s-evidence-reward.htm


	A Personal view of the Internet Subculture Surrounding the JonBenet Ramsey Murder case

This web page is part of a series covering found materials regarding individuals, items or events that apparently became part of what is commonly known as the vortex of the JonBenet Ramsey murder case Christmas night 1996. The webmaster of this site claims no inside official Boulder police information as to who has been interviewed, investigated, the outcome or what information is actually considered official evidence. These pages outline found material which can include but not limited to materials found in books, articles, the Internet, transcripts, depositions, legal documents, Internet discussion forums, graphics or photos, media reports, TV/Radio shows about the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. Found materials are here for historical archive purposes. (www.acandyrose.com - acandyrose@aol.com)

This webpage series is for historical archive and educational purposes on found materials

Ramsey Reward Poster
April 27, 1997

JonBenet Ramsey Reward History

January 15, 1997 Globe offers $50,000 Reward (AP 01/15/97)

April 27, 1997 Ramseys offered $100,000 Reward

June 23, 1997 Globe offered "1/2 Million REWARD For JonBenet's Killer" (Globe 06/23/97)

April 11, 1998 John Ramsey offered 1 Millon dollar reward
("with the help of friends") (DOIpage266)

September 28, 1998 John Ramsey offered the $100,000 to the killer's family
(Denver Post letter from John Ramsey in Response to the Resignation of Detective Lou Smit)

December 26, 2001 Lin Wood is quoted in USA Today
"family no longer has the $100,000 reward it had been offering" (USAToday 12/26/2001)

CHAIN OF EVENTS 1997

1999-01-14: BPR: RAMSEY CASE NEWS RELEASE #17

http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/comm/pressrelease/RAMSEY/pr970114A.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 14, 1997

Contact: Leslie Aaholm/Kelvin McNeill
Media Relations / (303) 441-3090

RAMSEY CASE NEWS RELEASE #17
Media Update for Jan. 14

The City of Boulder is pleased that Boulder County and Globe Magazine have reached a settlement concerning the unauthorized distribution of the Coroner's photographs related to the JonBenet Ramsey homicide. The City commends the County Commissioners and the County Attorney for their swift and decisive action in this matter and are grateful for their continued partnership and support.

The Boulder Police Department stresses that this matter has not distracted from the investigation or from the sole focus in this matter; finding out who is responsible for the murder of JonBenet and ensuring a successful prosecution. The homicide investigation is moving forward according to plan.

The Boulder County Crime Stoppers is coordinating a reward of up to $100,000 for information related to the homicide investigation. Under a pending agreement, the Ramsey family and others will place this reward money with the Boulder County Crime Stoppers program. The Boulder County Crime Stoppers is a non-profit corporation which assists police by anonymously gathering information on crimes.

Boulder Police have offered former FBI agent John Douglas, who has been hired by the Ramsey family, an opportunity to provide insight on the case. Mr. Douglas has been contacted and interviewed by Boulder detectives.

-CITY-

1997-01-15: Tabloid to return crime-scene photos in Boulder slaying

http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/011597/tabloid.html
Tabloid to return crime-scene photos in Boulder slaying
Web posted 1/15/97
The Associated Press

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - A supermarket tabloid that published crime-scene photos in the JonBenet Ramsey strangling agreed Tuesday to return them to Boulder County officials.

"Officials also said Tuesday a $100,000 reward fund had been established in the JonBenet murder. It includes $50,000 offered by the Ramsey family and money from other sources. The Globe offered a $50,000 reward Tuesday and said it had set up a tip line."

1997-02-06: Ramseys give address for fund contributions

Ramseys give address for fund contributions
Denver Rocky Mountain News - February 6, 1997

"JonBenet Ramsey's family Wednesday announced the address to mail contributions for a children's advocacy group founded in the memory of their slain daughter.

Donations may be sent to: The JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation, c / o the Colorado Business Bank of Boulder, 1900 15th St., Boulder 80302.

In addition to adminstering a $ 100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, money will be used for protecting against ''the victimization of children.''

1997-02-07: BPR: RAMSEY CASE NEWS RELEASE #24

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"
Feb. 7, 1997
Contacts: Larry Wieda - 303-441-3327
Brad Harvey - 303-451-1146
Stacy Cornay - 303-651-6612

RAMSEY CASE NEWS RELEASE #24
BOULDER CRIME STOPPERS ANNOUNCE
$100,000 REWARD IN JONBENET RAMSEY

Boulder County Crime Stoppers officials announced today that a reward fund totaling the amount of $100,000 has been established for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the murder of JonBonet Ramsey in December of 1996. Earlier reports stated that an award fund has been established by the Ramsey family in the amount of $50,000 and by a national publication in the in the amount of $50,000.

"This information is incorrect," notes Brad Harvey, co-chairman of the non-profit Crime Stoppers organization. "We have been working with the Ramsey family attorneys for the past several weeks as they worked to establish a foundation which will be responsible for the funds," he adds. The Crime Stoppers board of directors will direct the distribution of the funds and make any decisions concerning possible recipients.

The Crime Stoppers programs exist internationally and are designed to assist in solving difficult crimes. Due to the program's ability to take information anonymously, and provide rewards, the program has been very successful. The Ramsey family suggested using the program to assist with the apprehension of the person or persons responsible for the death of their daughter.

"Although this case is somewhat unusual, we hope to provide assistance that will lead to the eventual closure of the case," says Harvey. Individuals who have information that may be pertinent to the case should call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-444-3776. All callers remain anonymous.

