In a case that rocked the world, tragic JonBenet was found murdered in her family’s basement at just six years of age in 1996.
The case has never been solved despite a staggering 140 people being extensively investigated by authorities.
JonBenet’s brother who was just nine years old at the time of the murder has spoken for the first time in 20 years about the trauma that marred his childhood.
JonBenet was found dead in the basement of her family home on Stephan’s Day, a blanket covered her body, her wrists were tied, there was a cord around her neck, and her mouth was duck taped. The post mortem concluded that she had been strangled, and her skull was fractured.
The family had reported their daughter’s disappearance, suggesting she had been kidnapped to police a few hours before discovering her body.
Her brother, Burke has spoken to Dr. Phil about the anguish that followed in a revealing interview to be aired in full next week.
For many years the family including nine-year-old Burke were under suspicion. However, they were cleared in 2008 thanks to DNA evidence. Sadly Burke’s mother Patsy had died after a long battle with ovarian cancer two years before the DNA conclusively ruled out Burke, Patsy and her husband, John as suspects.
Burke, who is now 29, told Dr. Phil:
“I remember my mum searching my room that night saying, ‘Where’s my baby? Where’s my baby?’”
“Has it ever occurred to you that your parents actually thought you did this and didn’t ask you because they didn’t want to know?,” asked Dr Phil.
“I know people think I did it; that my parents did it. I know that we were suspects,” was Burke’s response.
Despite two decades of investigations and the collation of approximately 1400 pieces of evidence, the case has never been solved.
During the interview, he recalled the last time he saw his sister at her funeral:
“I remember the viewing. The casket was small. Her eyes were closed.”
“I want to honour her memory by doing this interview. I don’t want anyone to forget,” Burke told Dr. Phil.
A forthcoming documentary reexamining the case is to air later this month, meaning it’s unlikely the public will forget JonBenet any time soon.
'Victim advocacy is crucial. We stand in her shoes…' Sept 18, 19, 25 @CBS @TheCaseOfSeries #HerNameWasJonBenét https://t.co/scyacm80el
— Laura Richards (@laurarichards99) August 25, 2016
See Also:
