November 7, 1998

Reports surface that a flashlight was believed to be the weapon used to strike JonBenét on the head

There were no fingerprints or residue on the flashlight or its batteries

November 12, 1998

A representative of Stevens Aviation at the Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield, delivered subpoenaed documents from the private hangar where Ramsey stored his airplane.

November 20, 1998

Stephen Miles was ordered Friday to undergo a psychological examination to determine if he could be a pedophile.

The judge also ruled that Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner and Detective Jane Harmer must answer questions posed by Miles' attorney.

November 23, 1998

Darnay Hoffman sends a letter to Governor-elect Bill Owens.

December 3, 1998

Fox News reports that there is new DNA evidence from the crime scene that is still unexplained

Fingerprints, handprints, and DNA samples have been requested from Patsy Ramsey's two sisters, one brother in law, and the maternal grandparents

December 7, 1998

GBI Agents arrived at the home of JonBenet's maternal grandparents Monday evening to collect DNA samples, as well as palm prints and finger prints from 5 family members (Patsy's 2 sisters, her parents, and one brother in law)

December 11, 1998

Frank Coffman, while trying to take pictures of Bynum, John Ramsey, and John Andrew Ramsey exiting Pasta Jay's restaurant, is assaulted by an angry John Ramsey.

December 16, 1998

[NOTE: Transcript was posted on the Justice Watch forum on this date, but actual date this report with Julie Hayden occurred is not available at this particular time]

    Julie Hayden Report on Prior Sexual Abuse:
  • Boulder Police asked at least three nationally recognized child abuse experts to review this case.
  • Of these experts two of them firmly concluded that there was evidence of prior sexual abuse prior to the night of the murder, and the third expert stated he could not disagree.
  • These experts, plus the Boulder authorities do agree that there was prior sexual abuse, they cannot exclude the fact that the killer and molester are the same person and they can't exclude the fact that the killer and the molester are different people.
  • You're not going to convict someone by proving that they molested the child since you absolutely cannot conclude that the molester is the killer.
  • They could not conclude how far back this had been going on.
  • These experts reviewed the autopsy reports, autopsy pictures, and other investigative notes to reach these conclusions.
  • They saw scars inside JonBenét that were of a sexual nature. Some of the scars were somewhat healed others were totally healed.
  • The three experts are: Dr Krugman, Dr Magglione (St Louis), and Dr McCann (U of C at Davis)
  • Investigators looked real thoroughly into the issue of sexual abuse and molestation on the parts of all the family members. In the case of John Ramsey they basically said there is nothing there. With Patsy Ramsey they wanted her pediatric records to see if there was anything of the sort in her background.
  • These experts are going to be talking to the Grand Jury with their information.
  • They cannot determine whether the injuries that night came before death or whether they came after death.
  • That with evidence of chronic sexual abuse and evidence of sexual assault that night, common sense indicates this particular event was a prelude to murder.
  • That common sense also indicates that the possible theory is that she's being sexually assaulted, she screams, and then she's silent.

December 17, 1998

Judge rules that Stephen Miles was allowed to pursue only his claim that he was falsely labeled a pedophile and a sex offender. The judge ruled that John Ramsey should not have to face the defamation suit because there was no proof that Ramsey ever spoke or wrote a defamatory statement.

December 24, 1998

It is reported that the Rue Morgue Mystery Bookshop in Boulder was given a subpoena to look at records of John and Patsy Ramsey's purchases. The owner, Tom Schantz, was reported to have told the Grand Jury that he could not help them---citing that the Ramseys were not in his database.

Rumors surface that the Ramseys have agreed to appear before the Grand Jury.

December 25, 1998

Information continues to surface that the Ramseys are to appear before the Grand Jury in January, after the Grand Jury reconvenes for the new year.

Scott Robinson states he will be shocked if no indictment is reached. He believes both Patsy and John will face criminal charges, Patsy being indicted for murder and John as co-conspirator.

Robinson believes there will be swift action in 1999 when the GJ resumes.

Craig Silverman believes another year will pass before a decision is reached. He stated that they currently have probable cause against Patsy Ramsey as an accessory.