Note: Officer Larry Wieda is the President of Crime Stoppers International. He is recognized world wide as an authority on the program. He is the coordinator of the Boulder County Crime Stoppers program.

1997-04-27: Ramseys offer $100,000 reward - Ad offers different image of JonBenet

Ramseys offer $100,000 reward
Ad offers different image of JonBenet
By SANDRA FISH
Camera Staff Writer
Sunday, April 27, 1997

With a sweet grin and shining brown eyes looking out from beneath slightly tousled blond hair, an advertisement seeking the killer of JonBenet Ramsey offers a markedly different portrait of the 6-year-old most frequently seen as a young beauty queen.

Today's advertisement in the Daily Camera offers a $100,000 reward from the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer. It lists a number for the foundation and the Crimestoppers' hotline operated by the Boulder Police Department. The reward money was provided by JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and others.

The ad comes almost four months after JonBenet was found strangled and beaten in the basement of her family's home, about eight hours after her mother reported her kidnapped.

Family spokeswoman Rachelle Zimmer said the ad is running only in the Daily Camera.

The photo of JonBenet is in stark contrast to her portrayal on television: modeling on runways in beauty pageants, wearing makeup with her hair styled. Even in the photo of JonBenet released by police after her murder, the girl appears to be wearing lipstick and her hair is carefully coifed.

Zimmer said the family selected a school picture of JonBenet and wouldn't discuss the photo selection any further.

Such a photo probably will seem unusual to those following perhaps the most publicized murder in Boulder's history. Week after week, supermarket tabloids run pictures of JonBenet in pageant regalia - she was a former Little Miss Colorado and won several other pageants as well.

"One of the things I have always wondered (is) this child probably had a life apart from beauty pageants," said Christopher Mueller, a University of Colorado law professor. "Maybe they're trying to humanize her ... This is a battle over the public image of the family and the child."

The advertisement comes at the end of a week when the Ramseys' attorneys publicly exchanged acrimonious letters with law enforcement officials. The Ramseys' attorneys said police canceled scheduled interviews with the parents on the spur of the moment. They also accused police of a smear campaign. Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter said earlier this month that the Ramseys are the primary focus of the investigation.

"Obviously, the position of the Ramseys here is that they are innocent," Mueller said.

1997-05-01: John and Patsy Ramsey Media Interview

Patsy Ramsey: "Some of you may have seen the ad that we place in our local Daily Camera newspaper this past weekend. This reward money has been offered since the death of JonBenet, but we felt like it wasn't getting out to the public enough. So this ad with her most recent kindergarten picture will be appearing more and more frequently. And what we want to let everyone know is that this $100,000 reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of our daughter. We feel that there are at least two people on the face of this earth that know who did this, and that is the killer and someone that that person may have confided in. And we need that one phone call, we need the one phone call to this number that will help the authorities come to a conclusion to this case. Please, if you know anything, I beg you to call us, call us. And I guess if any of you have questions of us ..."

REPORTER: (You gave) ... an interview on CNN four months ago. But over the last four months, we have seen no ads, we haven't seen you come out publicly to say we need to catch this killer. Some would say you've let a lot of time where ...

John Ramsey: We've been distressed that the reward wasn't better publicized. It's been in place almost from the beginning. We had hoped that the authorities would have publicized this reward better. We frankly gave up and decided to do it ourselves.

REPORTER: What do you want to say to the killer of your daughter?

John Ramsey: We'll find you. We will find you. I have that as a sole mission for the rest of my life.

REPORTER: Mrs. Ramsey?

Patsy Ramsey: Likewise. The police investigators have assured us that this is a case which can be solved. You may be eluding the authorities for a time, but God knows who you are, and we will find you.

REPORTER: But did anyone come to mind, Mrs. Ramsey?

Patsy Ramsey: You know, we would like to think that we don't know anyone that we've ever met in our lives that would ever do such a thing to a child, you know, but they talked with us and said, please tell us names of people, you know, who may have been in your home at any time. We just outpoured information, as much as we could try to remember. But no one specifically came to mind, I mean you can't imagine such a horrible thing ever happening much less somebody that you may know.

REPORTER: John, would you recommend the death penalty for the person convicted of killing JonBenet?

John Ramsey: I would absolutely want the most severe penalty that could be brought.

REPORTER: I have another question... You've shown us the ad with her most recent kindergarten picture, but most of the American public knows your daughter through glamour shots from pageants. In hindsight, do you wish that she had not participated in that because it gives a different feeling to what your family actually may have been? Any regrets about that at all?

Patsy Ramsey: (Those are) beautiful pictures and I'm so happy that we have those pictures. They're all we have now.

John Ramsey: That was just one very small part of JonBenet's life...

REPORTER: You know what I'm talking about, you've been accused of dressing her up like a little adult. Was there any inappropriate behavior going on in that home?

Patsy Ramsey: No.

1997-05-13: Rewards seldom do good

http://63.147.65.175/news/jon80.htm
May 13, 1997
Rewards seldom do good
By Bill Briggs
Denver Post Staff Writer

"Large rewards do not generate any more information," acknowledged Larry Wieda, president of Crime Stoppers International and a Boulder cop.

"It can help at times certainly," added national FBI spokesman Rex Tomb. "But in an overwhelming number of cases we have, it's not a factor. You have to be selective" as to when you offer money for tips - and when you don't.

Kidnappings are a dangerous example.

