BOULDER, Colo. (Court TV) — Another key detective in the still-unsolved two-year-old murder investigation of JonBenet Ramsey has resigned.

Linda Arndt, the only investigator present in John and Patsy Ramsey's home when JonBenet's body was found, resigned Thursday from the Boulder Police Department. Police officials refused to comment of Arndt departure and refused to release her resignation letter to the public. However, it is no secret that Arndt resented the criticism of the handling of the investigation and the police's response, or lack of, to the criticism.

In a federal suit filed against the city of Boulder and former police chief Tom Koby, Arndt claims the department hindered her right to free speech by imposing a gag order on police officers to prevent them from publicly discussing the case. Arndt also claims that Koby failed to correct others' "false, damaging and defamatory" criticism of her work on the case.

Arndt was the first detective to arrive at the Ramsey home on Dec. 26, 1996 after Patsy Ramsey called and reported the discovery of a 2 1/2 page ransom note. According to court records, Arndt asked the Ramseys, who had reported JonBenet missing, to search their home for anything else unusual. Moments later, John Ramsey emerged from the basement with his daughter's body in his arms. The six-year-old had been beaten and strangled to death. Arndt has been especially criticized for allowing Mr. Ramsey to recover the body and possibly contaminate evidence.

An 11-year veteran of the Boulder Police Department, Arndt testified before a grand jury last fall but has not publicly commented on her involvement in the investigation.

The Ramsey murder case has been hallmarked by distrust and disagreements between Boulder police and the district attorney's office over the investigation.

In his book "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" Lawrence Schiller suggests bickering is one of the main reasons no one has been charged in the case. According to the book, Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter told tabloid reporter Jeff Shapiro early in the investigation that he hated then-lead investigator John Eller and told the him the detective was worth investigating. Ten months are the investigation began, Eller was removed from the case. Eller eventually resigned from the police department in March 1998.

Another former Ramsey investigator, Steve Thomas, who also resigned from the case and the police department, has said Hunter's alleged leaks to the press has impeded the probe and frustrated detectives.

Court TV's Bryan Robinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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