JonBenet Ramsey's Parents Sue Fox News

Kansas City Star ^ | December 24, 2003 | Associated Press

[LurkedLongEnough]

DENVER - The parents of slain 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey filed a $12 million federal defamation lawsuit against Fox News Network over a story they say cast suspicion on them.

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Atlanta, John and Patsy Ramsey took issue with a report that aired last year for the six-year anniversary of JonBenet's death. In it, a Denver-based employee stated there has "never been any evidence to link an intruder to her brutal murder."

John and Patsy Ramsey have maintained their innocence and said an intruder killed JonBenet, who was found strangled and beaten Dec. 26, 1996, in the basement of their Boulder home. The Ramseys now live in Atlanta.

Prosecutors and a federal judge have said evidence in the case was more consistent with the theory that an intruder killed JonBenet. The parents were never charged.

A Fox employee in Denver referred questions to the network's New York office. Fox News spokesman Robert Zimmerman said he was unaware of the lawsuit and declined comment.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

ive said it before and ill say it again,the parents and lil bro killed her..she probably wanted to not do those pagents anymore and mommy and daddy took exception.it was all about there "status" if you ask me child pagents make me sick i would NEVER allow my daughter to be in those (mind you im 21 have a girlfriend and no kids)

i mean who the hell would wanna parade their child around like some acacia avenue whore when there like 4-5 even 6 years old!!! and you wonder why kids in there teens are all messed up especially girls..

its sick

and its a real shame that whole family didnt end up in jail cause like i said i doubt their innocent,

flame away if you think im wrong but i stand in my convictions unless proven otherwise

[Leroy S. Mort]

Yep. Guilty until proved innocent, huh? What a guy.

[Tax-chick]

It will be interesting to see how Fox resolves this. The media often seem to have a free pass to put out inaccurate information.

[Hildy]

Give it a rest. It's not SICK. Go to any children's show and you see kids trying to act like adults..IT'S WHAT KIDS DO when they're on stage. So you don't think kids should be in movies, on TV, talent shows...nothing, right?

[1Old Pro]

The media often seem to have a free pass to put out inaccurate information.

The Rush Limbaugh case comes to mind.

[isatoi]

Well I have to admit that I am with you Metalhead. I have always believed that the bro did it and the parents covered up for him. It was just the only thing that really fit. Jealous Brother tries to kill sister and when Mommy walks in she has to finish her off so as not to convict her son.
IMO only

[MetalHeadConservative35]

well if memory serves me correctly they wernt even tried in the first place

so im not suggesting guilty until proven innocent however that seems to be the way the justice system works anyway buts that my opinion

Regards

Dan

[smith288]

Media "casts doubt" on anyone when there is an unsolved murder.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

So you don't think kids should be in movies, on TV, talent shows...nothing, right?

no i dont think that at all ive seen pictures of jonbenet at her pagents from various newspapers and i see this little girl with about 20 pounds of makeup on being paraded around like some doll,or some object for some perverts in the crowd to think about

Regards

Dan

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Sorry, but looking at the videos of JonBenet performing in those "pageants" was indeed sickening.

[Our man in washington]

The main reason people suspected the Ramseys was because of their unusual behavior afterwards and refusal to talk to the police.

The two most likely possibilities are:

1. Someone in their family killed Jon-Benet.

2. Someone in the family was doing something that would put them on the wrong side of the law, or even on the wrong side of publicity. Perhaps someone was embezzling money, or someone had a prescription drug habit. Perhaps someone was cheating on their spouse.

Everyone is assuming #1, but #2 is possible as well. We can already deduce that the Ramseys were unusual people and obsessed with appearance. I could see the need to cover up some unrelated embarrassment could cause them to behave strangely.

[GSWarrior]

I'm thinking that if the news media didn't spend so much time wallowing in lurid trash it probably wouldn't get sued as often.

[bmwcyle]

A trail was never give the chance to put Mom in jail or hang her.

[Hildy]

It was not. Parents do it all the time. My stepdaughter was in pageants like that when she was growing up. It taught her grace, she made alot of friends and she's a lovely young lady.

[skip2myloo]

Well, I won't flame you - but, I do disagree with your assessment.

I believe you're drawing conclusions based on "assumptions" and a personal bias against childrens' beauty pageants, rather than factual evidence.

From what I've read, there's nothing in this couple's behavior, before or since, that indicates they are violent people.

To include a minor child (her brother) in a conspiracy to commit murder is a bizarre accusation. I am aware that some theorize the brother committed the murder in a fit of jealously and the parents are covering up for him.

Yes, I admit to my own bias (or naivete) that I just can't believe her own parents would commit such a heinous crime in this particular family situation.

If there was sufficient evidence to bring charges against these people, I believe the prosecutors already would have done so.

Besides the death of a beautiful child, the real shame is that the Boulder police bungled the investigation of her death so badly.

[Tax-chick]

a Denver-based employee stated there has "never been any evidence to link an intruder to her brutal murder."

Just from this phrasing, I imagine their defense would be that the employee meant "no evidence linking a SPECIFIC, NAMED INTRUDER to the brutal murder."

"News" ... is it lies, d*mned lies, or totally fabricated bs? You be the judge ...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

It was not. Parents do it all the time.

Our opinions could not differ more greatly on this. It is unfortunate that other parents do this, as well. Doesn't make it right.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

I have always believed that the bro did it and the parents covered up for him. It was just the only thing that really fit. Jealous Brother tries to kill sister and when Mommy walks in she has to finish her off so as not to convict her son.

i havent even thought about that about the jealous brother angle..good thinking

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Everyone is assuming #1, but #2 is possible as well. We can already deduce that the Ramseys were unusual people and obsessed with appearance. I could see the need to cover up some unrelated embarrassment could cause them to behave strangely.

again as i have said it was about "status"