Say a child is abducted in Denver. The city is instantly outraged and vows to do whatever it takes to nab the bad guy. A reward for the kidnapper's arrest starts at $100,000 but jumps to $500,000 and then grows to $1 million as worried citizens pump up the pot with donations.

However, someone who knows the child's whereabouts may sit on that information until the bounty stops rising, Wieda says. "They're waiting to see what the biggest bid is going to be." Meanwhile, the child might be sick, injured or near death."

John and Patsy Ramsey used their meeting with reporters May 1 to promote a $100,000 reward they're offering to help find the killer of their daughter, JonBenet. Since then, the Boulder County Crime Stoppers tip line has fielded 400 calls.

"Basically it's everyone trying to tell us their theory, who the suspects are and that law enforcement really doesn't know what it's doing," Wieda said. Out of the 400 calls, there were just two that investigators deemed worthy of pursuing.

That's not to say using cash as a carrot for clues is always a total waste. An Albuquerque couple charged last year in the execution-style slayings of five people was turned in by the woman's ex- boyfriend - who earned a $100,000 reward.

And in March, Los Angeles police tracked down the killer of Bill Cosby's son, Ennis, with information provided by a tipster who had called the National Enquirer seeking the tabloid's $100,000 reward offer.

Typically, though, a reward is more likely to work after a property crime or a nonviolent incident that goes down far away from the front pages, say detectives around Colorado.

The ugliest cases - like the murder of 70-year Helen Archer in Fremont County last November - typically bring a flood of calls to tip lines whether there's money available or not.

After Archer was found stabbed to death, her family put up $10,000 to help sniff out her killer. But the tipsters who dialed up police didn't want a penny of the reward money, said Fremont County Sheriff's detective Mike Krauth.

But there is one organization that can lay claim to serious success when it comes to rewards.

Crime Stoppers International - which pays "up to $1,000" for information that leads to an arrest and the filing of charges - has helped clear 624,000 felony cases in 21 years, all while paying anonymous informants $40 million in rewards.

Those tips led to the recovery of $1.4 billion in stolen property and the removal of $2.3 billion in drugs from the streets. And the most impressive stat of all: 99 percent of the people they've helped arrest were convicted.

"It's been tremendously successful," Wieda said. "Crime Stoppers has been able to accomplish this (because) the general population is reluctant to get involved with the justice system, whether it's a fear of coming forward or of having to spend several months in a courtroom testifying.

"This gives them a vehicle to call and give us the information. We don't know who the informants are. We don't ask and they don't tell us." That makes the transfer of reward money tricky.

1997-06-23: "1/2 Million REWARD For JonBenet's Killer"

week of June 23, 1997
This weeks GLOBE's story: "1/2 Million REWARD For JonBenet's Killer"

Her parents went off on vacation, the police investigation is stalled - now GLOBE demands justice in Little Beauty's brutal murder.

JonBenet Ramsey died on Dec. 26. Six months later, the hunt for the heartless animal who killed her running out of steam and GLOBE is mad as hell.

WE WANT SOME ACTION.

To get it, we are offering a half-million-dollar reward fund for evidence provided to GLOBE that nails the killer of JonBenet. We want justice and we are prepared to offer big bucks to make sure she gets it.

Her millionaire parents said they would not rest until they found her killer. And then they went on vacation to Charlevoix, Mich., laughing and joking a thousand miles from the scene of the crime. The police investigation has been dogged by mistakes and dumb decisions - like covering the body with a sheet and wiping away vital clues. Or allowing the Ramseys to fill their home with friends and contaminate the crime scene. Even Alex Hunter, the tough D.A. who once warned the killer that he was closing in and would show no mercy, has been hobbled by police politics and jealousies.

Critics say the case is going nowhere - that there will never be an arrest. But as JonBenet lies in her grave - the pageant dress she was buried in slowly rotting - GLOBE makes a solemn vow. We won't give up. That is a promise.

Unlike John and Patsy, we mean it when we say we will not rest until this case is solved. The massive reward is proof of our commitment. GLOBE offered a $50,000 reward in the weeks after the murder. Then the Ramseys posted a $100,000 reward. Now we have upped our amount to half a million dollars - five times the family's offer.

JonBenet's murder has fascinated people worldwide since the haunting pictures of the little beauty were first published. She lived amidst riches and splendor. But she died in terror. Strangled, gagged, her head bashed in, her little body bruised, scratched and violated.

We look forward to paying our $500,000 check to the person who provides us with the information that results in a conviction of JonBenet's murderer.

CHAIN OF EVENTS 1998

1998-06-23: John Ramsey Interrogation by Lou Smit and Mike Kane
(Screen Capture from "CBS 48 Hours Investigates - Searching for a Killer" 10/04/2002)

John Ramsey Interrogation by Lou Smit and Mike Kane
Present also were Bryan Morgan, PI David Williams
June 23, 24, 25, 1998 - Boulder, Colorado

http://www.jonbenetindexguide.com/1998BPD-John-Interview-Complete.htm

June 1998 John Ramsey Interrogation by Lou Smit and Mike Kane (Regarding the Reward)

0325
10 MIKE KANE: At some point, and I can't
11 remember, there was a reward that was posted. When
12 was that?
13 JOHN RAMSEY: We offered a reward literally
14 immediately. Nobody would publicize it. The police
15 didn't seem interested in publicizing it. I think
16 they were afraid they were going to get too many
17 calls or something.
18 We set up a deal with crime stoppers where we paid
19 for that service. I think we announced the reward.
20 And one of the reason we did this (INAUDIBLE)
21 press conference was to publicize the reward?
22 MIKE KANE: Were they --
23 JOHN RAMSEY: I don't know. There's
24 (INAUDIBLE) but that was one of our objectives.
25 And I was very disappointed that when the camera

