On the night of December 25, 1996, in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado, a six year
old girl by the name of JonBenet Ramsey was killed and found in the basement of her family
home (Casarez). JohnBenet participated in many beauty pageants in her young life, and even
won Little Miss Colorado (1). With a very promising future ahead of her, JonBenet’s death was
front page news all across the country. In the months, and even years, following her death, many
theories of her odd murder were formed:
1. JonBenet’s brother got mad over a piece of pineapple she had eaten and killed her
because of it.
2. Patsy and John Ramsey killed their daughter, and staged it as a kidnapping.
3. Gary Oliva sexually assaulted and murdered her.
Let’s dig in deeper to the case, and the possibility that JonBenet’s brother is the cold blooded
killer.
As a young six year old girl born on August 6, 1990, JonBenet was already a more
decorated beauty pageant contestant than most girls twice her age (Worthen). Born in Atlanta,
Georgia, but raised in Boulder, Colorado, JonBenet had a passion for beauty pageants since
she was very young (Casarez). She had already received awards such as Little Miss Colorado,
Little Miss Charlevoix, and National Tiny Miss Beauty, just to name a few (1). She had
golden blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that would light up a room (1). It was this
southern bell charm which brought much success to her at such a young age. JonBenet was
groomed to have that “All-American” beauty.
JonBenet’s mother Patsy was also a beauty pageant contestant back in her younger
days. She even won Miss West Virginia in 1977, before getting married to John Bennett (1).
Patsy was always very proud of JonBenet for her success in Pageants, but she may have gone
a little too far in pushing her young daughter to do her very best in the competitions. Many
felt that Patsy was reliving her glory days through JonBenet, and that is why she pushed her
daughter so hard to do her best. This leads to the possibility of JonBenet having an internal
conflict of trying to be perfect and pleasing everyone.
The amount of pressure this young six year old endured during her short pageant life,
was enough to drive any kid crazy (Bobic). Having the idea that you have to live up to
someone’s expectations is a hard and emotionally draining thing to do. Especially when your
mom is the former Miss West Virginia. Unfortunately for JonBenet, that was the life she lived
with her over fanatic pageant mom. John Bennett Ramsey even said “…letting his daughter
compete in pageants is something he regrets” (abcnews). He knew that even though it was
enjoyable for JonBenet, it amounted very much pressure on such a young girl.
Externally, JonBenet had conflict with her brother, Burke Ramsey, quite often. To
many, it seemed Burke may have been jealous of his sister’s success, and all the attention
JonBenet received from their parents. JonBenet must have been frightful for her safety when
around her brother and people close to the family could see that. A close family friend named
Judith Miller told interviewers, “Burke had a bad temper… He had hit JonBenet… He hit her
with a golf club” (usmagazine). The sad thing about the interview, is that it came eighteen
months after Jonbenet had been murdered (1). Who knows what might have come out of the
situation, if Judith miller would have spoken out against Burke when she first witnessed the
violent acts against JonBenet. Having the fear of your brother inflicting pain on you,
definitely qualifies for an external conflict. This also adds evidence to my theory, which is
that Burke Ramsey violently murdered his sister JonBenet.
Three main theories, which show major evidence and leads, seem to be the solution to the
murder of JonBenet. These include: murdered by her brother Burke, killed by her parents, and
sexually assaulted and killed by Gary Oliva. All three theories have much evidence to support
their case.
The first theory is that a registered sex offender, named Gary Oliva, sexually
assaulted and killed JonBenet. Being a young, popular, and beautiful pageant star like Jonbenet
has its perks, but also its downfalls. One of them being you attract some unwanted attention,
such as from people like Gary Oliva. Oliva resided as a homeless sex offender in Boulder, and
could have had plenty of knowledge who the up and coming pageant star Jonbenet Ramsey was
(12 JonBenet Ramsey Conspiracy Theories That Will Make You Rethink Everything 1). At the
time of the murder, Oliva had a record of sexually abusing under aged children, and lived only
blocks away from the Ramseys (McGhee 1). Having prior convictions and quick access, would
have made it very easy for Gary Oliva to take ahold of JonBenet. Oliva was arrested four years
later on an unrelated drug charge in Boulder. The significance of this though, is when arrested,
Oliva had a picture of JonBenet, and a stungun in his backpack, which could had been used in
the murder of the pageant princess (McGhee 2). In 2002, Oliva appeared in the show, 48 Hours,
which was investigating the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. In the show, Oliva’s best friend from
high school called investigators, and told them Oliva had contacted him days after the murder
saying “he had hurt a child” and that “he was in Boulder” (Jameson 1). Though there is much
evidence, Oliva was never arrested for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey.
