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Boulder police say Ramsey interviews yielded 'less than we had hoped for'

The Ramseys, with attorney Lin Wood, underwent two days of questioning about the murder of their daughter, JonBenet, by Boulder authorities

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Boulder, Colorado, police investigating the murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey say their meeting with the girl's parents produced "less than we had hoped for."

A seven-member team of investigators wrapped up their first meeting with John and Patsy Ramsey in two years Tuesday after questioning the couple for almost 10 hours.

Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner said the investigators questioned Patsy Ramsey for seven hours over two days and spoke to John Ramsey for about 2 1/2 hours.

"We appreciate the opportunity to speak with John and Patsy Ramsey," Beckner said in a statement faxed from his office in Boulder. "We need some time to digest and debrief the interviews and the information we obtained and we're not in a position to draw any conclusions at this time.

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"Due to the parameters of the interviews, we were not able to go into everything we had hoped to in this setting," he said. "In that respect, it was less than we had hoped for."

Beckner apparently referred to Wood's intervention Monday during what he called the "overzealous" and "obsessive" questioning of Patsy Ramsey by special prosecutor Michael Kane.

Patsy Ramsey expressed doubts that the interviews lifted the "umbrella of suspicion" she and her husband have been under since her daughter's body was found in their house in 1996.

"I think they still have doubt. They've been down this road so long. I don't think one or two mornings talking with them will make them do an abrupt about face," she said.

She said handing over the killer would be the only way to change their minds, but she added, "I can't do that."

The Ramseys' attorney, Lin Wood, said the Ramseys have had an investigator working full time on the case and that they handed over significant information to the police.

"We have given them leads. They'll have to determine if those people are viable suspects. That's a determination for the police, not this family," Wood said.

After finishing the interviews Tuesday, Wood, said he believed the proceedings were "now at, or just before, the point in time where the investigative efforts of the Boulder police department as it pertains to these two people are drawing to a close."

John Ramsey said that he and Patsy could "never clear our names, after what's been done to us."

He said he was not angry at authorities and that he was thankful that they were still pursuing the case.

"The last thing I want is for this to go into a file drawer," he said.

The Ramseys said they agreed to be questioned in hopes that they might help the police's investigation.

Wood dismissed the suggestion that the meeting was just a publicity stunt.

"Only a fool would subject themselves to questioning by seven investigators as some sort of publicity stunt," Wood said, adding that his clients were not fools.

JonBenet was found beaten and strangled on December 26, 1996, in the basement of her family's Boulder home. No suspect has ever been named, though Beckner said her parents remain under suspicion. The Ramseys have denied any involvement.

Police first interviewed the Ramseys separately in April 1997 after months of negotiations. They were questioned separately again in June 1998.

A grand jury was convened in 1998 to investigate the slaying but disbanded without an indictment. Critics claim police botched the case early in the investigation and were overly deferential to the Ramseys, who now live in Atlanta.

The JonBenet Ramsey Case

Ramseys' attorney calls questioning 'waste of time'
August 28, 2000
Ramseys square off with ex-investigator over JonBenet's death
June 1, 2000
Ramseys file two more lawsuits on behalf of son
May 11, 2000
Ramseys reject lie detector tests, for now
April 25, 2000
Ramseys to write book on JonBenet's death
November 6, 1999
Governor decides against special prosecutor in Ramsey murder
October 27, 1999
Ramsey grand jury discharged; no indictments issued
October 13, 1999
Police costs relating to JonBenet homicide top $1.3 million
October 12, 1999
JonBenet grand jury nears end of term
October 11, 1999

City of Boulder: Ramsey Press Releases
Boulder District Attorney
Inside Denver - Ramsey Story Archive
DenverPost.com - JonBenet Ramsey Murder Case
Ramsey Family Statements
Ken Polzin Jr.'s JonBenet HomicideWeb Sites Page
Halle's Web Guide to the JonBenet Ramsey Case

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