According to Fox News, Patsy Ramsey, mother of Jonbenet Ramsey has passed away from ovarian cancer.
My first paragraph is just an intro to another web site. I had read about the "and hence" phrasing years ago and it convinced me that the parents were involved. The article that I link you to on my original post is a detailed dissection of the letter.
My personal belief is that the little girl wet her bed and Mrs. Ramsey flew into a fury. I don't think she intended to kill her daughter, but she lost control and did just that. She and her husband then covered up the crime.
JonBenet Ramsey is gone but her parent's don't add up.
JonBenet Ramsey Autopsy Report
Here is the complete text of the JonBenet Ramsey autopsy report,
released by Boulder County Coroner John Meyer on August 13.
NAME: RAMSEY, JONBENET
DOB: 08/06/90
NAME: Ramsey, JonBenet
DOB: 08/06/90
AGE: 6Y
SEX: F
PATH MD: MEYER
TYPE: COR
AUTOPSY NO: 96A-155
DEATH D/T: 12/26/96 @1323
AUTOPSY D/T: 12/27/96 @ 0815
ID NO; 137712
COR/MEDREC# 1714-96-A
FINAL DIAGNOSIS:
I. Ligature strangulation
A. Circumferential ligature with associated ligature furrow
of neck
B. Abrasions and petechial hemorrhages, neck
C. Petechial hemorrhages, conjunctival surfaces of eyes and
skin of face
II. Craniocerebral injuries
A. Scalp contusion
B. Linear, comminuted fracture of right side of skull
C. Linear pattern of contusions of right cerebral
hemisphere
D. Subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhage
E. Small contusions, tips of temporal lobes
III. Abrasion of right cheek
IV. Abrasion/contusion, posterior right shoulder
V. Abrasions of left lower back and posterior left lower leg
VI. Abrasion and vascular congestion of vaginal mucosa
VII. Ligature of right wrist
Toxicologic Studies
blood ethanol - none detected
blood drug screen - no drugs detected
CLINICOPATHLOGIC CORRELATION: Cause of death of this six year old
female is asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral
trauma.
John E. Meyer M.D.
Pathologist
jn/12/27/96
The body of this six year old female was first seen by me after I
was called to an address identified as 755 - 15th street in
Boulder, Colorado, on 12/26/96. I arrived at the scene approximately
8 PM on 12/26 and entered the house where the decedent's body was
located at approximately 8:20PM. I initially viewed the body in the
living room of the house. The decedent was laying on her back on the
floor, covered by a blanket and a Colorado Avalanche sweatshirt. On
removing these two items from the top of the body the decedent was
found to be lying on her back with her arms extended up over her head.
The head was turned to the right. A brief examination of the body
disclosed a ligature around the neck and a ligature around the right
wrist. Also noted was a small area of abrasion or contusion below the
right ear on the lateral aspect of the right cheek. A prominent dried
abrasion was present on the lower left neck. After examining the body,
I left the residence at approximately 8:30PM.
EXTERNAL EXAM: The decedent is clothed in a long sleeved white knit
collarless shirt, the mid anterior chest area of which contains an
embroidered silver star decorated with silver sequins. Tied loosely
around the right wrist, overlying the sleeve of the shirt is a white
cord. At the knot there is one tail end which measures 5.5 inches in
length with a frayed end. The other tail of the knot measures 15.5
inches in length and ends in a double loop knot. This end of the cord
is also frayed. There are no defects noted in the shirt but the upper
anterior right sleeve contains a dried brown-tan stain measuring
2.5x1.5 inches, consistent with mucous from the nose or mouth. There
are long white underwear with an elastic waist band containing a red
and blue stripe. The long underwear are urine stained anteriorly over
the crotch area and anterior legs. No defects are identified. Beneath
the long underwear are white panties with printed rose buds and the
words "Wednesday" on the elastic waist band. The underwear is urine
stained and in the inner aspect of the crotch are several red areas
of staining measuring up to 0.5 inch maximum dimension.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF INJURY: Located just below the right ear at the
right angle of the mandible, 1.5 inches below the right external
auditory canal is a 3/8 x 1/4 inch area of rust colored abrasion. In
the lateral aspect of the left lower eyelid on the inner conjunctival
surface is a 1mminmaximum dimension petechial hemorrhage. Very fine,
less than 1mm petechial hemorrhages are present on the skin of the
upper eyelids bilaterally as well as on the lateral left cheek. On
everting the left upper eyelid there are much smaller, less than 1mm
petechial hemorrhages located on the conjuctival surface. Possible
petechial hemorrhages located on the conjunctival surfaces of the
right upper and lower eyelids, but livor mortis on this side of the
face makes definite identification difficult.
