Boulder police search in Georgia for clues to child's murder

Detectives seek tape of CNN interview with girl's parents

ROSWELL, Georgia (CNN) -- Detectives from Boulder, Colorado, Thursday met with Atlanta-area officers to discuss clues in the killing of a 6-year-old beauty pageant winner.

The investigators requested a copy of a CNN interview given Wednesday by the parents of JonBenet Ramsey, who was found last week in the family's Boulder home strangled, her mouth covered with duct tape.

In the CNN interview, the Ramseys said they did not believe the killer was a family member or friend. In a warning to Boulder residents, Patricia Ramsey said, "There is a killer on the loose." (26 sec. /320K AIFF or WAV sound) 

But Boulder Mayor Leslie Durgin took issue with that claim Thursday in an interview with CNN's Greg Lamotte.

"The evidence doesn't exist to suggest a killer's on the loose," she said, noting that the Ramsey killing was the city's only homicide in 1996.

Durgin said there was no evidence of forced entry. That the child's body was found in a room in the basement suggests the killer knew the layout of the house, she said, and was most likely somebody the family knew.

Keeping details secret

Leslie Aaholm, a Boulder police spokeswoman, said police were keeping details of the crime secret to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.

It is not known whether the Colorado police met with the Ramseys.

Their daughter was buried Tuesday in suburban Atlanta, where she was born and where the family still has relatives.

Father wants own investigators

John Ramsey told CNN he discovered JonBenet's body in their home about eight hours after her mother found a ransom note asking for $118,000.

John Ramsey said he is cooperating with police, but will hire private investigators to search for clues. He claimed Boulder police have limited experience in homicide cases.

Aaholm said the Boulder investigators were in Georgia to speak with relatives, friends and associates of the Ramsey family and had hoped to set up a formal interview in Boulder with JonBenet's parents.

No arrest warrants issued

"At this time there have been no arrest warrants issued, and there are no suspects," said Sgt. Dennis Nelson of the Roswell Police Department. "This is one small part of the full, complete and thorough police investigation."

The Boulder police did not bring warrants with them, Nelson added.

Police spent all day with the Ramsey family on the day the young girl was found dead in the basement -- exactly a week ago -- but they still have not formally interviewed them.

Related stories:

• 'Killer on the loose,' slain child's mother tells CNN - January 1, 1997
• Former Little Miss Colorado buried - December 31, 1996

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