Perfect Murder, Perfect Town
Page 70
CHARACTER LIST
Steve Ainsworth—Boulder County Sheriff’s Detective assigned to assist District Attorney Alex Hunter in the investigation.
Kit Andre—Dance instructor hired by Patsy Ramsey to teach JonBenét a dance number.
Mike Archuleta—The private pilot who had been scheduled to fly the Ramsey family to Michigan the morning of Dec. 26, 1996.
Ellis Armistead—Private investigator hired by the Ramseys’ lawyers.
Linda Arndt—First Boulder Police Detective to arrive at the Ramsey home after JonBenét was discovered missing.
Richard Baer—Denver attorney and advisor on the case to the Boulder Police.
Joe Barnhill—A Ramsey neighbor who knew the family well and attended their Christmas party December 23, 1996.
Mark Beckner—Boulder Police Commander who replaced Tom Koby as chief.
Dr. Francesco Beuf—JonBenét’s pediatrician since she was one year old.
Richard Bjelkovig—Private pilot who works with John Ramsey’s pilot, Mike Archuleta.
Peter Boyles—Denver radio talk-show host station KHOW-AM.
Charlie Brennan—Legal affairs writer for the Rocky Mountain News.
Diane Brumfitt—The Ramsey next-door neighbor who observed the absence of a familiar light in their house the night of the murder.
Detective Jim Byfield—Boulder Police Detective who authored the initial search warrants and affidavits. Patrick Burke—Denver defense attorney hired to represent Patsy Ramsey.
Michael Bynum—Family friend and Boulder attorney who worked for John Ramsey’s company, Access Graphics.
Brian Cabell—Southeast regional correspondent for CNN who interviewed John and Patsy Ramsey Jan. 1, 1997.
Tom Carson—Access Graphics executive.
Susannah Chase—University of Colorado student attacked in downtown Boulder Dec. 21, 1997, who died the next day. Her murder is unsolved.
Frank Coffman—Boulder artist and freelance writer.
J. T. Colfax—Artist and body transport driver.
Marc Colin—Denver attorney who represented Sgt. Larry Mason.
Trip DeMuth—Chief trial deputy for District Attorney Alex Hunter assigned to the case in its first hours.
Jacqueline Dilson—Boulder County woman who raised concerns to police about her friend Chris Wolf.
John Douglas—Former FBI criminal profiler and consultant to the Ramseys’ lawyers.
Charles Elbot—The principal at High Peaks Elementary School, where both JonBenét and Burke Ramsey were enrolled.
John Eller—The Commander of the Boulder Police Department detective division.
Robert Elmore—Longtime member of the congregation at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where the Ramseys worshipped.
Jay Elowsky—Owner of Pasta Jay’s restaurant, where John Ramsey was an investor.
George Epp—The Sheriff of Boulder County who made his staff and advice available to both the Boulder Police and the district attorney throughout the investigation.
Clay Evans—Staff writer and columnist for the Daily Camera.
Michael Everett—Among the first detectives assigned to the case.
Barbara and John Fernie—Church friends of John and Patsy Ramsey.
Donald Foster—Vassar College English professor and language/text analyst.
Rick French—First officer at the Ramseys’ home following the 911 call concerning JonBenét’s disappearance.
Tony Frost—Editor-in-chief of the Globe.
Patrick Furman—Attorney for Patsy Ramsey and a University of Colorado School of Law professor.
Scott Gibbons—A Ramsey next-door neighbor.
Daniel Glick—Special correspondent for Newsweek.
Mike Glynn—Former business associate of John Ramsey.
Ron Gosage—A Boulder Police detective assigned to the case.
Bob Grant—Adams County District Attorney brought in as an advisor to Boulder D.A. Alex Hunter.
Chuck Green—Columnist for The Denver Post.
Kristine Griffin—A teen-aged veteran of the beauty pageant world and daughter of Pam Griffin.
Pam Griffin—A seamstress who made many of JonBenét’s pageant outfits.
Hal Haddon—Denver attorney who represents John Ramsey.
Bill Hagmaier—Unit chief for the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes.
Tom Haney—Former Denver Police Department homicide investigator who assisted the Boulder District Attorney’s office in the investigation and interrogated Patsy Ramsey.
Jane Harmer—A Boulder Police Detective assigned to the case.
Julie Hayden—Reporter for KGMH-TV—Channel 7, Denver’s ABC affiliate.
Niki Hayden—Staff writer for the Daily Camera and member of the Ramseys’ church.