Wrapped around the neck with a double knot in the midline of the
posterior neck is a length of white cord similar to that described
as being tied around the right wrist. This ligature cord is cut on
the right side of the neck and removed. A single black ink mark is
placed on the left side of the cut and a double black ink mark on
the right side of the cut. The posterior knot is left intact.
Extending from the knot the posterior aspect of the neck are two
tails of the knot, one measuring 4 inches in length and having a
frayed end, and the other measuring 17 inches in length with the
end tied in multiple loops around a lenght of a round tan-brown
wooden stick which measures 4.5 inches in length. This wooden stick
is irregularly broken at both ends and there are several colors of
paint and apparent glistening varnish on the surface. Printed in
gold letters on one end of the wooden stick is the word "Korea".
The tail end of another word extends from beneath the loops of the
cord tied around the stick and is not able to be interpreted.
Blonde hair is entwined in the knot on the posterior aspect of the
neck as well as in the cord wrapped around the wooden stick. It
appears to be made of a white synthetic material. Also secured
around the neck is a gold chain with a single charm in the form of
a cross.
A deep ligature furrow encircles the entire neck. The width of
the furrow varies from one-eighth of an inch to five/sixteenths of
an inch and is horizontal in orientation, with little upward
deviation. The skin of the anterior neck above and below the
ligature furrow contains areas of petechial hemorrhage and
abrasion encompassing an area measuring approximately 3x2 inches.
The ligature furrow crosses the anterior midline of the neck just
below the laryngeal prominence, approximately at the level of the
cricoid cartilage. It is almost completely horizontal with slight
upward deviation from the horizontal towards the back of the neck.
The midline of the furrow mark on the anterior neck is 8 inches
below the top of the head. The midline of the furrow mark on the
posterior neck is 6.75 inches below the top of the head.
The area of abrasion and petechial hemorrhage of the skin of the
anterior neck includes on thelower left neck, just to the left of
the midline, a roughly triangular, parchment-like rust colored
abrasion which measures 1.5 inches in length with a maximum width
of 0.75 inches. This roughly triangular shaped abrasion is
obliquely oriented with the apex superior and lateral. The
remainder of the abrasions and petechial hemorrhages of the skin
above and below the anterior projection of the ligature furrow
are nonpatterned, purple to rust colored, and present in the
midline, right, and left areas of the anterior neck. The skin
just above the ligature furrow along the right side of the neck
contains petechial hemorrhage composed of multiple confluent
very small petechial hemorrhages as well as several larger
petechial hemorrhages measuring up to one-sixteenth and
one-eighth of an inch in maximum dimension. Similar smaller
petechial hemorrhages are present on the skin below the ligature
furrow on the left lateral aspect of the neck. Located on the
right side of the chin is a three-sixteenths by one-eighth of an
inch area of superficial abrasion. On the posterior aspect of the
right shoulder is a poorly demarcated, very superficial focus of
abrasion/contusion which is pale purple in color and measures up
to three-quarters by one-half inch in maximum dimension. Several
linear aggregates of petechial hemorrhages are present in the
anterior left shoulder just above deltopectoral groove. These
measure up to one inch in length by one-sixteenth to one-eighth of
an inch in width. On the left lateral aspect of the lower back,
approximately sixteen and one-quarter inches and seventeen and
one-half inches below the level of the top of the head are two
dried rust colored to slightly purple abrasions. The more
superior of the two measures one-eighth by one-sixteenth of an
inch and the more inferior measures three-sixteenths by one-eighth
of an inch. There is no surrounding contusion identified. On
posterior aspect of the left lower leg, almost in the midline,
approximately 4 inches above the level of the heel are two small
scratch-like abrasions which are dried and rust colored. They
measure one-sixteenth by less than one-sixteenth of an inch and
one-eighth by less than one-sixteenth of an inch respectively.
