BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 13, 1999 — Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter announced Wednesday night that the grand jury investigating the JonBenet Ramsey slaying had finished its work — and no charges would be filed.

In the early evening hours on Wednesday, as reporters swarmed and scrambled outside the Justice Center in downtown Boulder, filling up air time and paper with theory, Boulder County officials would only say that their announcement would be "significant."

When Hunter finally stepped to the podium, he told reporters, "The grand jury has completed its work and will not return. No charges have been filed."

Hunter would not take questions from the media, saying only that a second press conference would take place Thursday afternoon to dispense further information.

To the surprise of some, Hunter also said that he was not pursuing charges independent of the grand jury's decision.

"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," Hunter said.

Hunter had said in the past that he could continue the investigation without the grand jury's help because, under state law, a prosecutor can file charges directly if he believes there is enough evidence.

The grand jury, which was convened in September 1998, faced an Oct. 20 deadline to decide whether to issue an indictment or a report, or simply disband without comment.

The eight women and four men began arriving at the courthouse at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, as about 50 photographers and reporters watched from the parking lot. They met for nearly seven hours the day before, after which they were escorted to their cars by armed sheriff's deputies as part of an increased effort to keep the media at a distance.

Wednesday morning, district court officers initially barred reporters from the Boulder County Justice Center, but relented an hour later.

The jurors had taken the summer off, then returned to work last month.

The body of JonBenet, who had been beaten and strangled, was found in the basement of her family's home Dec. 26, 1996. Police have said her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, remain under an "umbrella of suspicion."

The Ramseys have steadfastly maintained their innocence, but made no immediate statement after Hunter's announcement. Recent speculation has focused on the Ramseys' whereabouts in the days leading up to the announcement, but it was not clear whether they were at home in the Atlanta area, had returned to Boulder or were at another location.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.