0326
1 showed a picture of the reward poster, they cut it
2 off at just about the dollar amount. So we didn't
3 achieve what we wanted to achieve.
4 I asked early on, I said look, "Does it need to be
5 a million dollars?" (INAUDIBLE).
6 MIKE KANE: Who said that?
7 JOHN RAMSEY: We just got it back from
8 the police and we couldn't get anybody --
9 MIKE KANE: Did you talk to the police
10 about the amount?
11 JOHN RAMSEY: I don't remember.
12 MIKE KANE: When was it that you said the
13 people that they don't need it?
14 JOHN RAMSEY: You know, I'm sorry, I can't
15 do this because I don't remember.
16 MIKE KANE: So what was the figure that
17 was settled?
18 JOHN RAMSEY: A hundred thousand. But
19 we couldn't get anybody to publicize it or
20 whatever. The police weren't interested in talking
21 about it. It was very frustrating for us.
22 MIKE KANE: Did you take other steps to
23 publicize it, or what steps did you take?
24 JOHN RAMSEY: Well we announced it.
25 That's one reason why we did that press

0327
1 conference. Patsy had the poster and she held it
2 up to the cameras and said, "We are offering a
3 reward of $100,000."
4 MIKE KANE: Prior to May, was there one?
5 JOHN RAMSEY: Yeah. It had been announced.
6 We didn't get it. Nobody wanted to do it. We did
7 it. We worked out a deal with Crime Stoppers. It
8 cost us about five grand.
9 BRYAN MORGAN: There's a written record
10 about when we finally came to an agreement with
11 Crime Stoppers. It was very difficult to conclude,
12 which surprised me greatly. And we'd be happy to
13 provide that to you.
14 MIKE KANE: (INAUDIBLE) I guess I'm not
15 familiar with how Crime Stoppers works out here.
16 What was those discussions?
17 JOHN RAMSEY: I didn't have them directly.
18 I don't know. But I remember it was a bit
19 bureaucratic. You couldn't say this in the ad. And
20 I said, "Come on, we're trying to find a killer
21 here."
22 They had sponsored a golf tournament.
23 MIKE KANE: Was the initial award immediately --
24 you offered a reward, was that through Crime
25 Stoppers?

(SNIP)

0328
1 JOHN RAMSEY: I don't remember the sequence.
2 But I remember the issue was that the police
3 weren't interested in talking about it. The
4 feedback I got was that they weren't prepared to
5 handle all the calls that they would get from a
6 nationally publicized number on the reward.

June 1998 John Ramsey Interrogation by Lou Smit and Mike Kane (Regarding the Reward)

0328
7 So we went to Crime Stoppers and who were
8 supposedly set up for that. Got that set up. I
9 think that people we were immediately assigned. We
10 paid the phone expense every month, maybe still
11 are. And we tried to get the reward published. And
12 then we ran some pictures of JonBenet with that in
13 the Boulder paper. I don't remember when it was.
14 What we were trying, the best we can do to
15 (INAUDIBLE) this person, and we still look at this
16 way. There's a perverse of me doesn't want to see
17 it ever go off the front pages, even though it's
18 very harmful to Patsy and I. But I don't want
19 people to forget about it. I want to find this
20 person.
21 If this whole thing just dies and it loses public
22 interest, and so I'm helpful even though we're
23 awful tired of people sitting outside our home
24 with binoculars and cameras, and following the
25 children around with lights of in the back of the

0329
1 car, and those type of things.
2 MIKE KANE: In arriving at the figure of
3 a hundred thousand, did you talk to professionals
4 or your friends?
5 JOHN RAMSEY: I think we might have talked
6 -- I don't remember. It may have been. I wanted to
7 make it $118,000. but that seemed a little -- but,
8 basically what I was told is $100,000 is a lot of
9 money. And if somebody has something to say
10 they're going to say it for a hundred grand.
11 MIKE KANE: I just ask one final question.
12 LOU SMIT: And we'll take a break.
13 MIKE KANE: Did that produce anything?
14 JOHN RAMSEY: We got flurries of calls.
15 Obviously it hasn't produced what I had hoped.
16 MIKE KANE: Um hmm.
17 JOHN RAMSEY: I guess my impression is that.
18 if there was something, we would have heard by
19 now. So if we put a bigger reward on it, all it
20 would do is put more pressure on the person. It's
21 probably going to produce a phone call, or I don't
22 know.
23 MIKE KANE: Okay. That's it. It was quite
24 a lot.
25 BRYAN MORGAN: That's okay. There are

0330
1 things to, if you want to go off the record on
2 this. There are people we can tell you to talk to,
3 in charge of this, who really know the details
4 that John does not. We, frankly, should have
5 thought of that. I can give you those names, if
6 you want that we've been corresponding with, and
7 the (INAUDIBLE) to prove which were absolutely
8 savaged by the Mayor of this city, saying it was a
9 phony and fraudulent deal --
10 JOHN RAMSEY: That's right. To divert
11 attention from themselves and part of our
12 strategy.
13 BRYAN MORGAN: -- to divert attention from
14 (INAUDIBLE) obtain as a result of conversation
15 (INAUDIBLE) and it was horribly embarrassing to
16 have to say what we did. But we got ripped in
17 half. When we were running the ad, it was the
18 language he suggested in it.
19 Our experience in this whole matter has been
20 frustrating beyond words to describe. We can fill
21 it out anyway you want, Mike. I'm just asking. He
22 doesn't have to defend himself.
23 JOHN RAMSEY: We're sorry to be a little
24 feisty, but the media has earned a place in our
25 (INAUDIBLE). It is never going to go away. They're

