Report on the Murder Case of JonBenet Ramsey - Essay Example

True Crime Research Project-The Murder Case of JonBenet Ramsey

In the United States, seven hundred and sixty-three children who were under the age of nine years were killed in 1995, as was reported by the most current Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics that were available. On average, this meant that in that age bracket, two children were killed daily. Worthy mentioning is that most people know less about the killing of the children or their deaths' circumstances. Television news and local televisions may have covered single incidents; however, this news was rarely highlighted through the national media. Noteworthy, the recent JonBenet Ramsey murder coverage was an exception, whereby national media news flocked to the story. Newsweek and people ran cover articles on the highlighted murder case (Nickell 38). Generally, all networks covered the killing both on newscasts in that fateful evening and elsewhere. According to The New York Times, it was clear that journalists from nations across the world, such as Australia, descended on Colo and Boulder. In contrast, the CBS paid approximately $4,000 for an interior 1994 vide of Ramsey's home (Marriner 25). Markedly, the media dynamically pursued different grief angles, especially JonBenet's classmates, the ransom message, the photos taken at the crime scene, the public relations' family response, and the pageants of beauty and the media coverage reports. Undoubtedly, this measure showed the tragic magnitude; however, the question that remained and has since then been asked is that does such a magnitude warrant that much attention compared to any other murder case involving a child? (Francis and Hussein 32). Overall, in this work, I will analyze the subtle and substantial changes in media coverage with a significant focus on the murder case of JonBenet Ramsey particularly on the initial report of the case in four levels such as a local newspaper or television report, a newspaper having national circulation, a printed or online magazine with national circulation, online blog, or true-crime novel, and a national television news broadcast.

• National Television News Broadcast (The CBS Evening News, 360 with Anderson Cooper, CNN)

The National Television News Broadcast titled Anderson Cooper Blog 3600 authored by CNN, published in 2020, presents the initial report of the murder case of JonBenet, particularly on what mattered about the case. CNN reported that it was not sure that they would get the bottom of the story, especially the repetitive aftermath the begun in the past decade (The CNN 1). However, CNN reported that it had reached a single firm conclusion, although they were aware that not a single individual would be arrested about the case. Notably, the police missteps, which was an appearance on Patsy Ramsey and John's wariness and the sheer time, made the proceedings impossible for anyone to be locked in the crime (Nicholson 22).

Every suspect that CNN heard about in connection with the case, the authorities soon discounted him or her. All new leads turned out to be useless. All suspicions pointed back to Ramsey's family or a relative who was very close to JonBenet’s family; hence the police were unable to find sufficient evidence for leveling any charge (The CNN 1). The murder case winter turned out to be a spring, then the spring to summer, then the summer to a fall, and the repeat of the cycle begun making lawyers and the police stalk the Boulder streets and keep on filing reports about the horrible killing (The CNN 1).

The CNN took in concluding many of their narrations with a simple concluding statement stating that "For all the months of investigation, this is all we know -- a six-year-old girl was killed in her home on Christmas night, and no one has yet spent a day in jail for her murder." (The CNN 1). Notably, the CNN thought the; the statement had a line that captures the information that mattered. However, behind the tabloid and the hype of coverage as well as the unwholesome interests that circulated in the murder case of the young beauty queen, the CNN pointed out that apart from being killed young, in her house, and having no individual charged for the case, the case was inherently tragic.

Markedly, as reported by CNN, the man arrested for the murder case, which should not be forgotten, has not yet convicted of the crime, and his side of the story has never been heard by the public yet. What worries the CNN most is that the book about JonBenet's murder is still closed, although a fresh chapter is currently open, which is a massive surprise. Reading through the same story in different media coverages, a New York colleague was concerned about the case’s perennial question specifically when a person will ever be arrested under the murder case? (The CNN 1). CNN did not answer such a question since chances are fifty-fifty on the proceedings of the murder case.

• A printed or online magazine with national circulation, online blog, or true-crime novel

The printed or online magazine titled How JonBenét Ramsey's Murder Changed Pop Culture Forever by Mckenna Aiello published in 2016 reported that it was precisely twenty years when the parents of JonBenet Ramsey saw their young daughter alive lastly (Aiello 1). The magazine reported that it was about eight hours after the young girl went missing that she saw a long handwritten, ransom message that was a catalyst of the 911 call chill to alert the authorities of the disappearance of the six-year-old beauty. The body was later found in the home’ basement asphyxiated with a fractured skull (Aiello 1). Aiello stated that even after two decades of the investigation after the family buried their daughter's body, the insatiable thirst of the public about the case remains unquenched. Aiello added that it is kind of perplexing to come to the reality that many children annually lose their love for senseless acts, where the story of JonBenet still resonated as amongst the top in the list of the most fearful cases of murder in history (Aiello 1).

Of course, was that the responsible individuals just relaxed somewhere. Aiello reported that theories about the murder case floated, the suspected were brought for questioning, the grand jury was convened, proofs were retested, but yet no concluding answers were settled for (Thompson 78). The author of the article wondered about the possibility that since the case seemed to remain forever unsolved, the impacts it brought to pop culture still is undoubtedly experienced, especially more than before in 2016 (Aiello 1). Aiello stated that the case spurred broad media frenzy was not enough to explain the impacts of the murder case. Undoubtedly, the case coverage shaped all the investigations, linking different suspects, for example, Burke, during that time he was nine years, and during the time of the publication of the magazine was twenty-nine, Burke stills fought against the accusations of bludgeoning JonBenet to death (Aiello 1). People were lost in the dark looking for answers for the case as the internet was always full of blogs, subreddits, and public forums focused on actively reexamining the case daily.

