-Caveat Lector-
Ex-Housekeeper Says Patsy
Ramsey Killed JonBenet
By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
http://www.denverpost.com
7-6-1
A federal judge Thursday gave grand-jury witnesses
permission to talk about their secret testimony, prompting
the Ramsey family's former housekeeper to declare that
Patsy Ramsey killed her 6-year-old daughter.
Former Ramsey housekeeper Linda Hoffmann-Pugh,
speaking publicly for the first time about her testimony
before the Boulder County grand jury, told reporters
Thursday:
* She thought Patsy Ramsey had killed JonBenet.
* The grand jury seemed to zero in on Patsy Ramsey, and
she thought it would indict her.
* A Swiss Army knife was found in the basement room
where JonBenet's body was found.
* "Only Patsy could have put that knife there. I took it
away from Burke (JonBenet's older brother) and hid it in a
linen closet near JonBenet's bedroom. An intruder never
would have found it. Patsy would have found it getting out
clean sheets."
* Pieces of rope were tied around JonBenet's neck and
wrist when her body was discovered Dec. 26, 1996.
* The blanket wrapped around JonBenet's body had been
left in the dryer. There was still a Barbie Doll nightgown
clinging to the blanket, so it had to have come out of the
dryer recently, she said. Only Patsy would have known it
was in the dryer, she said.
* An intruder never would have found the door to the
basement room where JonBenet's body was discovered. It
was too difficult to see unless someone knew it was there,
she said.
* Hoffmann-Pugh has never turned off her porch light
since the death of JonBenet and won't until her killer is
found.
* She believes Gov. Bill Owens should appoint a special
prosecutor to the case.
WITNESSES
Witnesses who testified before the Ramsey grand jury
include:
* Burke Ramsey, JonBenet's 14-year-old brother, by video
* John Andrew Ramsey and Melinda Ramsey Long, John
Ramsey's adult children from previous marriage
* Lou Smit, former Colorado Springs homicide detective
* Susan Stine, friend of the Ramseys
* Ellis Armistead, investigator hired by the Ramseys Linda
Arndt, former Boulder detective
* Craig Lewis, editor at "The Globe," was called to testify,
but was exempted due to Fifth amendment and his
defense in another related lawsuit. Witnesses who may
have testified include:
* Glenn Stine, friend of the Ramseys
* Tom and Enid Schantz, owners of Rue Morgue Mystery
Bookshop in Boulder
* Richard French, Boulder police officer
* Boulder police detectives Jim Byfield, Jane Harmer, Tom
Trujillo, Michael Everett, Carey Weinheimer and Ron
Gosage
* Steve Ainsworth, Boulder County sheriff's detective :
Linda Hoffmann-Pugh said she believes the grand jury
that investigated the beauty queen's death was focusing
on the girl's mother.
U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel ruled that two sections of
the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure violate the
prior-restraint protection of the First Amendment.
Afterward, Hoffmann-Pugh walked outside the federal
courthouse in Denver and said she told the grand jury
investigating the murder that she believes the beauty
queen was killed by her mother, Patsy Ramsey.
"At first, I didn't want to believe that Patsy could do
such a
thing," said the 57-year-old Platteville resident, who now
delivers newspapers. "I loved her. But as time went on,
things came to me that made me think she did it. I want
Patsy Ramsey tomorrow to look in the mirror and say to
herself, "I killed JonBenet.'"
Hoffmann-Pugh challenged the state's rules, which forbid
witnesses from repeating what they've told grand jurors
unless an indictment or report is issued, in order to write
a
book about her experiences with the Ramsey family.
She said the grand jury focused almost exclusively on
Patsy Ramsey. "It was almost all about Patsy, down to the
underwear she had purchased from Bloomingdales," she
said. "They wanted to know how she related to JonBenet.
I felt in my heart they were going to indict Patsy."
