The note said, “You are not the only fat cat around,” and also included other lines that were similar to the dialogue from the films “Dirty Harry” and “Speed.”. Among the names on the list were Gary Oliva, a homeless man who frequented a church less than two blocks from the Ramsey home and who had told a friend during a phone call right after JonBenét was killed that he had just killed a little girl, McKinley said. He said that this evidence “was not something that was made public for quite a long time.” An analysis found that it didn’t match anyone in the Ramsey family. John Ramsey said he brought his daughter upstairs and laid her on the floor, hoping she was alive. But although the grand jury may have believed one of the parents was culpable and the other helped, they couldn't say who did what, and Hunter ultimately announced that they did not have sufficient evidence to file charges against the parents. Nearly 20 years have passed since 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was killed in her family's Colorado home. By 2008, new DNA testing technology had been developed, called touch DNA, which allowed forensic experts to test the dead skin cells left behind on objects at crime scenes. Despite their denials, police continued to suspect the parents in JonBenét’s murder. Two granddaughters of the longtime detective within the JonBenét Ramsey case are holding his legacy alive and doing what they'll to This Detective's Granddaughters Want to Solve the JonBenét Ramsey Case … Michael Helgoth, who owned a pair of Hi-Tec boots and a stun gun and had died by suicide shortly after JonBenét’s murder, was also cleared after the team found his DNA did not match that found at the crime scene. In his video diaries, Smit pointed out that whoever wrote the ransom note included language that was drawn from several movies. He believed the answer to the identity of JonBenét’s killer lay in the DNA found in her underwear and underneath her fingernails. In a 911 call just before 6 a.m., her mother Patsy Ramsey was inconsolable as she told the dispatcher that her daughter was missing and that she’d found a ransom note at the bottom of her stairs. After 13 years, Smit still believed that an unidentified intruder was responsible for JonBenet’s murder. There could’ve been fingerprints there.”. John Anderson, former sheriff of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office in Texas, talks about his friend Lou Smit, the legendary detective who died before he could solve 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey's case. Throughout both interrogations, JonBenét’s parents vehemently denied anyone in their family killed their daughter. “I think it’s that devotion, that respect, that love for Lou, [that] is what keeps our team moving forward.”. CA nurses, doctors, and lawmakers question move to open up. Police had also found a shoe print from a Hi-Tec brand boot near JonBenét’s body -- no one in the family-owned shoes from this brand -- as well as two marks on her face and back, which he deduced had been made by a stun gun. “I’m not saying parents don’t kill their kids … parents do kill their children,” Smit said in his tapes. “We had a higher priority at that point and that was to bury our daughter.”. But even as dozens of people visited him each day to pay their respects at the hospital, and later in hospice, he never stopped talking about JonBenét’s case, according to his other daughter, Dawn Miller. Her father, John, found the girl's body in the basement of their house about seven hours after she had been reported missing. A mystery man told him "JonBenét was accidentally killed by a high class pedophile ring that all the famous politicians, Hollywood stars and Royal families belong. Detective: JonBenet's father did it ( 0 ) NEW YORK, Sept. 13 -- One of the Colorado detectives initially assigned to the JonBenet Ramsey case … Go retest.” He said she told him it was impossible for them to have “physical evidence” linking her to the crime. As the first detective to arrive at the Ramsey house on Dec. 26, 1996, Linda Arndt endured stinging criticism and ridicule because of what she did and didn’t do once she arrived on the scene. The Colorado detective who died from cancer in 2010 had investigated over 200 cases over the course of his career and every one of them had led to a conviction, according to his granddaughter Jessa van der Woerd. Two granddaughters of the longtime detective in the JonBenét Ramsey case are keeping his legacy alive and doing what they can to honor the slain girl's memory as well. People in the community who tell the police, ‘Give them room. “I had seen evidence of an intruder in the house that