Bud and Sandra Henderson—Former Ramsey business associate and former employee of Access Graphics.
Jeff Hendry—Boulder County Sheriff’s Department sergeant.
Melissa Hickman—Boulder Police Detective.
Daniel Hoffman—Denver attorney, advisor on the case to the Boulder Police.
Linda Hoffmann-Pugh—Ramseys’ housekeeper.
Pete Hofstrom—Chief of the felony division in the Boulder District Attorney’s office.
Tim Honey—Boulder City Manager.
Rev. Rol Hoverstock—The family minister.
Karen Howard—A director of Access Graphics.
Alex Hunter—Boulder County District Attorney.
Brooke Jackson—Denver attorney who represented Boulder Police Detective Linda Arndt.
Mary Lou Jedamus—Boulder police victim assistance worker.
Jim Jenkins—Atlanta attorney representing Burke, John Andrew, and Melinda Ramsey.
Lucinda Ramsey Johnson—John Ramsey’s first wife.
Michael Kane—Boulder District Attorney grand jury prosecutor.
Bob Keatley—Staff legal advisor to the Boulder Police Department.
Sherry Keene-Osborn—Newsweek reporter.
Tom Kelley—Denver attorney specializing in First Amendment law.
Tom Koby—Boulder Chief of Police.
Pat Korten—Veteran Washington, D.C.–based public relations pro hired by the Ramseys’ lawyers.
Barbara Kostanick—Mother of a JonBenét playmate.
Suzanne Laurion—Media spokeswoman for District Attorney Alex Hunter and University of Colorado journalism professor.
Henry Lee—World renown forensics expert.
Bruce Levin—Boulder District Attorney grand jury prosecutor.
Craig Lewis—Writer for the Globe.
Pete Mang—Colorado Bureau of Investigation Inspector.
Gary Mann—Vice President of Lockheed-Martin’s Commercial Systems Group, parent company to Access Graphics.
James Marino—Former sales representative for Access Graphics.
Larry Mason—Boulder Detective Sergeant.
Kevin McCullen—Staff writer for the Rocky Mountain News, Boulder bureau.
Carol McKinley—Reporter for KOA-AM Radio, Denver.
Bill and Janet McReynolds—Former journalism professor and part-time Santa Claus, and his wife, a writer.
Jeff Merrick—Longtime business associate of John Ramsey and employee of Access Graphics.
Gary Merriman—Director of Human Resources at Access Graphics.
Glenn Meyer—Tenant of the basement apartment in the Barnhills’ home.
John Meyer—Forensic pathologist and elected coroner of Boulder County.
Brad Millard—Friend of John Andrew Ramsey.
Robert Miller—Denver attorney and advisor on the case to the Boulder police.
Bryan Morgan—Boulder attorney and law partner of Hal Haddon, hired to represent John Ramsey.
Grace Morlock—Boulder Police victim assistance worker.
Mitch Morrissey—Boulder District Attorney grand jury prosecutor.
Joe Mullins—News editor for the Globe.
Patty Novack—Ramsey family friend.
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Don Paugh—JonBenét’s maternal grandfather and a former Union Carbide executive.
Nedra Paugh—JonBenét’s maternal grandmother.
Pam Paugh—Sister of Patsy Ramsey.
Polly Paugh—Sister of Patsy Ramsey.
Jim Peters—Arapahoe County District Attorney.
Judith Phillips—Photographer and Ramsey family friend.
Dr. Steve Pitt—Forensic psychiatrist and consultant to the Boulder Police.
Larry Pozner—Denver defense attorney, frequent media commentator on the case.
Beth Ramsey—John Ramsey’s first child, a product of his marriage to Lucinda Ramsey Johnson. She died in a January 8, 1992 automobile accident.
Burke Ramsey—First child of John and Patsy Ramsey, 9 years old the night of the murder.
Jeff Ramsey—John Ramsey’s brother.
John Ramsey—President and Chief Executive Officer of Access Graphics. Father of JonBenét Ramsey.
John Andrew Ramsey—Step-brother to JonBenét Ramsey and a University of Colorado sophomore.
JonBenét Ramsey—Born Aug. 6, 1990.
Melinda Ramsey—The second child of John Ramsey and Lucinda Ramsey Johnson.
Patsy Ramsey—The former Patricia Ann Paugh, mother of JonBenét Ramsey and wife to John Ramsey.
Sgt. Paul Reichenbach—Former detective working in patrol.
Murray Richtel—Retired Boulder County district criminal judge.
Bill Ritter—Denver District Attorney.
Roy Romer—Governor of Colorado.