She said she told the grand jury that Patsy had become
very moody right before Christmas of 1996. "I think she
had multiple personalities. She'd be in a good mood and
then she'd be cranky. She got into arguments with
JonBenet about wearing a dress or about a friend coming
over. I had never seen Patsy so upset.
"I don't believe Patsy meant to kill her. I truly believe
it was
an accident that just continued," said Hoffmann-Pugh,
who worked in the Ramsey house until three days before
the slaying on Dec. 26, 1996, and testified before the
grand jury in January 1999.
The Ramseys have maintained they had nothing to do
with their daughter's death.
The grand jury adjourned in October 1999 after 13
months. No indictments were issued. The grand jury, and
then-District Attorney Alex Hunter, never issued a report
about its investigation.
Hoffmann-Pugh, whose efforts to change grand-jury rules
were supported by the Ramseys, on Thursday handed out
a packet of what she said were six handwriting experts'
analyses of Patsy Ramsey's handwriting samples.
All six said it was highly probable that Patsy wrote the
ransom note, which was found in the Ramsey house
about six hours before the body was found in the
basement, she said. Hoffmann-Pugh said she is
convinced Patsy wrote the ransom note.
The Ramseys have never produced a written handwriting
report, Hoffmann-Pugh said. "I had to give handwriting
samples to the police. Why didn't she? I had to testify
before the grand jury. Why didn't she?" Hoffmann-Pugh
asked rhetorically. She testified for eight hours before the
grand jury.
Her attorney, Darnay Hoffman, said a written handwriting
report from the Ramseys "is the single most important
piece of evidence that's still missing from this case. They
only thing they've given is an oral report, an oral denial."
In the courtroom, Boulder Assistant District Attorney
William Nagel argued that Colorado Criminal Procedure
Rules 6.2 and 6.3 are very specific as to what can't be
repeated outside the grand-jury room.
"Rule 6.3, the witness' oath, states "the testimony you are
about to give ...' It's the testimony that can't be talked
about publicly," he said. "The knowledge that was brought
in to the grand-jury room can be spoken publicly.
"What can't be discussed is any information obtained as a
result of testifying before the grand jury, any information
obtained inside the jury room," he said. "They also cannot
say, "That's what I told the grand jury'... or "That's what
the prosecutor asked me' ... or "The grand jury focused on
this.' That would be public disclosure of the grand-jury
proceedings."
Daniel said 40 states as well as the federal government
allow grand-jury witnesses to discuss their testimony. He
said the U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 struck down a
Florida law that prohibited witnesses from talking publicly
about any testimony they might have given, even if the
knowledge had been gained prior to taking the witness'
oath.
Daniel called the state's argument "fallacious" and ruled
that the state's grand-jury rules violate the First
Amendment only as they pertain to witnesses talking
about what they already knew.
He said the rules also violated the "prior restraint"
protection of the First Amendment, which he called "the
least tolerable violation" of the First Amendment.
Nagel said it was his duty as a prosecutor to appeal any
decision that goes against state law, and that he would
begin preparing an appeal.
The Ramseys' attorney, L. Linn Wood, reached in Atlanta,
said the ruling was only a step in the right direction.
"I'm interested in any information about the truth of the
grand-jury investigation," he said. "I want the whole truth
as to why the grand jury did not indict John and Patsy
Ramsey.
"This ruling doesn't sound like it goes far enough for the
basis of a claim" to ask how the grand jury voted, he said.
"If the grand jury voted not to indict, I don't think
(former
District Attorney) Alex Hunter has the right to refuse to
sign a no-true bill," he said. "If the grand jury voted not
to
indict ... clearly the Ramseys and the public have a right
to know."
Wood said he is waiting for Hunter to return from a
Hawaiian vacation to subpoena him to testify about any
grand-jury votes. He says he expects Hunter to declare
privilege against testifying, and that Wood will file a
motion in court forcing him to testify.
All contents Copyright 2001 The Denver Post or other
copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for
any commercial purpose.
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