Keenan Strong Proponent of "Santa did it"

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_1914253,00.html


DA backed intruder theory for years
Mary Keenan's top suspect in JonBenet slaying was man who played Santa

By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News
April 25, 2003

BOULDER - District Attorney Mary Keenan went public April 7 with her belief that evidence in the JonBenet Ramsey case points to an intruder as the killer - not Patsy Ramsey.

But sources familiar with Keenan and the case say this isn't a new view for Boulder's top prosecutor. Keenan, in fact, has supported the intruder theory for nearly five years, dating to the summer of 1998, according to the sources.

Keenan's prime suspect was Bill McReynolds, who played Santa Claus at a Ramsey holiday party two nights before the Christmas 1996 murder of the 6-year-old beauty princess, the sources said.

"She was real hot on him" as a suspect, said one source. "I would say she was real excited about it."

Said another source close to the investigation, "She was hard-charging on Bill McReynolds. I'm basing this on my own conversations with her. She was convinced that McReynolds did it." ...

...The sources who said Keenan was once interested in McReynolds have not discussed the Ramsey case with her recently, and don't know her current thinking.

Keenan declined to be interviewed.

Since her election to succeed longtime Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter in November 2000, Keenan has refused to answer reporters' questions on the controversial investigation, instead addressing it through prepared statements.

Keenan originally agreed to be interviewed by the News on the condition that the Ramsey case would not be a topic of questioning.

But, upon learning that a reporter was contacting people close to her, and that the questions touched on perhaps Colorado's most notorious unsolved slaying, Keenan canceled the interview.

"I just can't be part of that," Keenan said.

Keenan is not alone. Despite the passage of time, several of those closest to the case have grown, if anything, increasingly reluctant to be quoted on any aspect of the beleaguered murder probe.

That is largely due to the success of Atlanta attorney L. Lin Wood, who represents JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey. He has won dismissals of libel and slander cases against his clients as well as out-of-court settlements in cases they have brought against others.

It was a Wood victory - the March 31 decision by U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes dismissing a libel and slander suit against the Ramseys by Boulder journalist Chris Wolf - that triggered Keenan's April 7 statement.

Wolf had argued that the Ramseys slandered and libeled him in a book they co-authored by naming him as a suspect. Wolf contended they knew this to be false, because, he argued, they knew that JonBenet was killed by her mother.

Wolf and his attorney, Darnay Hoffman, fell far short of making a convincing case that Patsy Ramsey killed her daughter, Carnes ruled in a 93-page opinion.

Keenan followed that opinion with her own statement.

"I agree with the Court's conclusion that 'the weight of the evidence is more consistent with the theory that an intruder murdered JonBenet than it is with a theory that Mrs. Ramsey did so,' " Keenan's statement read.

Keenan refused to elaborate, but Wood gave several interviews saying that her statement was a turning point in the case.

"This means that the nightmare that John and Patsy Ramsey have lived with, of being falsely accused of the murder of their daughter, is finally over," Wood said.

Keenan, Wood added, "knows every piece of evidence." He called her "the voice of authority" concerning the Ramsey murder and praised both Keenan and Carnes as courageous fact-finders.

He declined to comment for this story.

It's not only law enforcement sources who say Keenan has long been a proponent of the intruder theory. A Boulder man who who has occasionally written on the case as a freelancer and has made a close study of JonBenet's murder remembers a conversation with Keenan during a chance encounter at a Boulder neighborhood grocery.

"Her basis for believing the Ramseys are innocent, as she explained it to me, is that the Ramseys don't have a history of being abusive parents that would be apt to kill their child," said Frank Coffman, who knew Keenan from volunteering on her 2000 campaign for district attorney.

Coffman said, "At least from what she told me about it, she was basing her opinion on the Ramseys' innocence on the fact that they don't fit the profile of murdering parents. This would have been the summer of 2000 that I talked to her."

Keenan - who joined the Boulder prosecutors' office in 1983 - was far from a silent bystander in the early stages of the investigation.

Over the course of three days from June 22 to June 24 in 1998 - following a major presentation by Boulder detectives to the district attorney's office but before Hunter's announcement that he would take the case to the grand jury - the Ramseys submitted to a second round of interrogations.

Keenan made an impression on investigators at that time.

