We now know that the Grand Jury indicted John and Patsy Ramsey in the death of Jonbenet, in 1999, which sheds light on what Alex Hunter did not say.
In Statement Analysis, we recognize what someone says and what someone edits out of their statement.
Alex Hunter allowed the public to believe that the Grand Jury failed to indict John and Patsy Ramsey. He did not lie, as he chose his words carefully. Few people actually tell direct lies; instead, they leave out details which allow the listener to interpret incorrectly.
At the shocking news conference, Alex Hunter was truthful, yet deliberately misleading when he said that the Grand Jury had finished their work,
""I and my prosecution task force believe we do not have sufficient evidence to warrant a filing of charges against anyone who has been investigated at this time," after saying that the Grand Jury had finished their work and reviewing all the evidence.
The pronouns tell us that this was, indeed, his decision. A jury of the Ramseys' peers felt that there was enough evidence to formally charge the Ramseys, which under protocol, means that arrest warrants are sworn out.
Hunter would not dare go up against private attorneys. Mary Lacy was no better, rushing to blame John Mark Karr, without a shred of evidence, only to later publicly clear the Ramseys, again, without a shred of evidence clearing them. The 'touch DNA' neither proved nor disproved anything.
For those who believe that the Ramseys would have gotten away with the homicide anyway, there are two things to consider:
1. The obligation to Jonbenet Ramsey, for justice;
2. The possibility of a plea bargain, even when dealing with high powered lawyers.
The first allows Hunter to sleep at night; at least, people could have said, he tried to obtain justice for Jonbenet. But to not even try is the cowardly way out.
We've seen it since, too.
We saw a mountain of evidence in the death of Hailey Dunn, including child pornography, yet we have seen no prosecution.
We watched Cindy Anthony raise her right hand, call upon God to help her, and perjure herself, in the face of plain evidence and testimony and we saw no prosecution.
We listened to police reveal Baby Ayla's blood found in the basement of her home, yet no arrest warrant to date.
In some of these cases, we have hope that prosecution will go forward, yet we know that Cindy Anthony was allowed to stroll off into her leisure, living off the blood of Caylee Anthony, who has yet to receive justice.
Jonbenet Ramsey is not likely to receive justice from Boulder.
Will Boulder officials seek out the anonymous sources?
Exclusive: JonBenet Ramsey grand jury voted to indict parents in 1999, but DA refused to prosecute
On a brilliantly clear autumn day more than 13 years ago, Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter stepped to the podium before an anxious media horde to announce that the grand jury investigation into the death of JonBenet Ramsey had come to an end.
"I and my prosecution task force believe we do not have sufficient evidence to warrant a filing of charges against anyone who has been investigated at this time," Hunter told the reporters assembled outside the Boulder County Justice Center on Oct. 13, 1999.
Yet multiple sources, including members of the grand jury, have now confirmed to the Daily Camera what Hunter did not say that day: The grand jury voted to indict both John and Patsy Ramsey on charges of child
abuse resulting in death in connection with the events of Christmas night 1996 -- but Hunter refused to sign the indictment, believing he could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
One legal expert, however, believes Colorado law may have obligated Hunter to at least sign the indictment, even if he elected not to prosecute the case.
"We didn't know who did what," one juror told the Camera, "but we felt the adults in the house may have done something that they certainly could have prevented, or they could have helped her, and they didn't."
Boulder attorney Bryan Morgan, who represented John Ramsey through the conclusion of the grand jury process, said Saturday, "If what you report actually happened, then there were
Former Boulder First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wise was among those confirming the jury's vote.
"It names both of them, John and Patsy Ramsey," said Wise, who was Hunter's top assistant for 28 years but did not participate in the grand jury process.
Child abuse resulting in death, when charged as "knowingly or recklessly,"
John Ramsey looks on as his wife, Patsy, holds an advertisement promising a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of their 6-year-old daughter, JonBenet, during an interview with reporters on May 1, 1997, in Boulder. Thirteen years after the conclusion of the grand jury investigation into JonBenet s death, sources have confirmed to the Daily Camera that the jurors voted to indict the Ramseys on charges of child abuse resulting in death but then-District Attorney Alex Hunter refused to prosecute the case. (Camera file photo)
Legal experts are unsure whether Hunter's decision not to sign the indictment agrees with Colorado grand jury law.
