Many Drawn To JonBenet's Grave
Tokens Left Behind On Gravestone As Anniversary Nears
POSTED: 7:02 a.m. MST December 18, 2001
UPDATED: 2:00 p.m. MST December 18, 2001
There are various reasons why people visit
the grave of JonBenet Ramsey five years after her death.
Some were deeply moved by the murder of the 6-year-old beauty
queen at her home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996.
For others, it's simply morbid curiosity that draws them to the
St. James' Episcopal Church Cemetery north of Atlanta.
Still others leave behind tokens in an attempt to express their
feelings for the child, whose death remains a mystery.
Along with the stuffed animals, notes, toys and other mementoes,
one Easter someone placed a large pinwheel with a plastic duck on
the grave, said Marcia Copassaki, an administrative assistant at
the church.
The gravestone is now decorated with a whimsical angel and a
small ceramic baby shoe filled with artificial red and blue
flowers. The branches of a dogwood tree next to the gravesite are
weighted with windchimes, crosses and angels.
Recent visitors have left two American flags and a small plastic
Halloween pumpkin.
Evans said the church staff is used to the routine maintenance
of the grave.
"We do lock the cemetery at night, but we don't mind
visitors," she said. "But JonBenet's not the only one buried
there. The other graves need to be respected, too."
A woman from Chicago came several years ago with prayer cards
from churches in her community, and a homeless man spent his
mornings for several months sitting on a stone bench next to the
grave, Evans said. He told her that JonBenet was watching after him
and he was watching after her.
Some of the items collected by the church are sent to JonBenet's
parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, while others deemed in good shape
go to the church thrift shop.
The Ramseys lived in metro Atlanta before moving to Boulder and
have returned since the murder.
Under an overcast sky Monday morning, Patsy Ramsey stood in the
cemetery, holding a small stone someone had left at the grave with
the handwritten words, "God bless the sweet heart of JonBenet
Ramsey." The stone was dated July 1, 2001.
Ramsey, accompanied by five family members and friends, was
wearing bright yellow garden clogs. She planted pansies and hung
ornaments on a tree nearby. The women also brought a broom and rake
to clean around the grave.
Before leaving, the six women prayed quietly. On her way out of
the parking lot, Ramsey rolled down the window of her car and said
she was glad her daughter is still remembered.
The Ramsey family plot is much like the nearby gravesites of
Marietta's founding families -- many dating back more than 100
years.
The Ramseys have 12 plots in St. James' cemetery. A garden with
a trellis, bench and flowers takes up a portion of the burial
sites. JonBenet's half-sister, Elizabeth, who died in 1992, is
buried next to her, and a grandmother is also buried there.
Boulder, Colo., police never made an arrest in her brutal murder. The case remains an open, active investigation, with up to four detectives working on the case on an as-needed basis. The work includes following up on tips received, reviewing the case file, occasional laboratory analysis, and keeping current on new forensic technologies that may assist the case, police said.
"Any homicide, but particularly the death of a small child, has a tremendous impact on the community," said Mark Beckner, Boulder police chief. "We know that there are some cases we will never bring to a resolution. We also know that there are some cases we solve many years after the crime. We will never give up hope for finding justice in this case."
Some were deeply moved by the murder of the 6-year-old beauty
queen at her home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996.
![]() THE INVESTIGATION |
Previous Stories:
Additional Resources:- December 14, 2001:
Patsy Ramsey Asked If She Wrote Ransom Note - December 12, 2001: For First Time, Ramseys Talk About Murder Under Oath
- September 13, 2001: Attorney Wants Ramsey Friend Jailed
- September 7, 2001: Arrest Warrant Dropped Against Former Ramsey Detective
- July 17, 2001: Ramsey Detective Fights Possible Contempt Of Court
- July 16, 2001: Ramsey Fallout: Police Chief Mounts Letter Campaign
- July 6, 2001:
Judge's Ruling Could Open Up Ramsey Case - July 6, 2001: Ramsey Housekeeper To Give "Dramatic New Evidence"
- June 26, 2001: Former Ramsey Friend May Be Jailed
- June 13, 2001: Ramsey Detective Case Thrown Out
- June 12, 2001: Ramsey Detective 'Made Mistakes,' Chief Testifies
- June 8, 2001: Testimony: Ramsey Detective Didn't File Report
- June 8, 2001: Ramsey Detective Needs Money
- June 5, 2001: Testimony: Ramsey Detective Wasn't At Fault
- May 28, 2001: Ramsey Detective Lawsuit To Begin
- May 15, 2001: Ramsey Detective's Case Dealt Setback
- May 1, 2001: Ramsey Detective Describes 'Stun Gun' Photos
- May 1, 2001: Ramsey Investigator Pushes Intruder Theory
- April 26, 2001: Former Ramsey Investigator To Release Crime-Scene Photos
- March 30, 2001: Ramseys Sue Former Boulder Detective For Libel
- March 19, 2001: Housekeeper's Lawsuit Against Ramseys Moves Forward
- March 8, 2001: Ramseys Settle With Tabloid Over JonBenet Murder Stories
- January 10, 2001: Ramseys Claim They Were Set Up
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.