0331
1 like animals.
2 LOU SMIT: And if I can say something too.
3 (INAUDIBLE) Mike is just trying to really get the
4 information that we're going to need.
5 JOHN RAMSEY: I know.
6 LOU SMIT: And I know I have the contacts
7 to do it.
8 BRYAN MORGAN: And we will provide it

1998-09-28: Letter from John Ramsey received by a news organization
Ramsey offers to pay the killer's family, children or friends the $100,000 reward money

(SNIP)

"To the killer, I would say that we can and will find you. There is a $100,000 reward for your arrest that still stands. You have the opportunity to do one good thing in your life by turning yourself in to the authorities and confessing. We have been told taht the authorities have your DNA. They will know it is you. If you surrender and are proven to be the killer, the $100,000 will be paid to anyone you choose. Surely you have a mother or spouse or child or friend to whom this money would be significant. Help them and help yourself. You know you will kill again, so do this one good thing in your life. Turn yourself in and ask for God's forgiveness. Your fellow man will be grateful and our family will be grateful."

(SNIP)

CHAIN OF EVENTS 2000

2000-03-18: �Death of Innocence� written by John and Patsy Ramsey

DOI Page 164

"In the spring we formed the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation. Some donations had been given in her memory at the time of her death, and in addition we added our own private funds. When Beth died, we had established a foundation in her honor and we wanted to do something similar for JonBenet. The foundation's overriding principle is this: children are our society's most valuable and fragile assets. We must nurture and protect our children with the full force of our abilities and be know as a society that values its children above all else.

We struggled for a time with what specifically we wanted the foundation to support. After much thought and prayer, it seemed right that one objective of the foundation would be to enhance the safety of children by helping focus resources and attention on the most heinous of crimes, child murder. Our experience had shown that local police in smaller jurisdictions don't have the experience and wisdom necessary to effectively track down child killers. Of the eighteen thousand police jurisdictions in the United States, many must be similar to Boulder, with limited experience and knowledge about this kind of horrible crime. We felt a need to make resources available to them, resources that could be called upon when a child was murdered. We also wanted the foundation to support the building of faith in children's lives, because faith is the ultimate armor for the battle of life. A strong foundation would enable them to grow spiritually for the rest of their lives. I had grown to understand how important my mother's early religious training had been to me. Now that I was walking this particularly difficult path, I was even more indebted to my faith, which helped me keep an eternal perspective and therefore my hope.

Patsy and I guaranteed a reward of one hundred thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed our daughter. Perhaps a role of the foundation could be to offer substantial rewards for unsolved child killings with a staffed resource center to solicit tips. Money has a way of making people talk. The tabloids know this. Maybe we could put their techniques to better use. We continue to refine the course of the foundation as we take it a step at a time to see where we might be most effective in protecting our children, and we need to find funding sources to carry out this work."

2000-03-18: �Death of Innocence� written by John and Patsy Ramsey

DOI Page 266

The police did not ask Patsy or me for further interviews, although rumors of our lack of cooperation continued to swirl. One day in April, out of sheer frustration, while sitting in our investigator's living room trying to figure out how to move the investigation forward, I grabbed a pen and piece of paper and wrote a letter to District Attorney Alex Hunter. I wanted him to know my position exactly, without being passed from our attorneys to his attorneys for interpretation. I was getting stronger emotionally and could start to deal with these issues myself. I finished the handwritten letter and gave it to Bryan Morgan, who hand delivered it to the DA. The letter said:

April 11, 1998

Dear Mr. Hunter,

I am writing this letter because it seems difficult at times for us to communicate through attorneys who are focused on protecting my rights as a citizen.

I want to be very clear on our family's position.

1)We have no trust or confidence in the Boulder Police. They have tried, from the moment they walked into our home on December 26, 1996, to convince others that Patsy or I or Burke killed JonBenet. I will hold them accountable forever for one thing - not accepting help from people who offered it in the beginning and who could have brought a wealth of experience to bear on this crime.

2)We (myself, Patsy, Burke, John Andrew, Melinda) will meet anytime, anywhere, for as long as you want, with investigators from your office. If the purpose of a Grand Jury is to be able to talk to us, that is not necessary. We want to find the killer of our daughter and sister and will work with you twenty-four hours/day to find "it."

3)If we are subpoenaed by a Grand Jury, we will testify, regardless of any previous meeting with your investigators.

I am living my life for two purposes, now. To find the killer of JonBenet and bring "it" to the maximum justice our society can impose. While there is a rage withint me that says, "Give me a few moments alone with this creature and there

won't be a need for a trial," I would have succumbed to behavior which the killer did. Secondly, my living children must not have to live under the legacy that our "entertainment industry" has given them based on false information, and a frenzy centered on our family's misery to achieve substantial profit.

It's time to rise above all this pettiness and politics and get down to the most important mission - finding JonBenet's killer. That's all we care about. The police cannot do it. I hope it's not too late to investigate the case properly, at last.