Allison Russ—University of Colorado student, friend of John Andrew Ramsey.
Charlie Russell—Denver public relations executive hired by the Ramseys’ lawyers.
Lisa Levitt Ryckman—Staff writer for the Rocky Mountain News.
Suzanne Savage—A former Ramsey babysitter.
Barry Scheck—A New York attorney and nationally recognized expert on DNA.
Brian Scott—Landscaper who worked for the Ramseys.
Jeff Shapiro—Freelance researcher for the Globe.
Randy Simons—Pageant photographer who had taken pictures of JonBenét Ramsey.
Lou Smit—Retired El Paso County homicide investigator.
Melody Stanton—A neighbor of the Ramseys who reported hearing a child’s scream the night of JonBenét’s murder.
Kim Stewart—Boulder Police detective.
Glen and Susan Stine—Friends of John and Patsy Ramsey.
Dave Thomas—Jefferson County District Attorney.
Steve Thomas—Boulder Police Detective.
Tom Trujillo—Boulder Police Detective.
Chet Ubowski—Colorado Bureau of Investigation documents examiner.
Laurie Wagner—Longtime business associate of John Ramsey.
Roxanne Walker—Friend of Patsy Ramsey.
Carey Weinheimer—Boulder Police Detective.
Rod Westmoreland—Atlanta attorney and vice president of Merrill Lynch.
Fleet and Priscilla White—Ramsey friends.
Carl Whiteside—Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Sgt. Tom Wickman—Boulder Police Detective.
Linda Wilcox—A former Ramsey housekeeper.
Bill Wise—First Assistant District Attorney for Boulder County.
Chris Wolf—Boulder journalist.
Paula Woodward—Reporter for KUSA TV—Channel 9, Denver’s NBC affiliate.
Rachelle Zimmer—Denver attorney and press spokeswoman for the Ramseys.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During the one and a half years I spent in Boulder researching and writing this book, over 194 people were interviewed—more than 100 face-to-face—in 571 conversations, which resulted in more than twenty-five thousand pages of transcripts.
Members of the law enforcement community helped me understand not only the Ramsey case but also the county in which they serve. Many of the interviews and conversations took place during the investigation into JonBenét’s death. To protect those who supported this book, I have occasionally credited them as “a detective” or “the DA’s “staff” and in other instances I have combined several law enforcement sources into one, with their permission. There are seven members of law enforcement who asked not to be credited for their assistance; their names, however, do appear in the text. “A reporter,” “a journalist” or “a writer,” often refers to members of the press who wished not to be named. At the request of one reporter I have used Cordwainer Bird as his pseudonym.
Patsy and John Ramsey did not grant any interviews for this book. Three of their attorneys spoke off the record a few times. Chief Tom Koby and Commander John Eller gave no formal interviews but did meet with me to discuss some aspects of the case and their lives. John Eller told me he would some day write his own book. Pete Hofstrom, in keeping with his long-standing policy on the media, granted no interviews but did chat with me on an unrelated subject. Those who wished to be credited as contributors to this work are mentioned by name.
I wish to thank Charlie Brennan, the legal affairs writer for the Rocky Mountain News. His knowledge of the first six months of the case was invaluable in helping me understand what had taken place before I arrived in Boulder in June 1997. I have a heartfelt debt of gratitude to Charlie.
My reporting of the Ramsey case began as an assignment from Tina Brown, former editor of The New Yorker. The effect of that article, published in January 1998, has been noted in this work. Without Tina’s support, there might not have been a book.
As noted earlier, I did not interview Patsy or John Ramsey and did not personally speak to John Andrew, Melinda, or Burke Ramsey. Other members of the family did grant interviews to me or Charlie Brennan on several occasions.
I wish to thank the following for their invaluable contributions: Paul Danish, Charles Elbot, George Epp, Bob Grant, Pam Griffin, Linda Hoffmann-Pugh, Alex Hunter, Barbara Kostanick, Paul McCormick, Gregg McCrary, Carol McKinley, Nedra Paugh, Judith Phillips, Murray Richtel, Tom and Enid Schantz, Brian Scott, Jeff Shapiro, Marianne “Mimi” Wesson, and Bill Wise.