Because the Ramseys distrusted Boulder police - who they believed were fixated on them as suspects - John Ramsey was interrogated by veteran El Paso County homicide investigator Lou Smit and grand jury specialist Michael Kane, while Patsy was grilled by Denver district attorney's investigator Tom Haney and Boulder prosecutor Trip DeMuth.

All interviews were videotaped and every few hours, completed tapes were transported from the Broomfield Police Department - where the interviews were conducted to avoid media attention - to Boulder, where they were studied by Boulder detectives and prosecutors, including then-Deputy District Attorney Keenan.

One source involved in those sessions recalls being told by colleagues that Keenan chided Haney for being too tough on Patsy Ramsey.

"Mary really had her nose in it, and thought that the Ramseys were being really pushed around," said another key law enforcement source.

Former Boulder police Detective Steve Thomas, who quit the department in 1998, wrote a book detailing his theory that Patsy Ramsey hit JonBenet in a flash of anger over bed-wetting. He eventually reached an out-of-court settlement after they sued him for his comments.

In one section of his book, he wrote: "Alex Hunter said that he thought Patsy Ramsey was involved. That was more than offset by comments from his staff. Deputy DA Mary Keenan said the body language of John and Patsy wasn't suggestive of deception, and that men were not in a position to judge Patsy Ramsey's demeanor."

Thomas wrote that Hunter's office was splitting into two camps.

"A tentative plan was being drafted to assign three detectives to prosecutor Mike Kane to pursue the 'Ramsey theory,' and three more to Deputy DA Mary Keenan to go after the 'Intruder Theory.' Keenan, my sources said, was intent on entering the case by breaking it wide open and arresting the real killer."

Thomas could not be reached for further comment about Keenan's role.

Keenan is well-respected in Boulder as a strong victims' advocate. She established the Boulder County Sexual Assault Team, led sex offense prosecutions for Hunter's office and is co-founder of the Blue Sky Bridge Child Advocacy Center, a nonprofit organization specializing in helping children who are victims of sexual abuse and their families.

One of the Ramsey-case veterans who spoke about Keenan only on the condition of anonymity said that her background appeared to affect her attitudes toward the Ramsey case.

"Right after the (June 1998) interviews, she went in and sat down and spent two hours talking to the Ramseys about their suspicions about Santa Claus," the source said.

"It was clear she thought this woman (Patsy Ramsey) was a victim. She is a very pro-woman prosecutor. Her whole life revolves around believing what women say. I think she is so empathetic she couldn't stand to watch someone, in her mind, being victimized."

 

It's good to see

that others have seen right through this farce of an investigation by Mary Keenan. She is NOT objective; in fact, she is so biased one may as well say she is in the Ramsey camp. No one need wonder, now, why she wanted Lou Smit on the case.

Keenan needs to be relieved of this case post haste and a new, unbiased D.A. (perhaps the attorney general of Colorado?) and team of investigators needs to be appointed. Is there no one in Colorado who isn't one of the good ole boys and who can investigate this case without prior prejudice? It sure isn't Mary Keenan.

 

Lame

Her experience around Real victims should have been enough to tip her off to the theatric performances of Patsy and John.

Did VP ever find a definite financial connection with these people? Hunter was wishy-washy back and forth after starting out a baby borg, was Mary to one to make him see things HER way? Is SHE the Fix that is In?

RR

 

Keenan needs TO KEEP POLITICS OUT OF CRIME SOLVING.

1. Nothing from McSanta was found at the crime scene

2. MCSANTA HAS NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE WITH ANYONE MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD

So all the evidence here is made from Patsy Ramsey's personal effects, but the DA's office suspects McSanta because he has a penis.

This is absolutely Phucking great. It's not like this is any big news, but seeing it in print is ever so annoying. I love this "pro-woman" crap. Howabout being pro-crime-solving? " "Men are not in a position to judge a woman's demeanor?" What the hell is that supposed to mean? Yeah if I said "women are not in a position to judge demeanor " all hell would break loose!

Absolutely sickening.

 

Just the title of this thread makes me want to puke.

 

I wonder if she had Douglas' "profile" in mind when she said the Rams didn't fit the profile of murdering parents?

History? Perhaps she ought to start paying more attention to Scott Peterson's background...along with all the strong support he received in the beginning from Laci's parents/family and friends! The Rochas, the Petersons, and all the friends of both families as well as Laci's close friends that grew up with her all swore that this couple loved each other tremendously and Scott wouldn't hurt a hair on her head.