Finally, I am willing and able to put up a substantial reward ($1 million) through the help of friends if this would help drive information. I know this would be used against us by the media dimwits but if it would help, I don't care.

Please, let's all do what is right to "get" this worst of all killers in our midst.

Sincerely,
John Ramsey

2000-03-27: John and Patsy Ramsey on Larry King Live Show

KING: What are you doing to find them?
J. RAMSEY: We...
KING: You had a ransom for a while, right? I mean, you had an offer?
J. RAMSEY: And we still do have a reward for information. That's still standing: $100,000. We have active investigation that's been going on.
KING: Your own?
J. RAMSEY: Our own.

2000-08-29: John Ramsey Interview - Atlanta, Georgia
(Screen Capture from "CBS 48 Hours - Searching for a Killer" 10/04/2002)

John Ramsey Interview - Atlanta, Georgia - August 29, 2000
Interviewed by: Michael Kane, Bruce Levine, Mitch Morrissey,
Mark Beckner, Tom Wickman, Tom Trujillo and Jane Harmer

Ramsey Representatives Present: Lin Wood, Ollie Gray,
and John San Augustine

http://www.jonbenetindexguide.com/2000ATL-John-Interview-Complete.htm

August 2000 John Ramsey Atlanta Interview
($100,000 Reward)

0031
22 Q. (By Mr. Kane) Mr. Ramsey, page
23 266 and 267 of your book, you quote a letter
24 you sent to Alex Hunter.
25 A. Okay.

0032
1 Q. The last full paragraph of that,
2 finally I am willing, it's on 267, I am
3 willing and able to put up a substantial
4 reward, $1 million, through the help of
5 friends if this would help drive the
6 investigation.
7 Now, did you ever put up $1
8 million reward?
9 A. No. I was advised that it
10 wouldn't make any difference.
11 Q. Who was it that advised you of
12 that?
13 A. My attorneys. That $100,000 was
14 a significant amount of money. And I didn't
15 have a million dollars at that point. I
16 would have had to gone to friends for help.
17 And if it wasn't significant, I wasn't going
18 to approach my friends for that kind of
19 help.
20 Q. Did you talk to anybody else
21 about whether the amount of money offered
22 would have any bearing?
23 A. Well, I never got a response from
24 Alex on that, but I don't remember that I
25 did, no.

0033
1 Q. Was there something about, in your
2 attorney's experience, that they cited --
3 MR. WOOD: I don't want to go
4 into anything further on that, about
5 attorneys. The things they cited to him,
6 would go into the privilege.
7 MR. KANE: Fine. No problem.
8 Q. (By Mr. Kane) What did you
9 think? What did your instinct tell you
10 about a million versus 100,000?
11 A. Well, in the beginning, I thought
12 that that would drive information. At the
13 beginning we couldn't get the police to even
14 acknowledge or participate in announcing a
15 reward. It was very frustrating.
16 And so we, you know --
17 Q. Do you have a reward outstanding
18 right now?
19 A. Yes. As far as I am concerned,
20 we do.
21 Q. I am sorry?
22 A. As far as I'm concerned, we do,
23 yeah.
24 Q. Is it publicized anywhere?
25 A. It is publicized on our internet

0034
1 site, I believe.
2 Q. Who maintains that?
3 A. Ollie and I guess -- you can do
4 that yourself and have an internet service.
5 Q. You understand there is a reward
6 that is listed on your internet site?
7 A. (Witness nodded head
8 affirmatively).
9 Q. Is that that ramseyfamily.com?
10 A. It was originally. We changed
11 the number. I guess that is still how you
12 access it. I think you access it both ways,
13 don't you? Ramseyfamily.com, and we also set
14 up a JonBenetinfo@AOL.com.
15 Q. JonBenetinfo --
16 A. -- @AOL.com. That's not a
17 website.
18 Q. That is an e-mail?
19 A. Right.

(SNIP)

0047
17 Q. (By Mr. Kane) Mr. Ramsey, at the
18 present time, how much money is in the
19 JonBenet Ramsey Foundation?
20 A. I believe that is public record,
21 but I think there is about $7,000 in there.
22 Q. What is the highest balance that
23 you know of that it has been?
24 A. I don't know.
25 Q. Have you done any fundraisers to

August 2000 John Ramsey Atlanta Interview
($100,000 Reward)

0048
1 fund it?
2 A. No. It wasn't our intention to
3 raise public money. I set up a foundation
4 for my other daughter, which still exists, by
5 the way. We were desperate to honor our
6 daughter in some way, and that was our
7 attempt to do it, and why we have been
8 criticized for that, I don't know.
9 Q. You put out a press release that
10 gave an address for contributions to be made
11 to the foundation.
12 A. I don't remember ever asking for
13 contributions.
14 MR. WOOD: Do you have a copy of
15 the press release?
16 MR. KANE: Yes. As a matter of
17 fact, I do.
18 MR. WOOD: Why don't you let him
19 see it.
20 THE WITNESS: I would like to see
21 it.
22 MR. KANE: I have what the Denver
23 Post has published as coming from your press
24 release.
25 MR. LEVIN: While he gets booted

0049
1 up on that just so that we don't waste time,
2 how about if I ask him questions on another
3 matter? Does that work for you procedurally?
4 MR. WOOD: Sure.
5 THE WITNESS: Can I respond to
6 that though?
7 MR. WOOD: Go ahead, John.
8 THE WITNESS: I am offended, and
9 I have been offended. I have been offended
10 that you investigated that foundation during
11 the grand jury. I have a mind to disband
12 it and treat it just as a private -- we
13 want to honor our daughter, and we have
14 received nothing but grief from you folks,
15 from the media over that attempt, and I am
16 baffled by that.
17 Q. (By Mr. Kane) I'll get it, but
18 I want to follow up on that, you made an
19 application for it to be a 503(C) charitable
20 foundation, haven't you?
21 A. Yes.
22 MR. WOOD: I think it actually
23 has been so designated.
24 MR. KANE: Has it been? That
25 was what I was going to ask you.

