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New details released on JonBenet Ramsey's death
August 13, 1997
Web posted at: 1:19 p.m. EDT (1719 GMT)Latest developments:
- Time of death not known
- Child's hair entwined in cord
- Ramseys remain focus of probe
- Family continues own search for killer
- Related stories and sites
Note: This story contains graphic details of the autopsy.
BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- The coroner who first examined the body of JonBenet Ramsey last December says the murdered 6-year-old girl had a white cord wrapped around her neck that was attached to a stick with the word "Korea" written on it, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday.
The report, released over the objections of investigators, was made public to comply with a judge's order. It confirmed much of what has been made public about the death of the 6-year-old beauty queen, but it does not, as expected, indicate the time of death.
A summary of the newest information reported by CNN Correspondent Greg LaMotte 
448K/10 sec. AIFF or WAV sound "I consider estimation of time of death to be an interpretative finding rather than a factual statement, and it is not this office's practice to include this estimate as part of any autopsy report," Boulder County Coroner John Meyer said.
Portions of the report released earlier indicated the girl had a fractured skull and was strangled. Evidence of sexual assault was inconclusive, although previous information indicated she had "chronic inflammation of the vaginal wall."
Child's hair entwined in cord
The latest information described in detail what Meyer observed in the living room of the Ramsey home in Boulder on the evening of December 26, the day JonBenet's body was discovered in the basement by her father, John Ramsey. The body was moved before police arrived.
- A knotted white synthetic "ligature" (a rope or cord) was wrapped around her neck, and another piece was loosely tied around the right wrist over the sleeve of her knit shirt.
- The cord around her neck was looped around a 4 1/2-inch wooden "stick" with the word "Korea" printed on it in gold lettering. A portion of another word on the piece of wood was not legible.
- The stick was irregularly broken at both ends, and was covered with several colors of paint and possibly some varnish. Police believe the stick was used to tighten the cord around the girl's neck.
- Some of her pony-tailed hair was entwined in the knot of the cord around her neck.
- JonBenet was lying on her back on the floor and was covered by a blanket and a Colorado Avalanche hockey team sweatshirt.
- Her head was turned to the right and her arms were extended over her head.
- She was wearing a long-sleeved white knit collarless shirt with a silver star in the middle decorated with sequins. She also was wearing long white underwear, and there were red stains and urine on the panties, Meyer said.
- A red-ink drawing of a heart was on the palm of her left hand, and a gold cross hung around her neck. She also was wearing an identification bracelet stamped "JonBenet 12-25-96" and a ring on her right hand.
Ramseys remain focus of probe
Investigators had sought to keep the full autopsy under wraps, contending it contains information that would only be known to the killer or killers. However, a Boulder County district judge ruled several months ago that the entire report should be made public.
Other information obtained by police still remains under wraps. For example, search warrants that were obtained to search the family's home have been sealed.
John Ramsey discovered his daughter's body about eight hours after his wife, Patricia, said she found a ransom note demanding $118,000. Police have said the Ramseys are a focus of the investigation, but no one has been charged.
The Ramseys and their 10-year-old son Burke now live in Atlanta. A handful of employees from Access Graphics, the computer company John Ramsey owns, also moved there.
Family continues own search for killer
The Ramseys also have launched their own investigation. The couple ran a full-page newspaper advertisement describing what they believe is a possible profile of the killer. Fliers with the same information were distributed throughout the Boulder community.
In their last known effort to help solve the case, the Ramseys ran a newspaper ad August 6, the day JonBenet would have turned 7. That ad made public for the first time portions of the purported ransom note.
In addition to Boulder authorities, the FBI's Child Abduction and Serial Killer unit has been investigating the killing.
Next month, Boulder officials are scheduled to travel to Quantico, Virginia, to meet with members of the FBI team and get their perspective on the evidence they have so far.
Correspondent Greg LaMotteGreg LaMotte contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Report: Letters from Ramsey ransom note released - July 30, 1997
- Boulder official: Ramsey ad 'inappropriate' - July 28, 1997
- Boulder prosecutor visits FBI to discuss Ramsey case - July 25, 1997
- Ramsey autopsy partially unsealed - February 14, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Ramsey Family Statements - site established as a tool for the media to obtain comments released by the Ramsey family and their attorneys
- Boulder Planet - The Ramsey Case: Index
- JonBenet Ramsey Case Chronology - compiled by Longmont FYI and the Longmont Daily Times-Call
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