The morning of December 26, 1996, began with a frantic 911 call from the Ramsey household in Boulder, Colorado. Patsy Ramsey, mother of six-year-old JonBenét, reported that her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been discovered. Officer Rick French responded to the call at 755 15th Street, where he found the distressed parents and a three-page ransom note demanding $118,000 for the safe return of their daughter.

JonBenét was already a well-known figure in Boulder, having participated in numerous beauty pageants and public events. Her mother Patsy, a former Miss West Virginia who had competed in the Miss America pageant, had introduced her daughter to the pageant world. As police began their initial investigation, they found no signs of forced entry, though the family's home security system had not been activated. The situation grew more complex as family friends arrived at the scene, despite no calls being made in the officers' presence, raising questions about the timeline of events that morning.

Key Takeaways

A three-page ransom note demanding $118,000 was discovered when JonBenét Ramsey was reported missing from her Boulder home.
The six-year-old pageant contestant's bedroom showed no signs of forced entry, and all doors were reportedly locked from the previous night.
Police officers responding to the scene noted unusual circumstances, including the early arrival of family friends and the decision to contact authorities despite the note's warnings.

The Missing Child Investigation

Emergency Call Information

The incident began at approximately 5:45 AM when Patty Ramsey discovered her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét was not in her bed. Upon reaching the bottom of the spiral staircase, she found three sheets of paper containing what appeared to be a ransom note. After screaming for her husband John, she immediately called 911 at 5:55 AM to report the situation. During the call, the distressed mother explained that her daughter was missing and that a ransom note had been left behind. When asked about the contents of the note, she mentioned it contained the letters "SBTC Victory" and demanded payment for her daughter's return.

Police's First Response

Officer Rick French arrived at 755 15th Street at 5:56 AM, where he was greeted by Patty Ramsey wearing a red sweater and black slacks. John Ramsey, dressed in a blue and white shirt with khaki pants, joined his wife at the door to speak with the officer. The Ramseys invited Officer French inside their home and explained the situation in greater detail. John insisted that he had checked all doors before bedtime, confirming they were locked, and mentioned the house alarm system hadn't been used recently. Officer French examined JonBenét's bedroom, noting the bedding was pulled back as if someone had gotten in or out of bed, but found no signs of forced entry from the second-floor balcony adjacent to her room.

The Kidnapper's Demands

The three-page ransom note began with "Mr. Ramsey" and identified the writers as "a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction." The kidnappers claimed to have JonBenét in their possession, stating she was "safe and unharmed." They demanded exactly $118,000 for her safe return—a surprisingly modest sum considering the family's wealth. The note contained explicit threats:

JonBenét would be beheaded if the Ramseys contacted authorities
The kidnappers claimed to be monitoring the family
They warned against deception, claiming they knew "law enforcement countermeasures and tactics"
The note stated the Ramseys had a "99% chance of killing your daughter if you try to outsmart us"

Despite these threats, the Ramseys contacted police immediately. By 6:30 AM, two sets of family friends—John and Barbara Fernie, and Fleet and Priscilla White—had also arrived at the residence, though officers couldn't recall hearing the Ramseys make those calls.

JonBenet Ramsey's Background

JonBenet Ramsey was a six-year-old pageant contestant from Boulder, Colorado. She gained local fame through her participation in children's beauty pageants. At the time of her disappearance on December 25, 1996, she had recently been crowned Colorado's Little Miss Princess.

The Ramsey family lived in a substantial home at 755 15th Street in Boulder. John Ramsey was a Navy veteran who had become a successful technology entrepreneur. The family consisted of John, his wife Patsy, JonBenet, and her nine-year-old brother Burke.

Pageant Career

JonBenet had established herself as a rising star in children's beauty pageants by the age of six. Her performances and appearances had made her recognizable in the Boulder community. In 1995, she participated in Boulder's Christmas parade, waving to crowds from a float called "The Good Ship Lollipop."

Her pageant success was significant enough that when police first arrived at the Ramsey home following her reported disappearance, her identity as a local pageant competitor was immediately relevant. The officers likely recognized her name even before entering the residence.

JonBenet's public profile had grown steadily through her pageant participation. Her performances showcased her stage presence and ability to engage audiences despite her young age.