In an email, University of Colorado Law School professor Mimi Wesson, who has followed the Ramsey case over the years, wrote, "The Colorado statute governing grand jury practice says ... that '(e)very indictment shall be signed' by the foreman of the grand jury and the prosecuting attorney."
In the event that the grand jury voted to indict on charges that Hunter did not believe he could prove at trial, Wesson said it is her opinion that proper legal procedure would have been to sign the document, file it with the court and then move in open court to dismiss the charges.
"That would be the more transparent and responsible course, in my opinion," Wesson wrote.
It would have allowed the public to react, and react, the public would have.
Hunter, who left office in 2001 after 28 years as Boulder County's district attorney, declined to discuss the grand jury's actions, but he did issue the following statement last week via email:
"Colorado statutes, the ethical canons which govern the practice of law, and the Boulder District Court's oaths, instructions and orders in the JonBenet Ramsey grand jury proceedings, are well established and absolutely clear with respect to the various participants' legal obligations, duties and responsibilities, including the inviolate secrecy of the proceedings and the differing burdens of proof applicable to jurors and prosecutors.
"As the duly elected district attorney at the time and as an officer of the court then and now, I must respectfully decline further comment."
Boulder police Chief Mark Beckner also would not discuss the Ramsey grand jury.
"I'm sworn in, and I can't say anything about the grand jury," Beckner said. "I would be violating my oath of secrecy and I can't do that."
Straining at the bit...
Denver criminal defense lawyer and legal analyst Dan Recht pointed out that the standard of proof for a grand jury to indict, which is probable cause, is a far lower threshold than what Hunter would have had to meet at trial.
"It couldn't be more different in a jury trial," Recht added. "So what Alex Hunter was thinking about was, 'But can I prove this beyond a reasonable doubt?' Because that's the burden that the prosecution has at a trial. So he seemingly decided, 'I am not going to be able to prove this child abuse resulting in death beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury.'"
'Somebody did something pretty horrible'
Jurors confirming the vote to the Camera -- who agreed to talk only on the condition of anonymity -- nevertheless acknowledged continuing uncertainty about what really went on in the middle of the night in the house at what was then known as 755 15th St., and is now 749 15th St.
"It's still unresolved," one juror said. "Somebody did something pretty horrible that wasn't punished.
"I'm not saying that I am at peace. But I had sympathy with his (Hunter's) decision. I could see the problem that he was in. I could understand what he was doing."
The Ramseys and their now-adult son Burke were exonerated in the case in July 2008 by then-District Attorney Mary Lacy, based on updated analysis of DNA samples from JonBenet's clothing -- although numerous prosecutors labeled her doing so as both unusual and questionable.
Former Ramsey attorney Morgan, however, said, "In the intervening years, the techniques for retrieving and testing DNA improved to the point where it conclusively demonstrated the Ramseys' innocence. "
Still, one juror who spoke with the Camera expressed a feeling of still not being completely reconciled with Hunter's decision. But the juror added that, perceiving that it would be a difficult case to try, Hunter's declining to sign the indictment, also known as a true bill, was understandable.
And, the juror said, "I think I did believe that they would get more evidence and figure out who did it."
Another grand juror who confirmed the vote said, "I think I have conquered the feeling of any acute frustration.
"This is what we thought, and that's what you (the prosecutors) asked us for, and that's what we gave you, our opinion," the juror added. "That was our job, and the rest of the legal procedure, they just do with it what has to be done."
Several grand jurors declined to comment on their vote. One, in doing so, said, "Our job was to try to come up with, to help solve, this crime.
"It has not been solved yet, and we are still under oath to keep silent and I would like to honor that. And I still have all the hope that, in the coming years, this crime will be solved properly."
'Not enough evidence to file'
Because under Colorado law grand jury proceedings are secret, and those participating in the process are sworn to uphold that secrecy, few directly involved would discuss the case on the record. Several agreed to talk, although not all did so for attribution.
Wise did not participate directly in the grand jury proceedings. But he learned of the results after its conclusion, and he defends Hunter's decision not to press forward with a prosecution.
