Perfect Murder, Perfect Town - Lawrence Schiller [246]
Before leaving the newspaper office, Hunter made the rounds of its senior staff. He saw Thad Keyes, the managing editor, and Colleen Conant, the new publisher, briefing them off the record. He also said he would have to pass on giving their reporter a comment and would release a statement later in the day.
Hunter wanted his response to be released simultaneously with the Whites’ letter. Bill Wise wrote the statement, which was given to the Daily Camera that afternoon and faxed to the governor and the attorney general, both of whom issued statements saying that this was not the time to intervene. Chief Koby also issued a statement. In part, it said, “The Boulder District Attorney has not done anything but try and be supportive of the investigation. Whether people agree with that is another issue.”
The Whites’ letter, part of which is reprinted below, was published in the Daily Camera on January 16.
Letter to the Editor
As witnesses in the JonBenét murder investigation, we are reluctant to express our views regarding the investigation. At this time, however, we feel compelled to address matters which we feel to be of great importance.
Public officials who contemplate the release of information concerning the case or desire to publicly express their opinions must be mindful [that they risk putting every aspect of the case in jeopardy]. Such statements and release of information should only serve the goals of furthering the investigation or protecting the public. There are simply no other valid reasons for making information regarding the investigation available to the public.
As witnesses, we have developed confidence and trust in Boulder Police Department investigators.
On the other hand, we have not developed such [positive] sentiments toward the Boulder County District Attorney. Our sentiments toward the Boulder County District Attorney are based on our personal experiences which have been augmented by the following considerations:
1. There are various relationships between the Boulder County District Attorney and members of the Boulder and Denver legal communities which may have impaired the objectivity of the Boulder County District Attorney.
2. The Boulder County District Attorney under the leadership of District Attorney Alex Hunter has been criticized in the past for not being an aggressive prosecutor of homicide cases.
3. There appears to be an atmosphere of distrust and non-cooperation between the Boulder County District Attorney and the Boulder Police Department.
4. There is a strong impression that the Boulder County District Attorney has acted improperly by sharing evidence and other information with the attorneys and other parties not officially involved in the investigation.
5. There is a strong impression that Alex Hunter and members of his staff have acted inappropriately by giving their opinions and information regarding the investigation to various news media organizations. This impression has been strengthened recently by the statements made by District Attorney Alex Hunter appearing in the Jan. 19, 1998 issue of New Yorker magazine. What public service did Mr. Hunter envision when he made such statements and revealed details of the investigation over a period of five months to a noted journalist who had publicly announced his intention to write a book about the investigation?
At a minimum, these considerations have created the strong appearance of impropriety, professional incompetence and a lack of objectivity.
The idea of waiting for the case to be “completed” and to be “referred” to the Boulder County District Attorney presupposes that the negative effect of the presence of the Boulder County District Attorney in the investigation will somehow be mitigated in the future. It ignores the practical problem that the Boulder Police Department and relevant witnesses have no confidence in the ability of the Boulder County District Attorney to prudently handle evidence and to professionally and impartially consider a case presented