Patsy Ramsey's Influence

Patsy Ramsey's own pageant background significantly shaped her daughter's involvement in the pageant world. At age 13, Patsy attended a Miss West Virginia competition with her sister Pam, igniting her interest in pageantry. Both sisters won county fair pageant titles during their teenage years.

Patsy nearly captured the Miss Teenage West Virginia title while still in high school. Her talents included dramatic reading, a skill she developed with guidance from her school drama teacher, Linda McLean.

Patsy's Pageant Achievements:

Second runner-up in Miss Morgantown competition
First runner-up for Miss Wood County
Winner of an at-large competition
Miss West Virginia crown in 1977
Competed in Miss America Pageant, winning a non-talent award and $2,000 scholarship

Patsy was not merely beautiful but also academically driven. She studied journalism at West Virginia University where she joined Alpha Kai Delta sorority. There, another pageant champion named Teresa Lucas mentored her, helping refine her pageant skills.

After her pageant career, Patsy married John Bennett Ramsey in 1980. Her experience in the pageant world clearly influenced her approach to raising JonBenet, whose early entry into pageants mirrored her mother's path and passion for performance.

Investigation Begins

Officer French Arrives at the Scene

On March 25, 1997, Boulder Police Patrol Officer Rick French responded to a 911 call at 755 15th Street at 5:56 a.m. Patsy Ramsey, wearing a red sweater and black slacks, opened the door and immediately informed him that her six-year-old daughter JonBenét was missing. The officer quickly learned that JonBenét was a well-known child pageant contestant who had recently been crowned Colorado's Little Miss Princess. John Ramsey, dressed in a blue and white shirt with khaki pants, joined his wife at the door as they explained the morning's disturbing events.

Patsy told Officer French that around 5:45 a.m., she discovered JonBenét wasn't in her bed. While heading downstairs, she found three pages of handwritten paper at the bottom of the spiral staircase. Upon reading the document and realizing it was a ransom note, she screamed for her husband and rushed back upstairs before calling 911.

Examination of the Crime Scene

The Ramseys invited Officer French into their home and showed him the three-page ransom note on the floor outside the kitchen. The note began with "Mr. Ramsey, listen carefully" and claimed to be from a "small foreign faction" demanding exactly $118,000 for JonBenét's safe return. The kidnappers threatened to behead the child if the parents contacted authorities or told anyone about the situation, warning they were "familiar with law enforcement countermeasures and tactics."

Officer French conducted an initial inspection with John Ramsey, who stated:

All doors had been locked the previous night
The home security system was not activated (which was normal)
The family dog was staying with neighbors
No unusual sounds were heard during the night

The officer examined JonBenét's bedroom, noting:

Bedding pulled back as if someone had gotten in or out
No signs of forced entry from the adjacent second-floor balcony
Nothing appeared disturbed according to John Ramsey

By 6:10 a.m., Sergeant Paul Reichenbach arrived and was briefed by Officer French, who expressed that something about the situation seemed unusual. Both officers felt something wasn't quite right about the circumstances. Before additional police support arrived, two sets of family friends—John and Barbara Fernie along with Fleet and Priscilla White—appeared at the house around 6:30 a.m., though neither officer recalled hearing the Ramseys make phone calls in their presence.

The Ramsey Family Background

John and Patsy Ramsey

John Bennett Ramsey, a Navy veteran who later became a successful tech entrepreneur, married Patsy in 1980. Patsy, who was in her late thirties during the events of December 1996, was recognized in Boulder society as the mother of JonBenét. Prior to her marriage, Patsy had built an impressive pageant career, beginning with her teenage competitions in West Virginia.

Her intelligence and drive were evident from an early age. After graduating high school in 1975, she pursued journalism at West Virginia University. During her university years, she joined the Alpha Chi Delta sorority where she received mentorship from Teresa Lucas, another pageant competitor. Patsy's dedication led to multiple achievements in local competitions, securing titles as second runner-up in Miss Morgantown and first runner-up for Miss Wood County.

Their Connection to Pageantry

Patsy's pageant journey began at age 13 when she attended a Miss West Virginia competition with her sister Pam. Both sisters won titles in county fair pageants during their teenage years, and Patsy nearly captured the Miss Teenage West Virginia title while in high school. Her success was partly attributed to her talent for dramatic reading, a skill she developed with guidance from her drama teacher, Linda McLean.