Sound a lot like all the "support" the Ramseys had from their families and friends?

For history, Keenan ought to look at this child's body and recognize the vaginal trauma, inflammation, enlarged opening, and eroded hymen for what it is: chronic sexual abuse! -- aka history!

For history, Keenan ought to look at the crimescene evidence and recognize the dogeared dictionary pointing to the word "incest" for what it really is: evidence! -- aka history!

 

Don't leave out Susan Smith, Ginja. Her husband was right there on camera crying his eyes out with his innocent wife!

 

Good one, Bob!

Better yet...with Susan Smith, there's been resolution (conviction is more like it!)...but her ex-husband has moved on, remarried, has a new family...and has plenty to say AGAINST Susan!

Perhaps Keenan should interview HIM!

Perhaps she'd get a better "feel" for "history".

Perhaps she'd learn something about investigation and followup!

 

Perhaps

She should talk to one of the victim's she claimed to represent who was molested as a child by a 30 year old man. This girl is my sister-in-law. Keenan didn't want him to go to jail, only because the detective fought for my SIL did the A$$ ever see the inside of the a prison. My SIL is so messed up because of this, she believes that Mary Keenan didn't fight hard enough for her, and I agree.

Mary Keenan has no business being a DA.

She just can't let poor Santa McReynolds rest in peace can she?

 

No, she shouldn't be a DA, Tez

Mary Keenan is just another freaking bleeding heart who has no business in the job she is in considering the biases she carries - what the he11, do they grow idiots by the gross in Colorado?

A 30 year old man molests a child and Mary Freaking Keenan didn't want him to go to jail? Hello? What kind of freak is she? She stood for a child molester against a small child. Thank goodness for that detective who fought for your SIL, Tez. Keenan doesn't even qualify as a human being in my book after hearing this, much less a D.A.

 

Her reasoning was...

He had a child, so why did we as a family want to put him through losing his child? Hello? Wasn't his child (a little girl) at risk also?

The flipping idiot confronted me in Walmart after he was out on bond, which was illegal since I was a witness against him, so I called the detective and he was arrested for tampering with a witness.

He lost custody of his child, but didn't have to register as a sex offender since this was before that law took effect.

Needless to say, Keenan declined prosecution on the tampering with a witness charge.

 

Re: Her reasoning was...

by the way Tez - I LOVE your pix!! LOL! great!

Texan mentioned on another thread - but re Keenan, so I thought I would post it here:

Who might that be, Tex? anywhere I can read up on this?? Thanks! in advance!

 

Also, Tricia....

on your email to Lin - you put a P.S. I see you and Jameson (Susan Bennett) are working together again.

Oh REALLY??? - what have I missed now???!!!! point me in the right direction, please!!

 

Niner...

I have Moab to thank for my new Scott. Since I am such a big fan of his and all, I thought it was only fitting I honor him! NOT! I just like the fact he was finally arrested.

 

Way to go, Charlie Brennan!

It's about time someone exposed Mary Keenan for the incompetent she is. Tez's testimony backs up Brennan's impressions in this article that Fishy Mary is a weak and biased prosecutor.

Keenan has to be an absolute dimwit to even begin to think that a sixty-something man, recovering from open heart surgery, would have the strength to carry a child from her bed to the basement, do all those horrible and very physical things to her, then sit down and write a three-page ransom note, and leave without a sound and without depositing a single hair from his flowing white beard.

This article, (and the many sources who are now willing to talk), convinces me that the case is not dead; that some Boulderites are still seeking justice; and that Mary Keenan must be taken off this case immediately.

 

I have two words for Mary Keenan:


Andrea Yates



Glad Mary Keenan doesn't live in Texas.

 

When I hear the "intruder" theory put forth by people with law enforcement experience (like Smit, Douglas and Keenan), I wonder if I'm missing something - then I re-examine the "NOTE." There is simply no way an outsider such as Santa could have produced that three page farse. I have said from my first day on the JW forum until today, I don't know who killed JBR, but I know good and damned well that it wasn't an "outsider." Only someone blinded by an agenda could overlook the NOTE!!!!

Lin Wood wants an "independant" investigation into the death of JBR - I'm with him on that. I would like the FBI to be brought in to investigate obstruction of justice - bet Woodhead wouldn't be happy with that.

 

Moab....

LOL!