|
Family, coroner irate over tabloid photos of Ramsey crime scene
January 11, 1997Web posted at: 6:50 p.m. EST
BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- The family of JonBenet Ramsey is considering legal action after a tabloid published six autopsy and crime scene photos from the little girl's killing.
The photographs on the front page of The Globe, which hits supermarket checkout lanes Monday, reportedly show the 6- year-old girl's body wrapped in a blanket, the nylon cord police believe was used to strangle her and a rope mark on her wrist.
Boulder County Coroner John Meyer said he asked the sheriff's department to investigate how the paper, with a 1.3 million weekly circulation, got the photos.
The slain girl's family were appalled by publication of the pictures. "I can't begin to describe their devastation," said Ramsey family spokesman Patrick Korten. A statement from the family, issued through Korten Saturday, read in part:
"The ghoulish publication of these photographs ... is a callous act that poses a grave threat to the integrity of the criminal investigation of JonBenet's murder ... We call upon all other media to decline to republish or televise these photos ...
"Our attorneys have been directed to pursue all available avenues of legal recourse."
Korten said family lawyers and investigators were still having "active discussions" concerning a possible face-to- face interview between JonBenet's parents and police.
The girl's body was found by her father in a basement room of the Ramsey family's home December 26, some eight hours after her mother said she found a ransom note on a back stairway.
Autopsy photos are used as evidence in criminal trials. Boulder police, who have been quiet on most details of the investigation, have said they do not want to disclose aspects of the case that only the killer or killers would know.
"I'm probably as upset as I've been about any procedural matter in my office in the 10 years that I've been coroner," Meyer said.
But the Globe defended its decision. Editor Tony Frost said his paper showed the photos to a top Pennsylvania coroner, who advised that publishing them would not harm the murder case.
Parents remain in hiding
Media reports have said JonBenet, the 1995 Little Miss Colorado, had been sexually assaulted. Her skull was fractured, her mouth was covered with duct tape, and a cord was found around her neck.
JonBenet's parents, meantime, remained in hiding because of "safety and security" concerns, possibly arising from the ransom note found at their home, Korten said.
Police have not released the contents of the three-page ransom note.
Korten suggested the note could explain why the family has hired guards to protect them and taken precautions to conceal their whereabouts. He would not elaborate.
Police said they have no suspects, but Chief Tom Koby said Thursday that investigators had narrowed the number of possible suspects. Koby also said police do not believe a serial killer is on the loose; they think the murder was an isolated action.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Interview transcript:
- CNN Interview with John and Patricia Ramsey - January 6, 1997
Related stories:
- Source: Guest made 911 call from Ramsey home - January 10, 1997
- Boulder police downplay serial killer possibility - January 10, 1997
- The JonBenet Ramsey case, day-by-day - January 10, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- Denver Post
- Boulder Media Center - links for local media
- Colorado Daily
- Rocky Mountain News Online -- The Ramsey Killing
- Boulder News
- Boulder Community Network
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Tell us what you think! You said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.