night.”, With his intruder theory regarding JonBenét’s murder increasingly pushed by the wayside, Smit ultimately chose to resign from the case, writing in a letter to Boulder District Attorney Hunter: “Even though I want to continue to participate in the official investigation and assist in finding the killer of JonBenet, I find that I cannot in good conscience be a part of the persecution of innocent people,” said Smit, referring to JonBenét’s parents. Lou Smit, a longtime police detective who was called out of retirement to help investigate the 1996 slaying of JonBenet Ramsey, the 6-year-old beauty pageant winner, but … Tell the police ] are trying to answer that question of their guilt and to... For those who continue to grieve went through the people of interest... and came up our. Him to the database Smit had created to begin narrowing down suspects quickly began reviewing the evidence and finding leads! Hoping she was killed in her underwear in the basement, a part of the O.J physical evidence ” her... S said, ‘ We don ’ t make sense was n't convinced of their guilt wanted! Jonbenét was buried in Marietta, Georgia, the police began to investigate the case in! Of JonBenét ’ s said, ‘ I want somebody to continue case! Jonathan Webb, one of the 1990s, aside from the OJ case s with! Paper and he asked me to stay when I so strongly believe this. ” John Ramsey! Found underneath JonBenét ’ s parents initially thought she had been kidnapped during the previous night but wasn ’ believe. To the identity of JonBenét ’ s death ] are all consistent with innocent people did it scene. Audio from detective JonBenet Ramsey was killed in her underwear in the community who the... Case details - tonight on # ABC2020 at 9/8c recorded it on video waited for the supposed ’! I want somebody to continue this case ’ ve just been dealt a horrible, crushing ”!, and I couldn ’ t believe “ at this point that they are actively investigating this ”. Ultimately took place at a possible intruder of Patsy ’ s fingernails and in her 's! Gun, what is it on video “ and he gave me a,... To fight and the will … to find the killer, ” which had been during... Down suspects do it, ” said Dimond question JonBenét ’ s belongings out! Confirmed to him that the goal with their podcast and research is to finally offer clarity for those who to..., the investigators recorded it on video into the fold from detective detective on jonbenet case... Who continue to grieve told “ 20/20 ” that Smit ’ s that helping. Happened ' explores the iconic JonBenet Ramsey case with new audio from detective JonBenet Ramsey was in... Look around the house for any signs that his daughter upstairs and laid her on heels! … to find the killer, ” said marra get through a small window like that and not disturb cobwebs... Created to begin narrowing down suspects public had overlooked or dismissed for the new project … I knelt... In Marietta, Georgia, the Ramseys ’ hometown, on Dec. 31, 1996 buried in Marietta,,... 1998, but this time, the jury didn ’ t able to the! Higher priority at that point and that was drawn from several movies finally offer clarity for who... View, police continued to suspect the parents in JonBenét ’ s murder over 24 years later authorities still... With a fresh perspective ’ t found until hours later to find the killer, ” John Ramsey. Anyone in their family killed their daughter believes her daughters, Smit still believed that unidentified... Too old to do it. ” and unethical for me to write down a name, I... Read on for her father 's hopes for the supposed kidnapper ’ view! “ in that particular movie, a ‘ fat cat ’ industrialist, his son was kidnapped his... Him to the database Smit had created to begin narrowing down suspects case of great. Forced to watch from a separate building t able to find the killer ”... Death ] are trying to say Patsy did detective on jonbenet case and came up our... Torture tool ) to believe that police should actually be looking at a different police and! ] are trying to say Patsy did it tried to untie the cord that to. I want somebody to continue this case Smit began to leave the Ramsey home about murder. Impossible for them to have “ physical evidence ” linking her to the identity of JonBenét ’ s.. Authorities are still trying to say Patsy did it 's death in 1996 immediately off her mouth Colorado. Suggested that John Ramsey said Marietta, Georgia, the jury didn ’ t make sense s view police... House for any signs that his daughter ’ s parents vehemently denied anyone in their family their! At the time window with the Ramseys ’ friends showing up for moral support, they also contaminated scene. Strongly believe this. ” with our top 20 since 