On the anterior aspect of the perineum, along the edges of
closure of the labia majora, is a small amount of dried blood. A
similar small amount of dried and semifluid blood is present on
the skin of the fourchette and in the vestibule. Inside the
vestibule of the vagina and along the distal vaginal wall is
reddish hyperemia. This hyperemia is circumferential and perhaps
more noticeable on the right side and posteriorly. The hyperemia
also appears to extend just inside the vaginal orifice. A 1 cm
red-purple area of abrasion is located on the right posterolateral
area of the 1x1 cm hymenal orifice. The hymen itself is represented
by a rim of mucosal tissue extending clockwise between the 2 and
10:00 positions. The area of abrasion is present at approximately
the 7:00 position and appears to involve the hymen and distal right
lateral vaginal wall and possibly the area anterior to the hymen.
On the right labia majora is a very faint area of violet
discoloration measuring approximately one inch by three-eighths of
an inch. Incision into the underlying subcutaneous tissue discloses
no hemorrhage. A minimal amount of semiliquid thin watery red fluid
is present in the vaginal vault. No recent or remote anal or other
perineal trauma is identified.
REMAINDER OF EXTERNAL EXAMINATION: The unembalmed, well developed
and well nourished caucasian female body measures 47 inches in
length and weighs an estimated 45 pounds. The scalp is covered by
long blonde hair which is fixed in two ponytails, one on top of
the head secured by a cloth hair tie and blue elastic band, and
one in the lower back of the head secured by a blue elastic band.
No scalp trauma is identified. The external auditory canals are
patent and free of blood. The eyes are green and the pupils
equally dilated. The sclerae are white. The nostrils are both
patent and contain a small amount of tan mucous material. The
teeth are native and in good repair. The tongue is smooth,
pink-tan and granular. No buccal mucosal trauma is seen. The
frenulum is intact. There is slight drying artifact of the tip
of the of tongue. On the right cheek is a pattern of dried saliva
and mucous material which does not appear to be hemorrhaic. The
neck contains no palpable adenopathy or masses and the trachea
and larynx are midline. The chest is symmetrical. Breasts are
prepubescent. The abdomen is flat and contains no scars. No
palpable organomegaly or masses are identified. The external
genitalia are that of a prepubescent female. No pubic hair is
present. The anus is patent. Examination of the right
extremities is unremarkable. On the middle finger of the right
hand is a yellow metal band. Around the right wrist is a yellow
metal identification bracelet with the name "JonBenet" on one
side and the date "12/25/96" on the other side. A red ink line
drawing in the form of a heart is located on the palm of the
left hand. The fingernails of both hands are of sufficient
length for clipping. Examination the back is unremarkable.
There is dorsal 3+ to 4+l livor mortis which is nonblanching.
Livor mortis is also present of the right side of the face. At
the time of the initiation of the autopsy there is mild 1 to
2+ rigor mortis of the elbows and shoulders with more advanced
2 to 3+ rigor mortis of the joints of the lower extremities.
INTERNAL EXAM: The anterior chest musculature is well developed.
No sternal or rib fractures are identified.
Mediastinum: The mediastinal contents are normally distributed.
The 21 gm thymus gland has a normal external appearance. The cut
sections are finely lobular and pink-tan. No petechial
hemorrhages are seen. The aorta and remainder of the mediastinal
structures are unremarkable.
Body Cavities: The right and left thoracic cavities contain
approximately 5 cc of straw colored fluid. The pleural surfaces
are smooth and glistening. The pericardial sac contains 3-4 cc of
straw colored fluid and the epicardium and pericardium are
unremarkable. The abdominal contents are normally distributed and
covered by a smooth glistening serosa. No intra-abdominal
accumulation of fluid or blood is seen.
Lungs: The 200 gm right lung and 175 gm left lung have a normal
lobar configuration. An occassional scattered subpleural
petechial hemorrhage is seen on the surface of each lung. The cut
sections of the lungs disclose and intact alveolar architecture
with a small amount of watery fluid exuding from the cut surfaces
with mild pressure. The intrapulmonary bronchi and vasculature
are unremarkable No evidence of consolidation is seen.
Heart: The 100 gm heart has a normal external configuration.
There are scattered subepicardial petechial hemorrhages over the
anterior surface of the heart. The coronary arteries are normal
in their distribution and contain no evidence of atherosclerosis.