"I absolutely do" believe Hunter made the right decision, said Wise, who is now retired. "And I thought it was a pretty courageous decision, because I know about the public pressure that was being put on everybody who was involved -- but particularly the elected district attorney."
Bob Grant at that time was the district attorney for neighboring Adams County. Grant was among a small group of local prosecutors with whom Hunter met monthly. He used those colleagues as advisers throughout the case, which drew rapt attention from an international audience, spawned more than a dozen books and a television movie, and has ultimately proved to be one of the nation's most enduring criminal mysteries.
"It is a case that has stuck with me for decades now because no one has been held accountable for the murder of a young child," Grant said in a recent interview.
Grant would not confirm or deny the grand jury's actions, citing the secrecy rules.
However, Grant said, "Had there been a question of whether to sign a document or not, I would have been among those advising not to indict, because I did not believe there was a winnable case based on the evidence at that time."
Wise said that those advising Hunter were not all of one mind when the decision was made.
"I would say there was not unanimity, or a unanimous decision, by anyone," Wise said. "I know of at least one, and possibly two (prosecutors), who felt it should have been filed, period, end of discussion. And I know of at least two, if not more than two, probably four, that thought there was not enough evidence to file."
Juror: Process was 'traumatic'
The grand jury process is predicated on a veil of secrecy such that Hunter, in his news conference at its conclusion, said, "Under no circumstances will I or any of my advisers, prosecutors, the law enforcement officers working on this case or the grand jurors discuss grand jury proceedings today or ever, unless ordered by the court."
The grand jurors who have nevertheless now spoken about their Ramsey experience take pride in their service to the judicial system.
"I actually believe that I did a good job with being able to pay attention to the actual evidence that was said," one juror said of the grand jury experience. "I didn't go in there with my mind made up, one way or the other."
That juror talked about being bothered by seeing a disparity between what was presented as evidence and what was being reported outside the courthouse by insatiable media.
Jurors even in routine cases are typically cautioned to avoid media coverage, and the juror said that was the case for the Ramsey grand jury -- but only at first.
"At the beginning, they said, 'Don't look at the media.' But this was a year-and-a-half we were doing this, so some time not long after the beginning, they said, 'We really can't ask you not to look at the media. There is too much stuff going on.'"
And so, the juror said, "The instructions sort of changed to, 'What you need to pay attention to is what's said in this room. You've already seen how much out there is not true. Pay attention to what is said inside this room because this is evidence we can back up. And things that are said outside aren't that way.' They expected us to be grownups about it, if you will."
While speculation was rampant outside the Boulder County Justice Center about what might be going on in the grand jury room, for the eight women and four men deciding the case, the work was both sobering and draining.
"It was pretty traumatic," a juror said. "It was a horrible event, and to really have to delve into all of the evidence and know what happened and get details was difficult.
"The reality is it was a horrible thing, and I didn't have the luxury of picking and choosing what I would pay attention to. I needed to know what happened in every detail, so it was difficult. So many people had been traumatized by this, and hurt, and scared."
Another juror commented on fears that family members might "disown" the juror over that juror's refusal to discuss the ongoing work with relatives.
But that juror was honored to be part of the process.
"I thought, and believe, that they were presenting all of the relevant information we needed to make a decision like that, and that's all we did," said the juror.
As for Hunter's decision not to go forward with a prosecution, the juror said, "That's the way it goes. I don't have any thoughts on what should or should not have been done.
"That's why we, the people, put him there. Alex Hunter was, and is, a very, very intelligent person. It was interesting, and rewarding, being part of the legal justice system."
Wise, Hunter's former top assistant, defended the ultimate decision not to press forward, in part because prosecution would have been difficult with two defendants.
"When you have a true bill that says two people were involved, but it doesn't say what the involvement of the people was, all a good defense attorney has to do is to separate their trials ... and, all of a sudden, you've got nothing," Wise said.
"You're operating under the theory that two people might have been responsible for the death ... and when you separate them, you don't know which of the two people was responsible for what. And so I thought it was the right decision."