The second theory is that Patsy and John Ramsey killed their daughter, and staged
it as if she was kidnapped. After returning from their Christmas party, Patsy became full of rage,
and decided to take out her anger on JonBenet. It’s possible Patsy became angry at her husband
for sexually abusing their daughter, and somehow turned it around on JonBenet (shadowgov 1).
After enforcing a blow on her daughter’s head, Patsy then staged JonBenet’s kidnapping (1). The
blow to her head wouldn’t have killed Jonbenet instantly, "blow knocked her into deep
unconsciousness" (1). so instead of waiting around for their daughter to die, Patsy and John
strangled her, making it looked as if someone had killed her deliberately (1). After killing their
daughter, and unwilling to rot out in a cell, they put together a plot of how their daughter had
been kidnapped. This plot included a ransom note asking for $118,000, getting rid of evidence,
and making a phony 911 call the next morning (1). Although there is much speculation about
JonBenet’s parents, there has never been enough evidence to convict them.
The third theory is that Burke Ramsey, JonBenet’s brother, got angry at his sister for
eating his pineapple, and killed her. Every night before bedtime, Burke Ramsey would enjoy
a snack. On the night of her death, JonBenet had wondered downstairs, and had eaten one of
her brother’s pieces of pineapple. Outraged at this, Burke struck Jonbenet on the head with a
flashlight, killing her (Dailymail 1). Panicked, Burke then told his parents, who would stop at
nothing to save their son from the consequences of murder (“JonBenet Ramsey Murder
Experts
On the night of December 25, 1996, a horrific and yet unsolved murder took place in
Boulder, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey was found lifeless in the basement of her family home,
still yet just a little girl with a big future ahead of her. The three theories that formed over time
are:
1. Burke Ramsey got angry over pineapple, and murdered her.
2. John and Patsy Ramsey killed JonBenet, and staged it.
3. Gary Oliva sexually assaulted and murdered her.
Although many years after her death, JonBenet’s killer is still yet to be convicted.
Though with strong evidence, it is very likely that Burke Ramsey was, and still is, the murderer
Citations
abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/jonbenet-ramseys-father-regrets-letting-her-in-pageants-says-toddlers-and-tiaras-is-bizarre/.
Casarez, Jean. “The Death of JonBenet: A Case That's Captivated the Country for 20 Years.”CNN,Cable News Network, 13 Dec. 2016,www.cnn.com/2016/12/13/us/jonbenet-ramsey-case/index.html.
Dailymail.com, Khaleda Rahman For. “'Burke Did It': Crime Show Claims JonBenet Ramsey WASKilled by Her 'Violent' Older Brother and Her Parents Covered It up after the Siblings'Clashed over a Midnight Snack of Fresh Pineapple'.” Daily Mail Online, AssociatedNewspapers, 21 Sept. 2016,www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3797692/Burke-did-Crime-claims-JonBenet-Ramsey-killed-violent-older-brother-parents-covered-siblings-argued-pineapple-midnight-snack.html.
Jameson. 48 Hours 10_4_2002, jameson245.com/48hours2.htm.
“JonBenet Ramsey Murder Experts Point Finger at Brother Burke.” Us Weekly, 15 Oct. 2017,www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-experts-point-finger-at-brother-burke-w440910/.
“JonBenet Ramsey's Death: Pineapple Found in Autopsy Is Key for Expert.”PEOPLE.com,people.com/crime/jonbenet-ramseys-death-pineapple-found-in-autopsy-is-key-for-expert/.
McGhee, Tom. “One-Time Person of Interest in JonBenet Ramsey Case Held in Boulder on ChildPorn Charges.” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 21 July 2016,www.denverpost.com/2016/06/22/jonbenet-ramsey-child-porn-boulder-gary-oliva/.
ShadowGov | JonBenet Ramsey, shadowgov.com/Ramsey/ramsey.html.
www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-experts-point-finger-at-brother-burke-w440910/.
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