tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post8197926966778296659..comments2024-02-23T18:09:21.379-05:00Comments on Solving the JonBenet Ramsey Case: JohnismsDocGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-79125760455853569872019-04-04T08:41:40.715-04:002019-04-04T08:41:40.715-04:00This blog was made 6 years ago and is probably not...This blog was made 6 years ago and is probably not looked into anymore, but yesterday I was watching youtube videos of Ramsey interviews on CNN and Larry King. I don't know which interview it was, but I think it was a 2000 interview for the press. John states that the police were denying the family the body for "proper burial."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-30932552170325396922013-12-04T16:27:02.664-05:002013-12-04T16:27:02.664-05:00John continually slants or bends the truth, when h...John continually slants or bends the truth, when he isn't lying outright. While technically it's true he was't asked to take a polygraph in so many words, Steve Thomas did, in effect, ask him -- and he obviously refused. And I love how he uses "we." Patsy said she'd take ten if it helped the investigation. John said he was insulted.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-24031893737375330832013-12-04T15:08:45.035-05:002013-12-04T15:08:45.035-05:00more percentages from John ( I NEVER use percentag...more percentages from John ( I NEVER use percentages! who does that as often as John and the RNW does? ) quote---JR: Well, what I’ve been told is that, and I felt tremendous guilt after we lost JonBenet, because hadn’t protected her, like I failed as a parent. And was told that that’s, with that kind of emotion you shouldn’t take a lie detector test because you did have that guilt feeling, and, but, so I don’t know about the test, but I did not kill my daughter if that’s what you want to ask me. She was the most precious thing to me in the world. So if the lie detector test is correct and it was done correct, I’d pass it 100%.<br /><br />now here is John on the lie detector issue--lie lie lie---from April 1997---ST: John, let me tell you this, I feel like an encyclopedia salesman sometimes, because I‘ve gone to a number of people in this thing, and it’s hard to convince somebody to take a polygraph test. But I’ve been successful on occasion with some people that I’ve been concerned about, and used what I’ve been told, is one of the ten best FBI calligraphers to do that. And I’ll ask you point blank, at some point in this, would you take a polygraph?<br />JF: I would be insulted if you ask me to take a polygraph test, frankly.<br /><br />now from the LKL show in 2000===JOHN RAMSEY, FATHER OF JONBENET RAMSEY: We have -- we were asked, "Had we been asked to take a lie detector test?" We said no. We were asked, "Would we?" We said certainly we would. We would expect it to be fair, and we would expect the results to be public.<br />J. RAMSEY: But in the right -- we have nothing to hide. And if they work and if it will advance the cause of finding the killer of our daughter, we'll do it. Simple.Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-55928188540032794652013-12-04T09:38:49.596-05:002013-12-04T09:38:49.596-05:00CALLER: Hello. I'd like to know, John and Pats...CALLER: Hello. I'd like to know, John and Patsy, why is December 25th the date of death on JonBenet's tombstone, not December 26th?<br /><br />J. RAMSEY: Well, that's a question we've been asked, and I have -- I chose that date, and I'll tell you why. And I debated that, because I didn't know for sure when she died.<br /><br />But I picked December 25th because I wanted the world to remember what happened to my daughter on Christmas day. I can't imagine a more horrible crime than a child being murdered on Christmas night. That was the main reason I picked December 25th.<br /><br />I knew we'd be criticized. I knew it would raise suspicions, but I wanted the world to remember what was done to my daughter on Christmas night.<br /><br />KING: Was the actual date the 26th?<br /><br />J. RAMSEY: We don't know. I don't know. I don't know what's on the death certificate. I do know, when I found her, her body was cool. Her arms were rigid.<br /><br />KING: So you're making a statement there?<br /><br />J. RAMSEY: We were making a statement. The world went mad on December 25th, 1996.Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-13099031380429368322013-12-04T09:29:47.169-05:002013-12-04T09:29:47.169-05:00J. RAMSEY: No, no. Greta, the key point, people sa...J. RAMSEY: No, no. Greta, the key point, people say that 80 percent of the time (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the parents. In every case, I will bet, where a parent has murdered or harmed a child, there has been a previous history of that. They are known to the social service agency. They are known by their teachers to be abused children. There was none of that. People do not turn into a monster.<br />Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-44710773224436965672013-12-04T09:20:25.883-05:002013-12-04T09:20:25.883-05:00check it out--john also uses VICTORY just like the...check it out--john also uses VICTORY just like the ransom note author<br /><br />J. RAMSEY: Well, we were at some friends' house in Boulder. They had their television on. We were sitting on the couch.