More recently, Boulder prosecutors were successful in prosecuting a high-profile child abuse resulting in death case; Alex and Molly Midyette, of Louisville, were indicted by a grand jury and tried in the death of their infant son Jason, who died in 2006. Both were convicted, although Alex Midyette was found guilty of the lesser charge of "criminally negligent" child abuse, which is a Class III felony.
Wise acknowledged that in Hunter's time in office, felony trials were not routinely pursued, and rarely did one go forward if the evidence was shaky.
"Absolutely," Wise said. "That is the way we operated in that office for years and years and years.
"We never steamrolled ahead on a case that has less than adequate evidence, to at least have a feeling that you can get a conviction. If that feeling didn't exist, we didn't file the case. We never steamrolled a case."
Ramsey case forever unresolved?
With Lacy's exoneration of the Ramseys and their son, Burke, in 2008, and the news now that a grand jury in 1999 determined that both parents should face charges, plus the false arrest in 2006 of a confessed intruder suspect, John Mark Karr, and death that same year of Patsy Ramsey, a key witness no matter who the defendant, a case that has seemed star-crossed from the first day might appear farther than ever from seeing a firm resolution.
Current Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett, upon taking office for his first term in January 2009, announced he was returning the Ramsey case -- which Lacy had taken over from the police department -- back to the police. And it is with the Boulder Police Department that the Ramsey case now resides.
"The Boulder police are in charge of the investigation, and if the state of the evidence changes to where charges can be filed consistent with Colorado ethical standards for prosecution, I will do so and will say whatever I have to say about this case on the record and in open court," Garnett said recently. "I will have no comment otherwise about the state of the evidence."
Referring to Lacy's exoneration of the Ramseys, Garnett said, "As I have said before, the exoneration speaks for itself. But all that matters to me as district attorney is the evidence, and where it leads. We'll follow the evidence wherever it leads us."
Wise and Grant both question the validity of Lacy's exoneration, and they say Garnett -- and his successors -- are not bound by it.
"It's more inappropriate than anything else," Grant said. "It's not a prosecutorial duty to exonerate people. It's a prosecutorial duty to seek justice and to prosecute the bad guys. If you don't have a bad guy to prosecute, don't exonerate people who are at least peripherally under suspicion. I didn't think it was appropriate at all."
Many observers, taking note of the many problems and conflicts that have plagued the case over the years, have theorized that it could now never successfully be prosecuted, short of a confession backed by corroborating DNA evidence.
But Garnett rules nothing out.
"In my first term, we made cold case prosecution a priority," Garnett said, "and in Ryan Brackley, I have one of the best cold case prosecutors in the United States on my staff. Certainly, the Ramsey case is one of the cold cases we would take great satisfaction in solving and filing and pursuing in court."
A juror, reflecting on the grand jury experience, and Hunter's decision not to prosecute the indictment, emphasized that the entire matter has long been out of the jurors' hands.
"I believe and feel our effort was well executed, the results of which were, as they say, pro bono publico, for the public good," the juror said.
"You say, 'Our job was well done, we gave them an opinion.' What happened after that, we went through all that and you find out that the bottom line was the district attorney felt there wasn't enough evidence to proceed with any further effort in this regard.
"Can he do that? Yes, he most certainly can."
24 comments:
I think there was much more evidence at hand that was being released to the media. Also, the evidence was “said” according to a juror. This implies to me that the evidence presented was “said” to them and not shown to them. They did clarify that they could back up the evidence “said inside this room”. I would think that the media was reporting stuff that was in favor of the Ramseys. I think the interviews held was what confused the jurors with what was “said” and what the Ramseys “said” in the interviews.
For what it's worth, when I first saw JonBenet's photo in 1996 in her full sexualized showgirl regalia I was shocked. Now with the Honeybooboo's the media has made that "mainstream" and the shock value is gone. There is something sick going on with child pageants and the parents that pursue these types of child competition.
I did a search for "anonymous sources" in the article and found nothing. What does this mean?
"Will Boulder officials seek out the anonymous sources?"
I think Alex Hunter was trying to fit the evidence towards the "santa claus" that visited the Ramsey home. Therefore he clashed with police. After time went by, he may have realized the error of his ways. In 2006 he had an interview where he made statements such as:
"I think I was coming from a point where I hoped I might be able to shake something out of the bush, and I might suggest to the killer that I knew something that they didn't know.