0050
1 THE WITNESS: Yes.
2 MR. WOOD: There was a mistake in
3 the book jacket cover that indicated an
4 application had been made. An application
5 for tax exempt status has been submitted, and
6 I remember someone called it to the attention
7 of the publisher that, in fact, it had been
8 granted. I don't sit here and represent
9 that I have seen it, but I do know that
10 information.
11 Q. (By Mr. Kane) Has any, to your
12 knowledge, any of the money that ever has
13 been in that foundation ever been given to
14 any charitable --
15 A. Yeah.
16 Q. -- or social --
17 A. Not to the level we would have
18 hoped. I mean, our original plan was that we
19 were going to sue the hell out of the
20 tabloids and donate it all to the foundation
21 and do some very significant things. That
22 has been a tough process.
23 So we have not been able to do
24 with it what we hoped, but I hope some day
25 we can.

0051
1 Q. You did get money from the
2 public, though, that came in?
3 A. Very, very little. I got -- the
4 most significant donations I got were from
5 two friends. One was the president of
6 Lockheed-Martin, sent $1,000, and my boss
7 sent $1,000. We probably received a few
8 very small checks.

CHAIN OF EVENTS 2001

2001-12-26: JonBenet mystery's grip remains powerful

http://www.usatoday.com/news/near.htm
December 26, 2001
JonBenet mystery's grip remains powerful
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY

Five years ago, a 6-year-old girl entered the realm of popculture and true crime: JonBenet.

Strangled Christmas night 1996 in her well-to-do family's home in Boulder, Colo., the child beauty princess quickly became another synonym for scandal and mystery, like O.J. before her and Monica and Chandra since.

But a five-year police investigation, a 13-month grand jury probe, a $100,000 reward, civil lawsuits, lie detectors and handwriting experts, TV movies and documentaries, more than a dozen books, countless tabloid covers and an army of Internet sleuths have yet to catch the killer. Nor has time removed what Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner dubbed the "umbrella of suspicion" over the girl's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey.

The saga had begun to wane even before the terror attacks Sept. 11. Yet the mystery's grip is still strong, from courtroom to Internet to water cooler.

Internet gabfests, though fewer, are still vigorous. "It's hard to walk away," says Susan Bennett, who runs Web site Jameson245.com, which offers case news, tips and archives. "I want to see this killer caught and convicted."

JonBenet Ramsey's grave in Marietta, Ga., has become a shrine. Cemetery visitors leave notes, toys and mementos. L. Lin Wood, lawyer for the parents, says the fifth anniversary reopens the family wounds "a bit more."

Wood says the Ramseys' finances are dwindling as they live off savings. Their home in Atlanta, where they moved after the girl's death, is for sale. He says John Ramsey, once president and CEO of a computer company in Boulder, now is "almost unemployable."

The Ramseys' computer site (www.ramseyfamily.com) still is up. But Wood says the family no longer has the $100,000 reward it had been offering. He adds, however, that John Ramsey vows to "find a way to pay that reward" if someone provides information that helps arrest and convict the killer.

The couple's early use of lawyers and reluctance to talk to authorities raised suspicion about their involvement in the murder. They have made vigorous denials in news media interviews and meetings with investigators.

Boulder grand jurors questioned and cleared JonBenet's brother, Burke, but her parents never were called to testify, suggesting that prosecutors still suspect them. "It's clear to me that there has never been a thorough investigation of other possible suspects and leads," Wood says.

"That is simply not true," former special prosecutor Michael Kane says. He says the Ramseys were the only others in the house that night: "Somebody who was 30 feet away from where a crime was committed is going to be a suspect until somebody else is arrested and convicted."

As the criminal case cools, an array of civil cases heats up. By mid-January, Wood says, the Ramseys will ask for the files and records of the murder probe. "We expect to be rejected," he adds. An open-records lawsuit will then follow.

This month, the couple gave depositions in a libel case by a former reporter they had named as a police suspect in their book, The Death of Innocence. They also face a $50 million libel suit from their former housekeeper.

The Ramseys are suing a former Boulder police detective over his book, which suggested Patsy killed her daughter and wrote a ransom note. Also pending are libel suits against Court TV and the New York Post.

2001-12-26: Webbsleuths Forum (http://www.webbsleuths.org)
"USA Today tomorrow 12/26/2001"

14 . "Reward? Hmmmm...."
Posted by MrsBrady on Dec-26-01 at 01:17 PM (EST)

Isn't it interesting that even though the reward money kind of went "poof" that they are still advertising it, prominently, on their web page?

"PLEASE HELP!! $100,000 REWARD"
And on the "Contact" page...
"Contact Information
PLEASE HELP!! $100,000 REWARD.
Recent media area reports ..."
http://www.ramseyfamily.com

Isn't that kind of like fraud?

Oh yeah, I saved a copy of those pages, just in case.
PS - No, sorry, I was not contacted by USA Today. Not at all. Nope.

