BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Authorities have denied claims in a tabloid report that JonBenet Ramsey's brother is a suspect in the girl's death.

"Burke is not a suspect," said Suzanne Laurion, a spokeswoman for Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter.

Burke was 9 when his 6-year-old sister was found beaten and strangled in the family's basement in Boulder. He was the only person, other than JonBenet's parents, known to be in the house when she died on Christmas night in 1996.

Police have said that the parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, remain under suspicion. A grand jury has been investigating the case since Sept. 15.

Boulder city spokeswoman Leslie Aaholm said police want to talk more with Burke.

"We would like to talk to him, which is something we've said all along," she said. "We're simply trying to clarify that the police do not now nor have they ever considered Burke to be a suspect."

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