<br /><br />I felt that the system would work, which it did, but had been fully prepared for it not to work and to be indicted. It was a -- it felt kind of like you had just gotten out of school for the summer. You know, how you felt as a kid when you -- the last day of school, you had just finished an episode of your life, and you had kind of a -- nothing on the agenda for a while. And that's kind of how it felt.<br /><br />We were certainly relieved. We were grateful to the grand jurors for doing what they were tasked to do. We got in the car and started driving for home.<br /><br />P. RAMSEY: I mean, it was not a feeling of joy.<br /><br />J. RAMSEY: No, this was not a victory.<br /><br />Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-54978404640219902872013-11-12T10:35:20.528-05:002013-11-12T10:35:20.528-05:00The "stun gun" theory was always a Hail ...The "stun gun" theory was always a Hail Mary pass. Not only wasn't there a 95% chance of a stun gun there was hardly even a 1% chance. Smit went shopping for a gun with the right measurements and predictably enough he found one. If they had a suspect who owned a stun gun, and that stun gun turned out to match those wounds, that would mean something. But just going shopping for anything that might fit, that means nothing.<br /><br />John knew very well that exhuming JonBenet's body would destroy that theory, so why go along with it? The uncertainty alone would make a great argument for reasonable doubt, if he were ever tried.<br /><br />And yes, no question John loves percentages, uses them every time he gets the chance.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-72067269033707869912013-11-12T00:25:02.210-05:002013-11-12T00:25:02.210-05:00I found this from the transcript of 48 Hours, Octo...I found this from the transcript of 48 Hours, October 4, 2002. They are talking about verifying for sure that the marks found on Jon Benet's body were made by a stun gun. Erin Moriarty is asking Lou Smit if having the body exhumed would help prove that:<br /><br />Erin Moriarty: "Wouldn't that have been or the best way to know or come the closest to knowing, is if you could have exhumed the body and line up a stun gun and see if it matches those injuries?"<br /><br /> Lou Smit: "Sure, I believe that would have probably been the most accurate way to do it."<br /><br /> Erin Moriarty: (Voice Over) "Lou Smit admits that in the months following JonBenét's death, investigators considered going to court to have her body exhumed but decided against it."<br /><br /> John Ramsey: "We had buried our child, she was in peace, that was just an abhorrent thought"<br /><br /> Erin Moriarty: "But John, that might have been the one way to know for sure, that could have resolved the whole issue, because if a stun gun was used, it was not the parents."<br /><br /> John Ramsey: "Certainly, and we've got people who told us who know what they are doing that with 95% medical certainty that a stun gun was used. No question."<br /><br /> Erin Moriarty: "But you would have known with a hundred percent certainty if you had exhumed the body, as tough as that would have been."<br /><br /> John Ramsey: "That's my child you're talking about, it's not a body. It's different." <br /><br />I can't believe the Ramseys (or was it just John?) would not have agreed to exhume her body if, assuming it could prove a stun gun was used, it would finally lift the veil of suspicion off of them. From what I've read, it was primarily John that was against exhuming the body. Apparently even Lou Smith felt it would be the "most accurate" way to prove what caused those marks.<br /><br />Oh, and there's John's use of percentages again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-65991884396926440042013-10-26T21:16:24.480-04:002013-10-26T21:16:24.480-04:00Apparently he does, yes. Or at least he did. So di...Apparently he does, yes. Or at least he did. So did the person who wrote the "ransom" note.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-36745490437877710782013-10-26T21:12:58.403-04:002013-10-26T21:12:58.403-04:00Yes, that's one theory that's been popular...Yes, that's one theory that's been popular and that would explain the "Johnisms" if it were the case. But there is also no reason to believe Patsy penned the note either. Her writing doesn't resemble the writing on the note and there would have been no logical reason for her to have written it in the first place.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-71490376225956298212013-10-26T19:40:51.122-04:002013-10-26T19:40:51.122-04:00Someone needs to learn pronouns. I, as a person, ...Someone needs to learn pronouns. I, as a person, do not appreciate being called "that". Perhaps - it is a way of "dehumanizing" someone to call them "that" rather than "who". I see this from guys on internet dating all of the time. I do not date men who use the wrong pronoun because they are ignorant and possibly objectify women. Does John Ramsey this? He "who" married a beauty queen. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-18574085899085799942013-10-26T19:36:44.471-04:002013-10-26T19:36:44.471-04:00There was thought that Patsy wrote the note but Jo...There was thought that Patsy wrote the note but John dictated it to her, "and hence" the Johnisms and the not ruling out Patsy as the writer. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-11291133264753789152013-08-25T22:00:34.404-04:002013-08-25T22:00:34.404-04:00My intention was not to use those similarities to ...My intention was not to use those similarities to "prove" John wrote the note, but to get people to put the assumption that Patsy wrote it into perspective. While it's true that many people use percentage figures, I can't think of a single instance where Patsy ever used even one. Same with all the other instances in those examples.<br /><br />And I agree, John's use of "proper" is especially telling.<br /><br />As far as a book is concerned, I'm afraid there is no longer enough interest in this case to warrant yet another book. I think the blog format is just about right for what I want to convey. But maybe that will change, we'll see. Thanks.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-34122573843856572482013-08-23T09:02:46.837-04:002013-08-23T09:02:46.837-04:00DocG,
I've been trying to catch up on your blo...DocG,<br />I've been trying to catch up on your blog, all the replies and your comments to all the replies. Great reading!<br /><br />Regarding the "Johnisms" you point out, at first I was skeptical, thinking that it was a stretch to connect JR's post-murder choice of words to those in the RN. Many people use percentages in their speech, or mis-use the word "that" in their sentences, or use words such as "authorities" or "law enforcement", but one word definitely jumped out at me: "proper" How many people really use that word, especially WHEN TALKING ABOUT A BURIAL??? You hear "lay to rest" all the time, but "proper burial"? Not so much. That just sent chills down my spine.<br /><br />You need to write a book DocG. I'd be the first to buy it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-69912175812749483572013-08-10T13:55:45.474-04:002013-08-10T13:55:45.474-04:00I agree that not everything I've found is equa...I agree that not everything I've found is equally important. And I would certainly never claim that one could positively identify the writer of such a document simply on the basis of any of these comparisons. But I do think it important to recognize the many elements in this note that reflect John's linguistic style, especially because I see many more of these "Johnisms" than "Patsyisms." And when we add to that all the terms and expressions that males are more likely to use than females, such as "monitor," "execution," "scanned," "electronic devices," "countermeasures and tactics," "constant scrutiny," then I must say if we have to choose between John and Patsy on this basis, I would certainly opt for John.<br /><br />As for the similarities with Patsy's handwriting, that's a mirage. I invite you to inspect the comparisons I've put together here: http://solvingjonbenet.blogspot.com/2013/02/patsys-left-hand-sample-revisited.html and here: http://solvingjonbenet.blogspot.com/2013/02/patsys-london-letter-revisited.html<br /><br />I've also carefully examined the reports of the "experts" who fingered Patsy as the note writer and in every case I've found serious flaws in their methodology. As should be evident from one look at Patsy's London Letter, her writing style is completely different from that of the note. John's, on the other hand, contains some striking similarities. Only no one has wanted to "go there" because that would mean challenging the expertise of the "experts" who ruled him out. <br />DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-25748386263515777572013-08-10T13:29:05.010-04:002013-08-10T13:29:05.010-04:00Hello DocG. I've just recently become interes...Hello DocG. I've just recently become interested in the Ramsey case and I am only now beginning to sift through all the facts, details and opinions. I certainly remember all the media attention at the time. I am currently reading Schiller's book and just found your blog yesterday. I am enjoying your site so far and plan to read through it all as time permits.<br /><br />As of now I don't agree with your conclusion that John killed JonBenet. When I have the chance I will share my opinion on where your conclusion is flawed.<br /><br />For now, just to comment on your Johnisms, I'm not that impressed. I believe many people misuse "that" and "of", so I'm not seeing anything too convincing there. As for the 18,000 figure he uses regarding police jurisdictions, well, a brief internet search shows that the figure is accurate and not something JR just pulled out of his head because "he just happens to like" that number.<br /><br />John's fondness for percentages and his use of "and hence" are the only two things that raise an eyebrow, imo. And raise an eyebrow they do. But it still isn't nearly as convincing as the similarities in Patsy's handwriting to the ransom note, most notably her letter "a". At this point in my study of this case I am still convinced that Patsy wrote the rn, but I am looking forward to reading all that you have to say. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-362690516906187382013-04-07T11:55:58.801-04:002013-04-07T11:55:58.801-04:00As I believe I've demonstrated, if both John a...As I believe I've demonstrated, if both John and Patsy were in on this together, the 911 call would never have been made while JonBenet's body was still in the house. So no, I find it impossible to accept that John dictated while Patsy wrote. To me, it's clear as day that the note is entirely John's work. And if you think logically about this case you'll realize that if John is the one who molested, sexually assaulted and murdered his daughter he'd have had every reason to keep that information from his wife. And if Patsy figured it out, she'd have had no reason to assist him in a coverup. Any more than John would have wanted to assist Patsy if SHE'd been responsible for his daughter's death.<br /><br />Unfortunately, speculation about this case became so rampant so quickly that logic and common sense went out the window during the first few weeks of the investigation.<br /><br />And yes, the Ramsey's were scheduled to rendezvous with John's older children -- but a quick phone call could have easily cancelled those plans. They could have said someone was feeling sick, or they could have told the "truth," that JonBenet had been "kidnapped" and they were awaiting the kidnapper's call. There was nothing that would have forced them to call 911 at that time. The note would have given them ample reason NOT to call, and that very clearly was the plan in the mind of the person who wrote it.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-20080730555537312862013-04-07T05:30:27.343-04:002013-04-07T05:30:27.343-04:00It seems to me that John Ramsey could have dictate...It seems to me that John Ramsey could have dictated the ransom note to Patsy. In one of the books (or articles) that I read, one language expert opined that two people had collaborated on the note. <br /><br />It is my understanding that the Ramseys were scheduled to meet John Ramsey's adult children (from his previous marriage) in Minneapolis, where they would take John's private plane to the family's second home in Charlevoix, Michigan, that very morning. His two older children had already left Atlanta, early that morning. <br /><br />The Ramseys had to come up with some kind of explanation as to why JonBenet was missing. Since the Ramseys were due at the airport, they had to come up with an explanation, FAST.<br /><br />Since JonBenet was dead, calling 911 and pretending that she was kidnapped looked better than confessing that one of them had murdered her. <br /><br />According to many friends and acquaintances of Patsy, she always had to keep up the pretense that she and her family were absolutely perfect, with no faults or problems whatsoever. It's called "keeping up appearances." To confess that one of the three remaining family members had molested and murdered JonBenet would have absolutely horrified Patsy, who was known to be extremely religious, excessively self-righteous and inordinately egotistical.<br /><br />They also could have received the death penalty, if convicted of JonBenet's murder. <br /><br />The pretense of a kidnapping could have been an effort to keep the Ramseys out of prison; an attempt to protect Patsy's "perfect family" reputation; and also an attempt to protect John's ability to continue making a (very wealthy) living. <br /><br />By completely contaminating the crime scene, the Ramseys ensured that none of them could be convicted of the crime, as no jury could actually know, beyond a reasonable doubt, WHICH Ramsey did WHAT.<br /><br />Then, when John "discovered" the body, they could claim that the would-be kidnapper murdered JonBenet, for some reason.<br /><br />The Ramseys had to come up with some kind of explanation as to why their six-year-old daughter was missing. <br /><br />The two alternatives seem to be either claiming that JonBenet was kidnapped or saying to John Ramsey's adult children, "Hey, one of us molested and murdered JonBenet. That's why she won't be joining the rest of the family, today, in Michigan."<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-15709119904141817702013-03-31T14:09:58.453-04:002013-03-31T14:09:58.453-04:00"In the Newseum interview, after he said '..."In the Newseum interview, after he said 'And hence,' he then said, 'and uh, and uh...' I wonder if the stutter was due to him realizing he'd just said 'and hence.' By that time, a lot had been made of that phrase, and I doubt sincerely it had escaped him."<br /><br />I like that observation, KH! I think if I'd written a fake ransom note I'd not only take pains to not say similar phrasings, but I'd probably have emotional flashbacks when I'd eventually slip up. <br /><br />"To us, it sounds silly. To a woman like Patsy, in that situation, it's terrifying. As he knew it would be."<br /><br />I think anything would be terrifying in that situation. No matter what the note read, it would be pretty horrifying to a woman who just discovered her daughter missing. <br /><br />I don't think the note was meant to only fool Patsy. I think he intended to either share the letter, summarize, or show copies to friends and family and eventually the police once he disposed of JonBenet. Before 1996, I don't think many people knew how long most ransom notes were. I could be wrong, but that doesn't seem like information within the realm of common knowledge. Before the internet and the JonBenet case schooled many people, I think most smart people would just go with what they remember from popular culture. Personally, I would have cut out letters from magazines because I'm that stupid. But I'd swear it seemed like a good idea at the time.