37 . "From the article"
Posted by Tricia on Dec-26-01 at 04:20 PM (EST)

"The Ramseys' computer site (www.ramseyfamily.com) still is up. But Wood says the family no longer has the $100,000 reward it had been offering. He adds, however, that John Ramsey vows to "find a way to pay that reward" if someone provides information that helps arrest and convict the killer."

The point being either the Ramseys are offering a reward or they are not. Wood says they don't have the money. They why is the 100 grand still on the web site? If John will find away to come up with the money then why would Wood say "the family no longer has the $100,000 reward it has been offering" Can't have it both ways here. Can't say we are broke and we can't pay the reward and then turn around and say "oh we will find the money don't worry". Either you have it or you don't. If the Ramseys don't have it and they are still offering the reward on their web site then that is FRAUD. The reward reminds me of the JonBenet Ramsey Foundation...all air and no substance.

Ramsey spin makes me dizzy.

In my constitutionally protected opinion the Ramseys know they will never have to pay ANYONE that reward money because one or both of them are guilty.

Tricia

41 . "Not the point"
Posted by Tricia on Dec-26-01 at 04:58 PM (EST)

Doesn't matter if "you are sure" you can come up with it. The point is if you offer a reward you need to have it already in the bank. At the very least this should be done so everyone knows you are serious. Plus it may be illegal to offer a reward if you don't really have it. I am checking on that right now.

The Ramseys need to put up or shut up. They have it or they don't. No "maybe" or "we can get it".

That seems very disingenuous. Like perhaps they are not serious about this.....

47 . "LovelyPigeon"
Posted by why_nut on Dec-26-01 at 05:19 PM (EST)

"The JBR Foundation was not established to provide rewards."
....................................................................................................
Yet the Foundation made that promise. The account of this promise is well-documented.

http://63.147.65.175/news/jon173.htm

Eventually the group plans to resell the home and turn over any profit to the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation, Bynum said. The foundation was set up by the Ramseys to administer a reward they offered for information leading to JonBenet's killer.

http://www.thedailycamera.com/extra/ramsey/1997/04/27-1.html

Today's advertisement in the Daily Camera offers a $100,000 reward from the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9705/09/briefs.pm/jonbenet.ramsey/

The reward is funded by the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation, the sole contributor of which, CNN has learned, is JonBenet's father, John Ramsey, a multimillionaire entrepreneur.

http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/extra/ramsey/0428jon.htm

The ad says the 6-year-old girl was murdered Christmas night "... in her home by an unknown person or persons." It says the reward is offered by the JonBenet Ramsey Children's Foundation and "the family urgently requests that if you have any knowledge which can assist in solving this crime, please contact (303) 443-3535 or Crime stoppers at (303) 440-7867."

http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/comm/pressrelease/RAMSEY/pr970207.html

Earlier reports stated that an award fund has been established by the Ramsey family in the amount of $50,000 and by a national publication in the amount of $50,000. "This information is incorrect," notes Brad Harvey, co-chairman of the non-profit Crime Stoppers organization. "We have been working with the Ramsey family attorneys for the past several weeks as they worked to establish a foundation which will be responsible for the funds," he adds.

57 . "thank you, why_nut"
Posted by LovelyPigeon on Dec-26-01 at 06:43 PM (EST)

I thought the reward aspect would be a provision of SHOES, which I did not think had ever been established.

I stand corrected on the JBR Foundation offering the reward.

64 . "the reward"
Posted by jameson on Dec-26-01 at 07:20 PM (EST)

If anyone comes forward with the evidence that gets a conviction, the reward will be paid. I don't know why people are so worried. Lin Wood was pointing out how their fortune is gone, he was not saying they wouldn't honor the reward.

65 . "Jameson"
Posted by Miranda on Dec-26-01 at 07:53 PM (EST)

The USA today article states:

"The Ramseys' computer site (www.ramseyfamily.com) still is up. But Wood says the family no longer has the $100,000 reward it had been offering. He adds, however, that John Ramsey vows to "find a way to pay that reward" if someone provides information that helps arrest and convict the killer."

While it is probable that John Ramsey would be able to raise $100,000.00, it is not guaranteed. And, since it is not guaranteed at this point, the reward money claim should be removed from their web site. It is wrong to offer a reward that isn't 100% guaranteed. I would strongly suggest that John try and raise this money NOW, so that the reward money can be 100% guaranteed. Considering how much money the Ramseys can make from the Steve Thomas case, a refund option should be available if they manage to collect from Thomas.

2001-12-31: Webbsleuths Forum (http://www.webbsleuths.org)
"Do rewards work?"

2 . "For the record"
Posted by jameson on Dec-31-01 at 12:15 PM (EST)

Brigid posted that she received an E-mail, dated 8/7/01, from Larry Wieda of Crimestoppers:

"Good Morning!

I'm not sure as to what the question or the concerns are, but there is no reward being offered by Boulder County Crime Stoppers. There was an agreement that was settled with the Ramesy's after they used our name and program without our permission. The Fund was supposed to be set up by the Ramsey's and as we understand it never was.

The Bottom Line is, Boulder County Crime Stoppers did not or never has offered a reward of $100,000. It, BCCS, agreed to administer the reward offered by the Ramsey's from their JonBonet Reward Foundation which was to be set up by them at the time the articles were released and without the permission of BCCS.

If you are or were interested in the reward you must contact the Ramsey's for any further information.

Officer Larry Wieda
Boulder County Crime Stoppers Coordinator"

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