BOULDER, Colo. (Court TV) — Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter said Thursday that the disbanding of the grand jury and the decision not to file charges in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case was not a failure for the prosecution and represented only one phase of an ongoing investigation.
Addressing a group of reporters at the Boulder County Justice Center, Hunter said rather apologetically, "I have an aching heart about where we are with this case but by no means do I feel a sense of failure."
However, he defended his prosecution team, saying,"If I were the killer I'm not sure that I would like this group looking for me."
The press conference was held as a follow-up to a short statement Hunter gave the previous night, when he announced that the grand jury investigating the JonBenet Ramsey slaying had finished its work, and that no charges would be filed.
Hunter also said Wednesday night, "I must report to you that I and my prosecution task force believe we do not have sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of charges against anyone who has been investigated at this time."
At Thursday's press conference Hunter and his colleagues emphasized that the investigation into the death of JonBenet Ramsey is not over and that the grand jury had been used as a tool to probe evidence and testimony concerning the case.
According to Michael Kane, the prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury, Hunter's team intended "to utilize the grand jury's subpoena power to develop evidence that becomes part of the whole package of evidence in this case."
Kane also explained that the investigation would now return to the hands of police, and that the prosecution team's participation now "becomes more of an advisory role to the police department." His statements supported Hunter's contention that the end of this grand jury's role is but one step in a continuing investigation.
Hunter and other members of his team would not comment on the status of the investigation or the evidence under examination.
"There's nothing that we would like better than to be able to tell you everything we know," said Hunter. However, he stressed that the secrecy order concerning the grand jury proceedings prohibited him from discussing those matters.
However, Hunter did say that John and Patsy Ramsey "have not been eliminated from the investigation."
As for his own role in the case, Hunter admitted that he had made some mistakes. Naming no one specifically, he also said that some of the people involved in his investigation "got off track" and "lost objectivity."
When asked about the prosecution team's decision not to pursue charges against any individuals at this time, Hunter and his colleagues would not give their individual opinions. Kane would only say that "the decision was unanimous."
Another member of the team, Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter,addressed the enormous pressure, after nearly three years of investigation, from the public to put someone — anyone — on trial for the little girl's murder. Ritter stressed that "theories are not what we take into courtrooms" and that "even in cases where the entire American public is asking for justice" prosecutors would not file charges against anyone if they felt that evidence was insufficient for a conviction.
Adams County District Attorney Bob Grant also commented on the media's impact on the investigation. He told reporters that they should examine "the problem of harassing individuals who are involved in an investigative process," possibly making them unwilling to participate in the case.
In response to Colorado Governor Bill Owens' statements that he is considering assigning a special prosecutor to the case, Hunter said, "if he can assist in that, I don't think any of us would stand in his way." Owens announced at his own press conference Thursday that he was appointing an advisory panel to examine the option of a special prosecutor.
Hunter also stressed that just because the case remains unsolved after three years does not mean that it will never reach a resolution.
"We've had a couple [of yet unsolved investigations] here in Boulder county just recently that are very old cases that have been solved," Hunter said.
Kane added that the end of this JonBenet grand jury does not prevent another one from being called in the future.
Considering the rather downtrodden tone of the press conference, some wondered why Hunter had decided to call for it. Hunter told reporters that a lot of money had been spent on the case and he felt he owed it to the electorate to take questions because "we must stand accountable." To date, the JonBenet Ramsey investigation has cost more than $2 million.
Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner echoed Hunter's sentiments in a separate press conference Thursday evening, telling reporters the case is not "dead in the water." He said police still have forensic evidence to investigate and that, contrary to public perception, progress has been made in the case.
It was before dawn on the day after Christmas in 1996 when Patsy Ramsey said she found a 2-page ransom note on the back staircase in the family's home that demanded $118,000 for the safe return of JonBenet. Eight hours later, John Ramsey brought his daughter's body up from a room in the basement.
Public attention focused almost immediately on the parents as possible suspects, and they remain "under the umbrella of suspicion" to this day, according to Boulder police.
The Boulder County grand jury of eight women and four men began hearing evidence in the case in September 1998, listening to testimony from family, friends and police detectives. Its term was set to expire Oct. 20.
In response to the decision, John and Patsy Ramsey issued a statement through their lawyer, saying, "We take no satisfaction in this result because a child killer remains free and undetected." The Ramseys have maintained their innocence throughout the investigation.
Hunter has served as Boulder County District Attorney since 1973, and would not say Thursday if he was planning to seek another term in office.
"I have not made that decision," Hunter told reporters, adding it is "not particularly important to me."
—Laura Barandes
