Resignations

• Internal Disarray
  • Detective Thomas resigned, accusing the DA’s office of obstruction and compromise (August 1998).
  • Lou Smit resigns after grand jury convening for similar reasons.
  • Linda Arndt resigns in March 1999; later publicly reiterated her belief in the Ramseys’ guilt.
  • “He (Thomas) accused the DA's office of obstructing justice, failing to support detectives, and allowing the case to spiral out of control.” (21:00)
  • “In her (Arndt’s) own defense, she argued they'd thrown her to the wolves and allowed her to be swallowed up whole.” (09:42)

8. Grand Jury Findings and Aftermath

• Indictment—but No Charges
  • Jury votes to indict John and Patsy for child abuse resulting in death (not murder)—felt responsible for placing JonBenét in harm’s way.
  • DA refuses to proceed, citing insufficient evidence; decision remained sealed for years.
  • Ramseys publish a book in 2000 insisting on their innocence; Steve Thomas also publishes his own theory (accidental killing by Patsy).
• Lawsuits and Loss
  • Ramses sue Thomas for libel ($80 million, settled out of court).
  • Patsy Ramsey dies of ovarian cancer in 2006, still under a cloud of suspicion.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Case’s Enduring Mystery:
  “At the end of the day, we still aren't any closer to the truth… Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending.” — Carter Roy, 00:06

• On the Toll of the Investigation:
  “She (Arndt) was out of the picture, and a new detective was taking over. Like Arndt, he believed the Ramses were involved, but he had a different approach. And he was determined to succeed where she'd failed.” — Carter Roy, 09:52

• On the Polarization:
  “Both detectives were convinced they were right and neither was willing to back down. The two men were constantly fighting… The one thing Thomas had going for him was that the public also widely thought John and Patsy were responsible.” — Carter Roy, 12:58

• On the Impact of Public Perception:
  “John and Patsy leaned into that assumption. In 2000, they released a book called the Death of Innocence, where they told their side of the story. They claimed they'd been betrayed by the police, vilified by the media, and wrongfully accused.” — Carter Roy, 25:02

Key Turning Points and New Leads

9. The John Mark Carr Confession (2006)

• Michael Tracy’s Involvement
  • Documentary filmmaker Michael Tracy engages with "Daxus" (John Mark Carr) who confesses to the murder via email; claims to have inside knowledge.
  • Police arrange a sting; Carr arrested in Thailand.
  • Carr’s DNA does not match that from the crime scene, and his alibi is solid; charges dropped.
  • “There was just one thing left to do. Check his DNA… But it wasn't what they were expecting. Carr's DNA wasn't a match…” (35:45)

10. Advances in DNA Testing

• 2007 Retest
  • New analysis finds a second sample of matching male DNA on JonBenét’s long johns, likely not contamination.
  • Officially excludes John, Patsy, and Burke as contributors.
  • In 2008, Boulder DA publicly clears the Ramsey family—yet doubts linger.

11. Revelation of Grand Jury Indictment

• 2013 Media Discovery
  • Boulder newspaper reveals grand jury recommended charges against the Ramseys in 1999 for child abuse resulting in death—but not murder.
• Court of Public Opinion
  • Public skepticism persists; polarization lingers despite official exoneration.

12. Renewed Theories and Defamation Lawsuits

• CBS Documentary (2016)
  • Suggests Burke killed JonBenét in a rage; details behavioral cues and new analysis of evidence—Burke sues CBS for defamation ($750 million, settled privately).
  • “As of now, the DNA discovered in 2007 hasn’t revealed a match. Even so, authorities have continued to scour databases and genealogy sites.” (40:14)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 04:33: Case recap, new DNA test, and the Ramseys’ status as prime suspects
• 09:42: Breakdown of Detective Arndt’s missteps and removal
• 12:58: Duelling suspects: Steve Thomas vs. Lou Smit, and the rift in the investigation’s direction
• 17:12: Insights from Burke Ramsey’s interview and analysis of the 911 call
• 21:00: Thomas’s resignation; impact of internal conflict
• 25:02: Grand jury indictment, legal fallout, and public narratives
• 35:45: The John Mark Carr confession and exoneration via DNA
• 40:14: Aftermath: DNA clearing, media revelations, and enduring doubts

Tone and Narrative

Carter Roy maintains a respectful, thoughtful tone, deeply empathetic to all involved—especially JonBenét. He’s objective yet sensitive, weaving together the procedural maze, human error, media pressure, and heartbreak underlying this notorious cold case. The reporting is careful, unsensational, and never loses sight of the real cost—the ongoing injustice to JonBenét Ramsey.

Conclusion

Nearly thirty years later, JonBenét’s case remains an agonizing mystery marked by investigative missteps, divided public opinion, and unresolved pain for her family. Despite official exoneration through DNA and ever-evolving theories, the memory of JonBenét—and the failures in her case—continue to haunt investigators and the true crime community. The episode closes with renewed calls for justice for all victims like JonBenét, reinforcing the importance of thorough, unbiased investigations and hope for closure—even in the coldest of cases.

Notable Closing Quote:
“While the investigation has certainly had its ups and downs, at the heart of it all is an unparalleled commitment to finding the truth… There are countless more JonBenéts out there and every single one deserves justice.” — Carter Roy, 41:45