"I think my heart was in the right place, but I think I was probably operating a little bit from too low in my gut."
"At that point in time . . . there was not sufficient information for somebody to be suggesting that they . . . had a loop they were about to throw over somebody's head."
Does this mean at another point in time there was sufficient evidence. Also stated by Hunter.
He was not happy with Mary Lacy's decision either:
"It's a prosecutor sort of saying how she or he thinks things look at the time, and I saw that as something that might come back to haunt the prosecution and to prejudice a potential case in the future."
Any lawyer some day representing a defendant who was not "an intruder" suspect, Hunter said, would "by hook or by crook" get that statement in front of a jury.
"That boxes you in," he said, "in a case that needs to be absolutely open until the truth is determined."
He is a coward, and shame on him for not proceedeing further even if there was an acquittal. His duty was for justice. Not a win.
He acknowledges it:
"I know we're in kind of a 'if-you- don't-win-it-you've-lost-it' sort of society. But justice is a little bit different than that. I think some credit needs to be given to these police officers and these prosecutors and others for their commitment here."
http://m.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/dec/25/justice-that-faltered/
Alex Hunter is a political ally of the firm Haddon, Morgan & Foreman, the law firm representing the Ramseys. That explains why he failed to indict The Ramseys.
I have been reading up in this case a lot due in part to the attention it's being given on this site. In my recent reading, I recall coming across articles/interviews whatever about the possibility that the grand jury voted to indict, but that prosecutors wouldn't go forward. I've been mostly reading the interviews, so it's the PD or whatever talking, but they were using careful language back then and not being explicit about what happened with the grand jury, but there were questions about it even at the time. BTW, I hope Peter cover's John Ramsey's first police interview (lights out, lights out) and a change of story from what was in the police reports. I'm still plowing through John Ramsey's second interview, done much later, like 2000 or something, long, but I think very revealing (e.g. punishment for the killer should be to have a tatoo on his forehead saying I killed JonBenet(!!!), that is being identified as the killer would be punishment in his view, amazing. As I've seen in other interviews, quick to mention Beth's car accident as a traumatic life changing event, but JonBenet who? Her name is hardly mentioned, anyway for another time)
When they decide not enought evidence to take to trial, they forget about an important element: more evidence can come during the trial. If more people are responsible and charged there is more chance for one of them to tell the truth to save themselves.
Does anyone know if the housekeeper is still alive...and speaking out? She was shocked when the grand jury didn't indict Patsy Ramsey. She felt all of their questions were geared toward her. I believe the housekeeper even hired a lawyer to have them release the grand jury report.
Sus, this is an interview with a former Ramsey housekeeper
http://www.acandyrose.com/s-linda-wilcox.htm
Anonymous said...
Alex Hunter is a political ally of the firm Haddon, Morgan & Foreman, the law firm representing the Ramseys. That explains why he failed to indict The Ramseys.
January 28, 2013 at 10:57 AM
************
Outrageous!! This doesn't even attempt to hide the suggestion that there was a pay off for not prosecuting the Ramsay's
There is no needfor a payoff. These attorneys are powerful. Picture Alex a cyclist in the USPS team and the attorneys for the Ramsey's as Armstrong. If he didn't play ball they would have destroyed him.
It smacks of a pay off.
Donations for the DA's campaign, ramsey standing for office and thus a possible ally.
It is not for the DA to decide innocence or guilt, it is their job to sign off the warrants and then allow both sides their chance in court and a jury to decide.
I for one, would be doing some serious delving to see why he didn't do his job, and what links him to the ramseys
As a matter of interest , since the grandy jury indicted them, is it possible the warrants still exist and can they be signed off by the new DA?
Thanks. Interesting read except that's not the housekeeper I'm thinking of. The more recent one...Hoffman-Pugh, I believe was her name.
Destroyed him? If d.a. couldn't do what was right and ethical, he's already destroyed. Worthless in the position of d.a.
I would rather know I tried to do the right thing than back down and let someone manipulate me.
Hunter could have, and should have, handed over the indictment to others to prosecute. He simply did not refuse to sign it, he went on to sabotage the police work.