December 28, 1998

    From Peter Boyles Show, Dec 28, 1998
  • Peter Boyles states: "we now know that a call was made to Michael Bynum before the 911 call".
  • Jeff Rutledge, writer for Penthouse, states that Dan Glick tried to get him to pursue Fleet White as a suspect.
  • Craig Silverman believes the DA hopes the GJ will not return an indictment, but will instead issue a report that puts the blame on the police. And he believes that someday there may be the "Hunter Report".
  • Craig Silverman states that with Alex Hunter remaining in charge, there will not be a trial.
  • Carol McKinley states she still believes there will be an indictment.
  • Carol McKinley also stated that what the authorities decided was that the most consistent thing that could cause this kind of thing (head fracture like in this case) was a mag flashlight.

Dr Wecht tells a Pittsburgh radio station that JonBenét was killed by John Ramsey, with Patsy Ramsey participating in the coverup. He stated he believes Patsy wrote the ransom note with her left hand.

    Larry King Live, Dec 28 1998
  • When Dr Lee was asked the cause of death, he stated it was basically a combination of ligature strangulation and injury of a blunt trauma.
  • Bill Ritter confirmed that the Grand Jury was investigating the parents as well as the intruder theory.
  • Pam Paugh still believes that in the end it will be what she claimed from the beginning: that this murder was planned and the motives were very definitely non-parental; they were from an envious and a greed standpoint
  • Pam Paugh repeats again that she pretty much knows in her heart and in her mind who did this.
  • When pressed Pam Paugh believes it to be more than one person. She stated "persons" when pressed.
  • When asked about the co-mingled DNA, Bill Ritter stated: there is still testing that's being conducted relating to the DNA that is co-mingled.
  • When Ritter was asked if this co-mingled DNA causes things to branch out more he said "No".
  • Ritter also explained that there can be a lot of trace evidence found at a crime scene with its evidentiary value being very low depending on all of the circumstances and other information supporting it. Furthering this point, he sated that ff there's no reasonable explanation for its location and its presence at this crime scene, then that increases its evidentiary value. He then stated you have to ask yourselves from a common sense perspective "are the explanations for its presence there?"
  • Pam Paugh stated that the co-mingling DNA that does exist has been separated; that one of the DNA strands does belong to JonBenét and that the other has only been tested against Patsy, John and Burke, of which there is, unequivocally, no match. Pam further states this co-mingled DNA is in the underwear of JonBenét and believes this to blow the case wide open.
  • When pressed to name who she thinks the killer is, Pam Paugh stated that she will name them when she's called to the grand jury that she'll put together a time lime, put together instances, things that had been said and some factual things to back up her suspicions.
  • Rotter explained that by statute, this grand jury's work will be done by April but that an extension can be granted for an additional six months to finish up what they are working on. He pointed out though that there are instances where one grand jury's work is taken and handed to a new grand jury.
  • When asked about the outcome of this case, Dr Lee would not express optimism or pessimism, stating it all depended on what facts the Grand Jury finds and then how these facts play out.

    Internight, Dec 28 1998
  • Norm Early expressed shock over John Ramsey offering $100K to the killer.
  • Peter Boyles thinks there is a surprise still that we don't know about.
  • Dan Abrams stated that the palm print, hi-tech boot print in the basement, DNA under the fingernails, and sample in the underwear, were all (intruder) aspects of this case that the Ramseys were hanging on to.
  • Norm Early pointed out that all cases have evidence in the case which is "conflicting".
  • Pozner stated a "host of people" had keys to the house.
  • Dan Abrams pointed out that multiple keys only meant someone "could" get in; multiple keys are not evidence of an intruder.
  • Norm Early pointed out that all key holders had been investigated and eliminated as suspects
  • Norm Early pointed out how unfortunate it was for Hunter's office to take 1.5yrs to get aggressive
  • Dan Abrams pointed out that he thought the problem was they don't know "why" she was killed
  • Norm Early stated that there are several who will testify that she was hit first, and that strangulation was a part of the coverup.

December 31, 1998

RMN reports that the Ramsey attorneys "wonder when" the Ramseys will testify before the Grand Jury. Haddon is quoted as to saying he does not know whether, or when, they will be asked before the Grand Jury. Haddon is further quoted that if they are subpoenaed they will show up and testify.

It is reported the Grand Jurors will reconvene from their December break on Tuesday, January 5, 1999.

Bob Grant is quoted as saying he sees that Grand Jury lasting until at least March 1999

Westwood.com smirks at Hunter by claiming that lady justice is likely only still around because she cut a deal with Hunter.

Westwood.com also reports that only 7% of Hunter's criminal cases have gone to trial

Tom Koby officially ends his tenure with the city of Boulder.

Koby reportedly sold his Boulder home over the summer and now lives in Lyons.

mattcausey@aol.com