The tan-pink myocardium is homogeneous and contains no areas of
fibrosis or infarction. The endocarium is unremarkable. The valve
cusps are thin, delicate and pliable and contain no vegetation or
thrombosis. The major vessels enter and leave the heart in the
normal fashion. The foramen ovale is closed.
Aorta and Vena Cava: The aorta is patent throughout its course as
are its major branches. No atherosclerosis is seen. The vena cava
is unremarkable.
Spleen: The 61 gm spleen has a finely wrinkled purple capsule.
Cut sections are homogeneous and disclose readily identifiable
red and white pulp. No intrinsic abnormalities are identified.
Adrenals: The adrenal glands are of normal size and shape. A
golden yellow cortex surmounts a thing brown-tan medullar area.
No intrinsic abnormalities are identified.
Kidneys: The 40 gm right kidney and 40 gm left kidney have a
normal external appearance. The surfaces are smooth and glistening.
Cut sections disclose an contact corticomedullary architecture. The
renal papillae are sharply demarcated. The pelvocaliceal system is
lined by gray-white mucosa which is unremarkable. Both ureters are
patent throughout their course to the bladder.
Liver: The 625 gm liver has a normal external appearance. The
capsule is smooth and glistening. Cut sections disclose an intact
lobular architecture with no intrinsic abnormalities identified.
Pancreas: The pancreas is of normal size and shape. Cut sections
are finely lobular and tan. No intrinsic abnormalities are
identified.
Bladder: The bladder is contracted and contains no urine. The
bladder mucosa is smooth and tan-gray. No intrinsic abnormalities
are seen.
Genitalia: The upper portions of the vaginal vault contain no
abnormalities. The prepubescent uterus measures 3 x 1 x 0.8cm and
is unremarkable. The cervial os contains no abnormalities. Both
fallopian tubes and ovaries are prepubescent and unremarkable by
gross examination.
Gallbladder: The gallbladder contains 2-3 cc of amber bile. No
stones are identified and the mucosa is smooth and velvety. The
cystic duct, right and left hepatic duct and common bile duct
are patent throughout their course to the duodenum.
G.I. Tract: The esophagus is empty. It is lined by gray-white
mucosa. The stomach contains a small amount (8-11cc) of viscous
to green to tan colored thick mucous material without
particulate matter identified. The gastic mucosa is autolyzed
but contains no areas of hemorrhage or ulceration. The yellow to
light green-tan apparent vegetable or fruit material which may
represent fragments of pineapple. No hemorrhage is identified.
The remainder of the small intestine is unremarkable. The large
intestine contains soft green fecal material. The appendix is
present.
Lymphatic System: Unremarkable.
Musculoskeletal System: Unremarkable.
Skull and Brain: Upon reflection of the scalp there is found
to be an extensive area of scalp hemorrhage along the right
temporoparietal area extending from the orbital ridge,
posteriorly all the way to the occipital area. This
encompasses an area measuring approximately 7x4 inches. This
grossly appears to be fresh hemorrhage with no evidence of
organization. At the superior extension of the is area of
hemorrhage is a linear to comminuted skull fracture which
extends from the right occipital to posteroparietal area
forward tot he right frontal area across the parietal skull.
In the posteroparietal area of this fracture is a roughly
rectangular shaped displaced fragment of skull measuring one
and three-quarters by one-half inch. The hemorrhage and the
fracture extend posteriorly just past the midline of the
occipital area of the skull. This fracture measures
approximately 8.5 inches in length. On removal of the skull
cap there is found to be a thin film of subdural hemorrhage
measuring approximately 7-8 cc over the surface of the right
cerebral hemisphere and extending to the base of the cerebral
hemisphere. The 1450 gm grain has a normal overall
architecture. Mild narrowing of the sulci and flattening of
the gyri are seen. No inflammation is identified. There is a
thin film of subarachnoid hemorrhage overlying the entire
right cerebral hemisphere. On the right cerebral hemisphere
underlying the previously mentioned linear skull fracture is
an extensive linear area of purple contusion extending from
the right frontal area, posteriorly along the lateral aspect
of the parietal region and into the occipital area. This area
of contusion measures 8 inches in length with a width of up
to 1.75 inches. At the tip of the right temporal lobe is a
one-quarter by one-quarter inch similar appearing purple
contusion. Only very minimal contusion is present at the tip
of the left temporal lobe. This area of contusion measures
only one-half inch in maximum dimension. The cerebral
vasculature contains no evidence of atherosclerosis. Multiple
coronal sections of the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem and
cerebellum disclose no additional abnormalities. The areas of
previously described contusion are characterized by purple
linear streak-like discolorations of the gray matter
perpendicular to the surface of the cerebral cortex. These
extend approximately 5mm into the cerebral cortex.