<br /><br />What gets me is the language. When reading it it truly does sound like wealthy, educated, intelligent, technically savvy foreigners who may or may not be socialists. I think in the frame of mind that John was in, the highly emotional fight or flight situation he was probably feeling, pinning this on the bad guys from Die Hard seemed like a good idea at the time. <br /><br />And good luck with your comedy career too, KH! Also, what's the deal with tampons?! Amiright?!<br /><br />-Erica <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-12831324681341210232013-03-23T22:39:09.810-04:002013-03-23T22:39:09.810-04:00Thanks, that's a very helpful observation. Pat...Thanks, that's a very helpful observation. Patsy graduated magna cum laude as I understand it, and was a journalism major. So it doesn't surprise me that she'd have used "who" instead of "that" in such a sentence. On the other hand, the note is clearly deceptive, so we can't jump to conclusions solely on the basis of grammatical structure.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-73262527273914511082013-03-23T21:41:56.514-04:002013-03-23T21:41:56.514-04:00I was reading an interview transcript of Patsy to ...I was reading an interview transcript of Patsy to look for her use of "that" instead of "who" when she spoke, as in the ransom note. I found a sentence in which she said "they're our friends WHO called us early that morning". <br />She did NOT say "they're our friends THAT called us..." similar to what was written in the ransom note.<br />Yep--its a JOHNISM all right.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-78656044996963243952013-03-16T13:10:01.954-04:002013-03-16T13:10:01.954-04:00Keep reading, KH, and commenting. Your comments ar...Keep reading, KH, and commenting. Your comments are appropriate, intelligent and most welcome. Thanks.DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-7752739943543642402013-03-16T03:41:01.543-04:002013-03-16T03:41:01.543-04:00Erica -
Funny. I'm a writer and sometimes a ...Erica - <br /><br />Funny. I'm a writer and sometimes a comedy writer and sometimes a sketch comic and sometimes a standup comic. I've had multiple very similar experiences in which people were surprised to find out that I'm female.<br /><br />Part of this, though, is because people don't really expect women to be funny. Or if we are, we're supposed to be "funny" while talking about shopping and periods. <br /><br />However, I do agree with you: it's not really possible to ascertain gender with a high degree of certainty from a single writing sample. I'm guilty of it, too - assuming gender while reading, to get to the byline and realize I was assuming incorrectly.<br /><br />Cheers to you and good luck with your writing, from one good Catholic lush to another.<br /><br />KH<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-19438022540551793742013-03-16T03:33:39.042-04:002013-03-16T03:33:39.042-04:00In the Newseum interview, after he said "And ...In the Newseum interview, after he said "And hence," he then said, "and uh, and uh..." I wonder if the stutter was due to him realizing he'd just said "and hence." By that time, a lot had been made of that phrase, and I doubt sincerely it had escaped him.<br /><br />I'm a woman who has watched a ton of the type of movies that are referenced in the note, and I know I'm a rarity. When I read it, it makes sense that it would be written not BY someone with an unsophisticated grasp of how kidnappings work, but FOR someone with an unsophisticated grasp of how kidnappings work. In other words, what makes sense is a very sharp guy (John) writing it for a reasonably bright but intellectually uncomplicated woman he is trying to scare and control (Patsy). He knows Patsy doesn't watch Dirty Harry movies, but he knows Patsy well enough to know that over-dramatized boogeyman schtick will work on her. "She dies" x3. "Don't try to grow a brain, John." To us, it sounds silly. To a woman like Patsy, in that situation, it's terrifying. As he knew it would be. <br /><br />These examples are incredibly telling, Doc. Well done.<br /><br />Btw - I'm a writer by profession, and the grammatical errors stood out like sore thumbs to me. Patsy was a journalism major and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She might have made a lot of mistakes staging a murder, but using "that" and "of" in the way they were used in the note most likely wouldn't have been among them. <br /><br />As you can tell by my rash of comments, I recently discovered your blog and can't stop reading it. My husband is wondering what I'm absorbed in over here... :-)<br /><br />KHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494242281396312957.post-78199022105105337702013-02-24T16:08:08.388-05:002013-02-24T16:08:08.388-05:00It would be more helpful if you could find example...It would be more helpful if you could find examples of any of these "Johnisms" anywhere in Patsy's discourse. That was my point in compiling this list. Whether or not John's English is correct or not correct doesn't really interest me. DocGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359004200002936544noreply@blogger.com