Michael Helgoth

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Michael Helgoth was a man who was accused by an acquaintance in 1997 of killing JonBenet Ramsey. Helgoth was investigated by the Boulder Police Department and nothing was found to link him to the crime. After Helgoth's suicide in 1997, private investigators working for the Ramsey family and the District Attorney's office continued to promote the claims of Helgoth's accuser. Boulder Police investigated these renewed accusations and again determined there was no link between Helgoth and the crime.

Ramsey supporter Michael Tracey (the same person who accused John Mark Karr of being the killer) made several documentaries naming Helgoth as a "suspect". The Ramsey family continues to appear in TV interviews which allege Helgoth's involvement in the crime.

Personal Background
Michael Landon Helgoth (1970-1997) had no criminal record and no documented history of violence. He had served 13 months in the US Army. He reportedly liked cars and collected military paraphernalia. He was "heavily into drugs" and depressed towards the end of his life, according to a friend. Michael Helgoth committed suicide on Valentine's Day, 1997, at the age of 26. He had recently broken up with his girlfriend. His younger sister had been diagnosed with cancer and was dying (she died the following year at the age of 21).

There is no evidence that Michael Helgoth had ever met the Ramseys, been to the home, or even heard of the Ramseys prior to the crime. Some online posters have claimed an obscure connection between Helgoth's family and the Ramseys, but this has been conclusively proven to be false.

Helgoth's Accuser - John Kenady


The theory of Helgoth's involvement in JonBenet's death originated with a man named John Kenady, a convicted sex offender with a long criminal record. According to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, Kenady "had had some mental problems".

Kenady claims he first contacted police with his theory in 1997, "three months after the crime". Police took DNA from Helgoth

In 2019, while appearing on another documentary, Kenady claimed Helgoth's flashlight had gone missing after the crime, and said the flashlight was "one of his prized possessions". Kenady also claimed to recognize Todd Fuss. Fuss was also investigated and nothing was found to link him to the crime.

The original basis of Kenady's theory of Helgoth's involvement was that Helgoth had once allegedly asked him what it would be like to crush a human skull. When Kenady later read that Jonbenet had a skull fracture, this led him to conclude that Helgoth must be responsible.