That means that someone at Haddon, Morgan & Foreman must have had some creepy stuff on him.
Steve Thomas' book clearly outlines what the boulder detectives were up against in dealing with Hunter and the district attorneys 'task force'. His characterization of Hunter is he was basically spineless, cowardly and regarded as a joke within the system. Hunter ran for office by disparaging the incumbent for plea bargaining a large percentage of charges, but after being elected he rearranged the charging system, and implemented 'pre-charging negotiations'...meaning that a deal for lenient sentencing and reduced charges were negotiated by the prosecutor and a criminals attorney BEFORE charges were brought. As a result Hunter appears (on paper) to be a hard-nosed prosecutor who never plea bargains with the accused, when in reality the criminals who committed the crimes were basically deciding what they would be charged with and how much time they would serve!
The sabotage that Hunter and the district attorneys office did to the Ramsey investigation was criminal. Hiring their own team of investigators to refute the investigation and 'prove the intruder theory', hacking into the police computer to steal the DNA results, leaking information to the Ramsey attorneys and the press and refusing to bring the indictment returned by the grand jury to trial. From everything I've read, Peter is absolutely right..Hunter was SCARED. He knew he didn't have a chance at successful prosecution because everything he did in his career was an effort to avoid the courtroom. When he should have stepped up, he tucked his tail and ran rather than admit he was in over his head and appoint another prosecutor to do the job he couldn't.
Please help find Ayla
I'm glad they're seeking justice:) It sounds like they have intelligent people working on the evidence.
Please help find Ayla
I thought Steve Thomas asked good questions in Patsy's long police interview. He must be happy that his instincts and detective work are now being taken seriously. I hope we analyze this: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0005/31/lkl.00.html
Please help find Ayla
ST: Well, Patsy I can tell you this, since December 28th when I was asked to participate in this case, this has been in one aspect or another, MY ENTIRE LIFE, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, EVERY WAKING THOUGHT. AND MOST OF THE TIME, MOST OF MY DREAMS AT TONIGHT. And I can tell you, and I can speak for Tom and Pete Hoffstroma well. And not speak out of school, but we are committed to finding the person who did this and (inaudible) of that is the truth, and that’s entirely what we’re working towards regardless of what you read in the tabloids or the newspaper.
He must be happy to finally have help…
I didn't know that Alex Hunter was linked to the Ramseys' attorneys... That says a lot. It's maddening to think how close the Ramseys were to a trial than never happened thanks to their money and strong connections.
There were so many people working day and night on this case for so long, it must have been a heartbreak for them not to get a closure and justice for Jonbenet.
Lots of lives have changed after that murder and investigation.
The case could be active again/ solved only after finding new evidence: a confession from the killer(s).
I started to read (first time) about this case last year, and I read through lots of interviews, articles, autopsy reports, etc.
I was open minded, even after the initial red flags from their statements: mother leaning over ransom note, not picking it up, mother claiming she never actually read the whole note, couple inviting friends to the crime scene, not even considering the threat in the ransom note, they not waking their son to keep him safe next to them after an alleged intruder walked through the house taking their daughter, not asking the son for his help, to see if he heard or saw something... What parent could come up with such a sick cover up though?
The couple's statements during the interviews, the above actions from them, the ransom note's lenght, nature, words, all speak against the intruder theory though.
Her head and neck injuries so close to each other speak against the accidental death (in my mind).
In the "family did it theory" the big risk was probably proving who comitted the murder / or was responsible for the accidental death.
In my opinion when police is sure in a case, they should go after the killer, build a case against the killer, and charge the "helpers" separately, later with the lesser charges, if that's possible to do in the justice system. It seems it has much more layers and intersts than I thought.
Anonymous 5:24 asks a good question.
Where did the parents learn to cover up a crime this way?
Answer: they had books and videos in the home, including John Douglas' book that describe the very thing they did in the cover up.
Pasty forgot to change her clothes too.
Peter, do you think the son will ever come out with a statement? He should be over 21 now. Was he ever re-interviewed as an adult? I'm just thinking. I know this case would have slim chances either way after all the things it went through, but the truth could still be told one day.
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