JonBenet's older siblings testify before Denver grand jury

Melinda Ramsey Long and John Andrew Ramsey are children of John Ramsey and his first wife. JonBenet and her brother, Burke, are children of Ramsey and his second wife, Patsy. Long, 27, and John Andrew Ramsey, 23, were with their mother in Atlanta when their half sister was found dead in the Ramsey family's Boulder home the day after Christmas in 1996. (AP Photo)

BOULDER, Colo. (Court TV)— Its meetings are kept secret, but the grand jury investigating JonBenet Ramsey's murder apparently interviewed her two older siblings Thursday.

Melinda Ramsey Long, 27, and John Andrew Ramsey, 23, who are the children of John Ramsey and his first wife, have reportedly been ordered to testify before the jurors, who reconvened last week after a four-month long hiatus.

Because the jurors are required by law to keep their meetings secret, it is unclear what was asked. Long and her brother were with their mother in Atlanta when JonBenet was found dead nearly three Christmases ago.

Police have said JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, are under suspicion for her murder. But the couple has repeatedly denied any involvement. Neither parent has been called to testify before the grand jury, but jurors have viewed videotaped police interviews.

Prosecutors and law enforcement officers in Boulder declined to comment on the grand jury's plans.

Long and John Andrew Ramsey have repeatedly been questioned by police but have rarely talked about the case in public.

Long did say in a British television documentary that her father "has never, ever raised a hand to any of his children. He has never ever abused us in any way."

The grand jury is not expected to meet Friday.

By law, the jurors must finish their work by Oct. 20, the day they must share their findings with the Boulder district attorney's office. On that day, they must decide whether to indict or not to indict, write a report detailing their investigation or do nothing.

—Valerie Q. Carino

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