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July 9th, 2008
05:23 PM ET

DNA clears JonBenet's family

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/CRIME/07/09/jonbenet.dna/art.jonbenet.kusa.jpg caption="JonBenet Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado."]

Recently developed "touch DNA" technology has cleared all members of JonBenet Ramsey's family of her slaying, authorities said Wednesday.

Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said no one in the Ramsey family is considered a suspect and formally apologized in a letter to John Ramsey for the cloud of suspicion his family has lived under for nearly 12 years.

"To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry," Lacy wrote.

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Filed under: Crime & Punishment
soundoff (17 Responses)
  1. JJ

    The poor parent's names were drug through the mud for years by the criminals with badges. The parents need to now sue the city.

    July 10, 2008 at 11:15 am |
  2. Ruth

    Why did this take so long to do? The poor people and now the poor husband dealing with this being resurfaced all the time.. I hope peace and now some solace for you and your family

    Ruth

    July 10, 2008 at 6:59 am |
  3. A.R.

    L.J. may be on the right track. This may have started out as a kidnapping. JonBenet may have already been taken to another location before she died or it was discovered she had died. The DNA could have been deposited before, during, or after her death. Returning her body to the home may have been the simplest way to dispose of her while at the same time casting suspicion in all the wrong directions. The perpetrator may not have had enough nerve to retrieve the ransom note that had been left earlier. I would take another look at all who lived nearby.

    July 10, 2008 at 5:54 am |
  4. Victor in Saanich, B.C. Canada

    This case was so messed up that I think any evidence is suspect. The police were inept and the Ramseys are, in my humble opinion, still not clear of some misbehaviour!!

    July 10, 2008 at 4:36 am |
  5. jb

    It's about time. It is unthinkable to loose a child, but to be blamed on top of that has to be unbarable. I don't think Patsy would really care about this new information because it wouldn't bring her little girl back. May they both rest in peace. I hope there is a here after and they are together again!

    July 10, 2008 at 1:36 am |
  6. Gary Chandler in Canada

    What kind of 'parents' make little girls dress up like adults and compete to see who can be the prettiest lady?
    It looked like a demented form of entertainment to me. Does it still go on?

    July 10, 2008 at 1:31 am |
  7. RANDI WEISS

    3 books to read (yes, all of them) before anyone gives a so called "opinion." JonBenet, by Detective Dave Thomas; Perfect Murder Perfect Town, by Lawrence Schiller, and; The Death of Innocence, by John & Patsy Ramsey. The FACT is...not my opinion...no one in the Ramsey family had anything to do with JonBenet's death. FACT: Boulder Police completely botched the investigation. FACT: Everyone involved in this case made mistakes–including the Ramseys. FACT: The Ramsey family was ruined by this great land of "innocent until proven guilty." My heart absolutely aches for this family. The Ramsey's attorney was wrong when he said a lot of people in this country and around the world owe this family an apology. EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE WORLD owes this family an apology–even those of us who knew the family's innocence (not guilt) during the investigation. When the facts came out, the truth be told–they didn't kill their daughter. I owe an apology to the family for the absolute hell they had to put up with people who accused them without knowing the FACTS. I want to apologize to the Ramseys for these ugly people. Arrogant opinions have turned people into monsters. Patsy is with her daughter now in heaven and I hope that makes the living Ramsey family have lighter hearts. God bless them all!

    July 10, 2008 at 12:56 am |
  8. Megan Dresslar

    I am so glad the Ramseys cleared by DNA today, I knew they are so innocent instead (accused) Ramseys their suspects. I am so relief to see the Ramseys are already free right now, too late for Patsy Ramsey to see this. They were suffered so much their daughter for long time. I accepted apology from Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy of this city. I hope that police will real person killer be caught anytime. I prayed so hard for Ramseys to be innocent for long time. I agree with bloggers.
    Megan D.
    Shoreline, Wa

    July 10, 2008 at 12:39 am |
  9. Barbara

    It is so sad that this came to pass after Patsy's death. With luck it is just a matter of time until the guilty party does something that gets him/her arrested and a match is found. Crimes like these are
    so heartbreaking, I hope the guilty party is caught soon.

    July 10, 2008 at 12:11 am |
  10. JC- Los Angeles

    I find it hard to believe that if the Ramsey's were innocent it would take twelve years to make their case. To believe the Ramsey's were innocent, one would have to look past so much: 1) a killer decides to break into a house on Christmas Eve; say what? 2) The killer would then have to negotiate the mansion, find the child, then negotiate the mansion all the way down to the basement to commit the crime; say what? 3) Then the killer would have to look for a pen and paper, pull up a chair, write a note, crumple it up and throw it away, then write another lengthy note; say what? 4) Then just disappear into thin air, never to be seen again; say what? Absurd.

    July 9, 2008 at 11:46 pm |
  11. L.J.

    The Ramseys may not have done it, but I think they know who did. I have always heard that they attended a party the night JonBenet was killed. The DNA could be from anyone there. Several times, I heard John Ramsey say that he had to carry JonBenet into the house when they got home that night because she was "sound asleep". Maybe the crime didn 't happen in the Ramsey's house.

    July 9, 2008 at 11:01 pm |
  12. Annie Kate

    I'm glad the Ramseys were finally vindicated; to lose a child and then be accused of killing her yourself had to be the worst nightmare in the world for them and they had to live it for so many years. I wish Patsy had been alive to see this and hadn't died with this accusation still hanging over her head. And I hope now if the trail isn't too cold that the police can eventually find JonBenet's killer. Hopefully with the DNA evidence that can happen.

    Annie Kate
    Birmingham AL

    July 9, 2008 at 9:12 pm |
  13. Betty Ann, Nacogdoches,TX

    I hope her Mother can now rest in peace~
    God bless that family.

    July 9, 2008 at 8:23 pm |
  14. sara

    Too sad Patsy Ramsey not to be here, apolgoies too late for her.

    July 9, 2008 at 6:56 pm |
  15. CaseyJPS

    I am truly glad the family has been cleared. They didn't deserve to endure the media frenzy and attention they've received for so long. On the other hand, dressing any child to look like a tart and parading her around like she's a Sunset Boulevard hooker is despicable. Any parent who does this should be investigated by a child welfare department.

    July 9, 2008 at 6:24 pm |
  16. Cindy

    Even with this new DNA technology people are still going to think that one of the Ramsey's killed JonBenet. They have been under scrutiny by the media and convicted by people even with no evidence. This won't do much to change their minds.

    Cindy...Ga.

    July 9, 2008 at 5:45 pm |
  17. Tammy, Berwick, LA

    Finally, this family might be allowed peace from evidence supporting what they have said all along. It is just sad that Mrs. Ramsey did not live to see this moment. Now, maybe they can find the real killer of this child and bring her death to justice. Then again, the news media will probably make a debacle of that one, too.

    July 9, 2008 at 5:33 pm |