When the murder of a six year old girl happened in Boulder Colorado in 1996, I read the news as much as I could to learn what, how, and why. Looking at photos of her sweet face I wept and wanted justice. Then a few months ago I listened to one of my favorite true crime podcasts (The Prosecutors) cover JonBenet Ramsey’s case. In one of the episodes, they mentioned a book by Steve Thomas - JonBenet Inside the Ramsey Muder Investigation. 

Steve Thomas was a lead detective on the case. In this book, Thomas takes us chronologically through his 18 months (as a detective fighting for justice for JonBenet) detailing the crime and the investigative process. From the beginning there was great conflict between Boulder PD and the District Attorney’s office. The decisions and actions of the DA’s office are a key focus of the book, primarily because of the inaction of bringing charges on the primary suspects - the Ramseys. Leaks, passivity, lies, games, and more shenanigans stifled the investigation. If even a fraction of what Thomas claims is true, heads should have rolled. It’s a travesty. 

There were times when Thomas’s rage and frustrations were too much, and I had to out the book down for a minute. Really? Could everyone be wrong? Then I would continue reading and quickly I would share Thomas’s rage and frustration. Ultimately justice hasn’t been meted out. Divine justice is all we are left with and will have to be enough. My opinion of who is responsible hasn’t changed from 1996 to 2024. This is a horrific case and all the more frustrating because but for stronger leadership, JonBenet’s killer may have been prosecuted timely. 

“… my final emotion will be of frustration, knowing that someone murdered a child —and got away with it.”