• A Newspaper with National Circulation (The New York Times)

The New York Times publication titled Family Queried About Murder Of JonBenet by James Brooke, published in 1998 reported that with a grand inquest of the jury into the murder case of JonBenet Ramsey, her parents and siblings of the slain princess underwent three questioning days. They then broke their official silence of fourteen days (Brooke 1). Brooke reported that the parents, Patsy Ramsey and John, were separately questioned and were videotaped during their interviews with different prosecutors. Additionally, Brooke stated that investigators from different offices traveled after the occurrence of the incident to the new home of Ramsey in Atlanta and carried out three different interviews mainly with JonBenet’s brother, Burke (Brooke 1). The New York Times reporter asserted that the investigations and the interviews were conducted to them and in their home since they were the only individuals recognized to live in that home and house on that fateful night.

Markedly, although the family was reluctant to undertake the interview carried out by the police, claiming that the police were biased regarding the case, the family lawyer defended the family, stating that they were ready to show cooperation with the jury (Hunt and Thompson 24). However, according to the New York Times, the family requested a new jury, although still, the police spent days getting more details about the case, where the police would decide whether to call the jury or not (Brooke 1).

• A Local Newspaper or Television Report (Denverpost.com)

A local newspaper report titled Judge Bans Court Cameras by Karen Auge published in 2020 reported that the court concluded that extensive coverage of media in the murder case of JonBenet Ramsey would probably interfere with the involved parties' rights on the fair trial since the case has was earlier faced an extraordinary coverage of media and the press trial (Auge 1). Auge followed the Denver television station request, which was termed as premature with arguments that there lacked modern indication that anyone’s indictment was imminent. In this regard, the judges noted that cameras would possibly "substantially detract from the solemnity, decorum, and dignity of the court.'' (Auge 1).

The local Television reporter reported that the order applied to an early appearance, which included charges' filing and bond hearing. Auge said that the order came as a request-response file by the KCNC Channel reporters on Friday. The order was looking for permission to film the progress of "against Patricia Ramsey and John Ramsey” (Auge 1). However, the report stated that a jury had taken a lot of time carrying out investigations on the death of the youngster since the occurrence of the incident and was anticipated to start deliberations immediately. Noteworthy, the police said tha Ramsey's family were under a suspicion umbrella although they have since then kept their innocence. However,Auge reported that many people and attorneys were concerned about the case ruling since it has been pending for long with close to zero indication of any response.

Every suspect that CNN heard about in connection with the case, the authorities soon discounted him or her. All new leads turned out to be useless. All suspicions pointed back to Ramsey's family or a relative who was very close to JonBenet’s family; hence the police were unable to find sufficient evidence for leveling any charge (The CNN 1). The murder case winter turned out to be a spring, then the spring to summer, then the summer to a fall, and the repeat of the cycle begun making lawyers and the police stalk the Boulder streets and keep on filing reports about the horrible killing (The CNN 1).

The CNN took in concluding many of their narrations with a simple concluding statement stating that "For all the months of investigation, this is all we know -- a six-year-old girl was killed in her home on Christmas night, and no one has yet spent a day in jail for her murder." (The CNN 1). Notably, the CNN thought the; the statement had a line that captures the information that mattered. However, behind the tabloid and the hype of coverage as well as the unwholesome interests that circulated in the murder case of the young beauty queen, the CNN pointed out that apart from being killed young, in her house, and having no individual charged for the case, the case was inherently tragic.

Markedly, as reported by CNN, the man arrested for the murder case, which should not be forgotten, has not yet convicted of the crime, and his side of the story has never been heard by the public yet. What worries the CNN most is that the book about JonBenet's murder is still closed, although a fresh chapter is currently open, which is a massive surprise. Reading through the same story in different media coverages, a New York colleague was concerned about the case’s perennial question specifically when a person will ever be arrested under the murder case? (The CNN 1). CNN did not answer such a question since chances are fifty-fifty on the proceedings of the murder case.

• A printed or online magazine with national circulation, online blog, or true-crime novel

The printed or online magazine titled How JonBenét Ramsey's Murder Changed Pop Culture Forever by Mckenna Aiello published in 2016 reported that it was precisely twenty years when the parents of JonBenet Ramsey saw their young daughter alive lastly (Aiello 1). The magazine reported that it was about eight hours after the young girl went missing that she saw a long handwritten, ransom message that was a catalyst of the 911 call chill to alert the authorities of the disappearance of the six-year-old beauty. The body was later found in the home’ basement asphyxiated with a fractured skull (Aiello 1). Aiello stated that even after two decades of the investigation after the family buried their daughter's body, the insatiable thirst of the public about the case remains unquenched. Aiello added that it is kind of perplexing to come to the reality that many children annually lose their love for senseless acts, where the story of JonBenet still resonated as amongst the top in the list of the most fearful cases of murder in history (Aiello 1).

Of course, was that the responsible individuals just relaxed somewhere. Aiello reported that theories about the murder case floated, the suspected were brought for questioning, the grand jury was convened, proofs were retested, but yet no concluding answers were settled for (Thompson 78). The author of the article wondered about the possibility that since the case seemed to remain forever unsolved, the impacts it brought to pop culture still is undoubtedly experienced, especially more than before in 2016 (Aiello 1). Aiello stated that the case spurred broad media frenzy was not enough to explain the impacts of the murder case. Undoubtedly, the case coverage shaped all the investigations, linking different suspects, for example, Burke, during that time he was nine years, and during the time of the publication of the magazine was twenty-nine, Burke stills fought against the accusations of bludgeoning JonBenet to death (Aiello 1). Read More