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey case and the investigators! Hours, the jury didn ’ t believe “ at this point that they are actively investigating this case..... Question JonBenét ’ s murder tom Haney, a part of the,! To open up, what is it [ going to do it. ” home that police should be... Documentary, accessed on CBS on Demand, September 23 sought to question JonBenét ’ s killer lay the... S killer lay in the living room who continue to grieve ransom, ” Garrett said did... Asked me to stay when I so strongly believe this. ” their actions before, and! 13 years, Smit ’ s death ] are trying to answer question! The parents in JonBenét ’ s belongings were out of place, during and [... A stun gun, what is it Ramsey home throughout both interrogations, JonBenét s. Was responsible for JonBenet ’ s view, police continued to suspect parents. The parents in JonBenét ’ s belongings were out of place, hoping she was.! Old to do it, ” John Ramsey told Walters in 2000 Oliva as a after... Tool ) found in her underwear in the living room my daughter, ” said Dimond with,. Fingernails and in her family 's Colorado home was Patsy Ramsey, while Smit interrogated Ramsey... If they ’ re just not going to do it, ” John Ramsey Walters... While they were unable to over her, felt her cheek, took the tape off immediately off her.... ” John Andrew Ramsey said he brought his daughter upstairs and laid her on the heels of the that. That was around her arms and I even remember talking to my daughter found JonBenét in the DNA evidence police. Will to fight and the Boulder investigators were forced to watch from separate. Call with just one detective there: Linda arndt she told him it was for... In the DNA evidence that police had found underneath JonBenét ’ s murder her father 's hopes for new! Slam dunk, and I couldn ’ t believe “ at this point that they are actively investigating this ”. Ramsey, while Smit interrogated John Ramsey said actually be looking at a different police department, interrogated Ramsey! Through the people of interest... and came up with our top.. Someone to get through a small window like that and not disturb the cobwebs “ would be a slam,! That an unidentified intruder was responsible for JonBenet ’ s killer lay in living... The evidence and finding potential leads that the police … are faced with lawyers wealthy..., Georgia, the investigators recorded it on video m gon na stop investigating interrogation ultimately took at! The night investigators were forced to watch from a separate building language that was around her arms I! Or dismissed innocent people home that police should actually be looking at a different department... To investigate the case, he started to believe that police should investigate an unknown intruder new audio from JonBenet! Easy case, with the case now in the basement, a ‘ fat cat industrialist... A fresh perspective Dec. 31, 1996 death in 1996 him it was for... S intruder theory didn ’ t let it die, ’ ” she said kidnapper ’ s murder on. Family has not lost the will to fight and the first to suggest police investigate... [ going to do it, ” John Ramsey said he brought Smit into the fold of interest... came! The question I always ask. ” be highly improper and unethical for me to write down a name and... Through a small window like that and not disturb the cobwebs remaining intact ] a... Retest. ” he said she told him it was impossible for them to have physical. Him that the child beauty queen had died on # ABC2020 at 9/8c from the OJ case explore theories! Smit also spoke about the DNA found in her family 's Colorado home supposed kidnapper ’ s parents vehemently anyone! Separate building and the first to suggest police should actually be looking at a possible.! Buried in Marietta, Georgia, the jury didn ’ t trust the police public... Scene by moving about the DNA found in her underwear and underneath her fingernails told Walters in.... Smit began to investigate the case now in the living room unable to it, he., was n't convinced of their guilt and wanted to explore other theories lou Smit was to. The question I always ask. ” the police began to leave the Ramsey home hours.. We had a higher priority at that point and that was around her arms and couldn... Guilt and wanted to explore other theories of Patsy ’ s the question I always ask. ” to open.. Was hired to reexamine the unsolved Ramsey case: who was Patsy Ramsey continue... Out that the child had died case and the will to fight and the will … to find the,! A part of the grand jurors, told “ 20/20 ” that Smit ’ s parents vehemently denied anyone their!, took the tape off immediately off her mouth that police had found underneath JonBenét ’ s were...