Perfect Murder, Perfect Town - Lawrence Schiller [53]
In the Denver event, JonBenét’s song and dance routine and makeup were perfect. Everyone at the pageant considered her a strong competitor. Mark Fix, a photographer, could see that she wanted to win. He couldn’t put his finger on how he knew it, but her desire to win was obvious, he said.
JonBenét won overall in her division but missed the best-in-pageant prize that she wanted. Though she was disappointed that she took home only a small trophy, she didn’t cry.
The Gingerbread nationals were scheduled for August 1996. Pam offered to take JonBenét to the pageant, since it conflicted with the Ramseys’ family reunion. Patsy said no thanks, Pam told the police. JonBenét had to be with her family, Patsy said. This would be true for any pageants that conflicted with family events. Moreover, when the Royal Miss nationals moved to Las Vegas, Patsy told Pam that John didn’t want his six-year-old daughter exposed to Vegas.
The Ramseys spent the summer of 1996 in Charlevoix and Atlanta, where JonBenét entered the Sunburst pageant, which cost Patsy over a thousand dollars in entry fees. JonBenét was first runner-up in each of the nine categories in her division, but once again she missed out on the overall title. Her performance, Pam said, was still a big accomplishment. It was her first experience competing against top-of-the-line entrants—southern girls who already held numerous titles.
After Sunburst, both Patsy and Nedra called Mary Clark, the pageant director. They wanted to dissect every detail of JonBenét’s costumes, music, and performance. Exactly what were the judges looking for? How could they hone a competitive edge for JonBenét? It was obvious to Clark that Patsy was ready to spend any amount of money, go to any length, to ensure a win for her daughter.
Kristine said that JonBenét often gave her prizes away to newcomers who hadn’t received any. But unlike many regulars on the circuit, she didn’t appear at pageants she’d previously won simply to present trophies to new winners. Instead, Patsy had JonBenét compete all over again at those pageants.
One day Patsy suggested to Pam Griffin that they make a few dresses to have on hand for kids who showed up in “civilian” clothes. Patsy said she didn’t want some little girl to feel humiliated. Pam felt that Patsy was a genuinely kind person but also knew that Patsy always wanted to make the best possible impression on people.
On December 17, JonBenét entered the All Star Kids Christmas pageant at the Airport Holiday Inn outside Denver. Her parents watched her win several titles, including Little Miss Christmas. When it was all over, John carried all her trophies and costumes to the car. It would be her last pageant
I’ve thought a lot about JonBenét’s death. It’s true that if a child is found dead in her own home, that alone makes the parents suspect. I don’t understand why the police didn’t immediately have officers come and examine John and Patsy’s bodies for scratches or whatever. Why would you not do all that? I was a registered nurse; I know it’s not wrong to suspect a family in a case like this.
—Pam Griffin
On Monday morning, January 6, photos of the Ramseys emerging from St. John’s and meeting the bishop were on the front page of all the local papers. When Alex Hunter saw the newspapers and TV coverage, he said to himself, These people aren’t getting good advice. His common sense told him that people don’t behave this way in deep mourning. The scene at the church looked staged, and raised questions in his mind about the Ramseys’ role in their daughter’s death.
RAMSEYS RECEIVE POLICE QUESTIONS
Police on Sunday submitted a list of written questions to the parents of child murder victim JonBenét Ramsey, but authorities said a formal interview still must be conducted.
To do otherwise “would not be treating them as they (police) treat other suspects,” said assistant district attorney Bill