Examination of the base of the brain discloses no additional
fractures.
Neck: Dissection of the neck is performed after removal of
the throacoabdominal organs and the brain. The anterior strap
musculature of the neck is serially dissected. Multiple
sections of the sternocleidomastoid muscle disclose no
hemorrhages. Sections of the remainder of the strap
musculature of the neck disclose no evidence of hemorrhage.
Examination of the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and
hyoid bone disclose no evidence of fracture or hemorrhage.
Multiple cross sections of the tongue disclose no hemorrhage
or traumatic injury. The thyroid gland weights 2 gm and is
normal in appearance. Cut sections are finely lobular and
red-tan. The trachea and larynx are lined by smooth pink-tan
mucosa without intrinsic abnormalities.
MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: (All sections Stained with H&E)
(Slide key) - (A) - scalp hemorrhage, (B) sections of
vaginal mucosa with smallest fragment representing area of
abrasion at 7:00 position, ( C ) - heart, (D-F) - lungs, (G)
liver and spleen,(H) pancreas and kidney, (I) - thyroid and
bladder, (J) - thymus and adrenals, (K-L) - reproductive
organs, (M) - larynx, (N-T) - brain.
Myocardium: Sections of the ventricular myocardium are
composed of interlacing bundles of cardiac muscle fibers.
No fibrosis or inflammation are identified.
Lungs: The alveolar architecture of the lungs is well
preserved. Pulmonary vascular congestion is identified. No
intrinsic abnormalities are seen.
Spleen: There is mild autolysis of the spleen. Both red and
white pulp are identifiable.
Thyroid: The thyroid gland is composed of normal-appearing
follicles. An occasional isolated area of chronic interstitial
infiltrate is seen. There is also a small fragment of
parathyroid tissue.
Thymus: The thymus gland retains the usual architecture. The
lymphoid material is intact and scattered Hassall's corpuscles
are identified. Mild vascular congestion is identified.
Trachea: There is mild chronic inflammation in the submucosa
of the trachea.
Liver: The lobular architecture of the liver is well preserved
No inflammation or intrinsic abnormality are identified.
Pancreas: There is autolysis of the pancreas which is
otherwise unremarkable.
Kidney: the overall architecture of the kidney is well
preserved There is perhaps mild vascular congestion in the
cortex but no inflammation is identified.
Bladder: The transitional epithelium of the bladder is
autolyzed. No significant intrinsic abnormalities are seen.
Reproductive Organs: Sections of the uterus are consistent
with the prepubescent ages. The ovary is unremarkable.
Adrenal: The architecture of the adrenal is well preserved
and no intrinsic abnormalities are seen.
Brain: Sections from the areas of contusion disclose
disrupted blood vessels of the cortex with surrounding
hemorrhage. There is no evidence of the inflammatory
infiltrate or organization of the hemorrhage. Subarachnoid
hemorrhage is also identified. Cortical neurons are surrounded
by clear halos, as are glial cells.
Vaginal Mucosa: All of the sections contain vascular
congestion and focal interstitial chronic inflammation. The
smallest piece of tissue, from the 7:00 position of the
vaginal wall/hymen, contains epithelial erosion with
underlying capillary congestion. A small number of red
blood cells is present on the eroded surface, as is
birefringent foreign material. Acute inflammatory infiltrate
is not seen.
EVIDENCE: Items turned over to the Boulder Police Department
as evidence include: Fibers and hair from clothing and body
surfaces; ligatures; clothing, vaginal swabs and smears;
rectal swabs and smears; oral swabs and smears; paper bags from
hands; fingernail clippings; jewelry; paper bags from feet;
white body bag; samples of head hair, eyelashes and eyebrows;
swabs from right and left thighs and right cheek; red top and
purple top tubes of blood.
The Autopsy