I would like to further thank Kit Andre, Susan Bennett, Caroline Brady, Brian Cabell, Dan Caplis, Virginia Chavez, Frank Coffman, Chuck Davis, Michael Dobersen, John Eller, Jay Elowsky, Clay Evans, John Fernie, Donald Foster, Lee Frank, David Grimm, Ken Harrell, Yvonne Haun, Julie Hayden, Niki Hayden, Bud Henderson, Jeff Hendry, Tim Honey, Jim Jenkins, Pat Korten, Suzanne Laurion, Brad Leach, Craig Lewis, Sandy Long, Pete Mang, Gary Mann, Kurt Matthews, Kevin McCullen, Gary Merriman, Glenn Meyer, John Meyer, David Mills, Patty Novack, Karen Paget, Kevin Parker, Pam Paugh, Steve Prentup, Jay Propst, Kevin Raburn, Charlie Russell, Lysa Ryckman, Suzanne Savage, Brett Sawyer, Dick Schwarz, Randy Simons, Stephen Singular, Werner Spitz, Jane Stobie, James Thompson aka J.T. Colfax, Michael Tracey, Chet Ubowski, Laurie Wagner, Ricky Weiser, Carl Whiteside, Linda Wilcox, Mark Wilson, and Chris Wolf.
In addition, the following: Leslie Aaholm, Peter Adler, Ann Angiella, Matthew Appelbaum, Larry Arndt, Claudia Bayliff, Ann Louise Bardach, Joe Barnhill, Mark Beckner, Robert Bennett, Bob Bernard, Steve Berkowitz, Suzanne Bernhard, Clint Blackhurst, Peter Boyles, Patrick Brickman, John Buechner, Mike Butler, Leo Carrillo, Leonard Chessler, Mary Clark, Marc Colin, Ruth Correll, Jane Cracraft, Paige Doherty, Wayne Doland, John Drexler, George Dunphy, Leslie Durgin, Robert Elmore, Nick Isenberg, Tom Faure, Mark Fix, Tim Fuller, Mike Glynn, Dale Goetz, Chuck Green, LaDonna Griego, Kristine Griffin, William Hankins, Rod Hendrick, Diane Hollis, Bill Howard, Karen Howard, Faye Johnson, Sarah Jussen, Peter Kass, Tom Kelley, Sherry Keene-Osborn, Steve Krizman, Richard Krugman, Alli Krupski, Joseph Kurtz, Al LaCabe, Phil LeBeau, Santina Leuci, William Light, Jack Logan, Karen Luebke, Joseph Maier, James Marino, Liz McDonough, Richard McLean, Kelvin McNeill, David Michaud, Jan Miller, Charlie Montgomery, Brenda Niemand, Gail Nolan, Mike Patty, Mike Phelan, Tammy Polson, Julie Poppen, Chuck Pringle, Rob Pudim, Robert Ressler, Richard Rianoshek, E. Chester Ridgway, Dave Rivers, Bill Scanlon, Todd Sears, Craig Silverman, Ray Simmon, Cra
ig Skinner, Jim Smith, Hugh Snodgrass, John Stack, Edie Stevens, Robert Stewart, Matt Sugar, Peter Teets, Patrick Vann, Ron Walker, Roxanne Walker, Richard Woodbury, Paula Woodward, David Wright, Harry Wright, Elliott Zaret, Gene Ziemer, and Rachelle Zimmer.
The following librarians were most helpful: Charlotte Smokler, Daily Camera; Janet Boss, Paula Ehresman, Carol Kasel, and Janet Reeves of the Rocky Mountain News as were Suzanne Laurion of the District Attorney’s office, Jana Petersen public information officer for the County of Boulder and media liaison Jennifer Bray for the City of Boulder.
With much admiration for the unique talents of Jason Epstein, I offer my grateful appreciation for his vital understanding and help with every aspect of this book.
The editorial assistance of Jennifer Mears, Judith McNally, and Veronica Windholz, was central to this book. Jennifer Mears, a reporter for the Associated Press, became my right hand, reviewing all the interviews and organizing the material. Her work laid the foundation for the writing. Judith McNally was my consultant during the early stages of this book. Her counsel, as in my previous book, American Tragedy, was invaluable. Veronica Windholz worked with me through the book’s completion. Her advice and suggestions helped shape this work.
A further thanks to Marianne Wesson, who advised and drafted the majority of the legal footnotes in the book. And to Deborah Goeken of the Rocky Mountain News, who approved Charlie Brennan’s leave of absence to work on this book.
My personal assistant Brenda Williams’s commitment to this book also made it possible, and Sandy Lyon, Nickey Hernandez, and Pat Rankin aided me in Los Angeles. A special thanks to Paul Amerman, Casey Brennan, Janet Brennan, and Terry Swartz, who kept our work in order. And to my son Howard Schiller who designed the book’s jacket.