Her pageant achievements included:

Miss West Virginia Crown in 1977
Competed in the Miss America Pageant
Won a non-talent award and $2,000 scholarship

This pageant background influenced JonBenét's involvement in children's pageants. By December 1996, six-year-old JonBenét had become Boulder's darling, an up-and-coming pageant star who had recently been crowned Colorado's Little Miss Princess. She had also participated in local events, including singing and waving from "The Good Ship Lollipop" float in Boulder's 1995 Christmas parade.

Examining the Kidnapper's Message

Message Analysis

The ransom note discovered at the Ramsey residence contained three pages of handwritten text. When Patsy Ramsey found these papers at the bottom of the spiral staircase near the kitchen, she immediately recognized the serious nature of the content. The note began with a direct address to "Mr. Ramsey" and identified the writers as "a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction." This unusual phrasing caught the attention of law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene, including Officer French and Sergeant Reichenbach, who both noted that something about the situation seemed unusual.

The length of the ransom note was particularly striking. Kidnapping communications are typically brief and direct, but this one spanned three full pages with detailed instructions and threats. This unusual characteristic raised questions among the responding officers as they assessed the situation at the 15th Street residence.

Payment Requirements and Warnings

The note demanded exactly $118,000 for JonBenét's safe return—a surprisingly specific amount that seemed low considering the Ramsey family's substantial wealth. The kidnappers provided strict instructions that failure to comply would result in the child being beheaded and her remains hidden.

The writers included several threats and warnings:

JonBenét would not "see 1997" if instructions weren't followed precisely
Any contact with authorities would result in the child's death
The kidnappers claimed to be watching the family
They stated they were "familiar with law enforcement countermeasures and tactics"
The note warned the Ramseys had a "99% chance of killing your daughter" if they tried to outsmart the kidnappers

Despite these explicit warnings against contacting authorities, the Ramseys called 911 immediately after discovering the note. By the time Officer French arrived at 5:56 a.m., family friends were also beginning to gather at the residence, though neither officer recalled hearing the Ramseys make these calls in their presence.

Police Response

Initial Observations and Actions

Officer Rick French arrived at 755 15th Street at 5:56 a.m. after responding to a 911 call about a missing child. Patsy Ramsey, wearing a red sweater and black slacks, answered the door in a distressed state. She immediately informed the officer that her six-year-old daughter JonBenét was missing. John Ramsey, dressed in a blue and white shirt with khaki pants, joined his wife at the entrance.

The Ramseys explained that Patsy had discovered JonBenét missing from her bed around 5:45 a.m. While heading to the kitchen, Patsy found three pages of handwritten paper at the bottom of the spiral staircase. Upon reading what appeared to be a ransom note, she screamed for her husband and rushed back upstairs.

Inside the home, Officer French examined the three-page document which demanded exactly $118,000 for JonBenét's safe return. The note contained specific threats that the child would be killed if authorities were contacted or if the family attempted to "outsmart" the kidnappers. Despite these warnings, the Ramseys had already called 911.

John Ramsey informed Officer French that all doors had been locked the previous night and remained secured that morning. The home's alarm system was not activated, which the family explained was normal. Officer French inspected JonBenét's bedroom, noting the bedding was pulled back as if someone had gotten in or out of bed. No signs of forced entry were visible from the second-floor balcony adjacent to her room.

Additional Officers Join the Investigation

Sergeant Paul Reichenbach arrived at approximately 6:10 a.m. and received a briefing from Officer French outside the residence. Though Officer French believed it was a kidnapping, something about the situation triggered his professional instincts, suggesting something was amiss. This "sixth sense" that experienced officers develop when dealing with people under extreme stress had alerted him.

After reviewing the ransom note, Sergeant Reichenbach quickly recognized the need for more resources and requested assistance from on-call detective supervisor Bill Wise. Before additional police personnel could arrive, two couples—John and Barbara Fernie along with Fleet and Priscilla White—appeared at the home around 6:30 a.m.

Neither Officer French nor Sergeant Reichenbach recalled hearing the Ramseys make phone calls to these friends. They concluded the calls must have been made during the brief window between the 911 call and Officer French's arrival at the residence. The presence of these family friends would complicate the developing investigation scene.

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