My father in law was a policeman for many years, then an investigator for the DA’s Office, and worked his way up to Chief Investigator for the DA’s Office. So I would always ask him about cases and he was always right in the end. I asked him about this one and he said...someone in the family.
Your father-in-law is a wise man. I was living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at the time this happened and I've studied the case ever since. I'm absolutely convinced that it was an inside job. I don't believe JonBenet was murdered; rather, there was an accident (caused by Patsy), followed by the attempted cover up.
If I remember correctly, the FBI stated they had NEVER had a case where a ransom note was left, even though the body was dead and still in the house. Add to that a 2-1/2 page ransom note - written on paper already in the house AND with a marker already in the house - and the intruder theory just doesn't add up.
One more thought regarding evidence, or lack of. If a pedophile had taken her to the basement and killed her, there would be TONS of forensic evidence, including seminal fluid. None of that was found, just a very, very, very small amount of foreign DNA on her panties. That could've been transferred in the factory that packaged said garment. Patsy took the secret to the grave with her, but Burke and John are still alive. Perhaps one of them will someday tell the truth.
The lesson to be learned from this is to lawyer up early, hire your own investigators, and don’t say nuttin’!