Garrote



(Back to Evidence)

The device tied around JonBenet's neck consisted of a piece of nylon cord tied to a broken piece of one of Patsy Ramseys's paintbrushes. According to neurological experts consulted on the case, the strangulation is what ended JonBenet's life - therefore making the "garrote" the murder weapon.

Dimensions and Construction


[Diagram]

Construction
The ends of the broken paintbrush are consistent with a paintbrush that has been snapped by hand. There is no indication that a knife was used to break the paintbrush. It is impossible to determine when the paintbrush was broken.

The victim's hair was entangled in both the knot at her neck, and the knot on the paintbrush, indicating that the device must have been created in close proximity to the victim. The "garrote" was therefore not constructed ahead of time, but while JonBenet was present.

Knots
The device "acted as a noose rather than a true garrote. The point where the rope became a noose was at the back of the neck, which suggested to some that JonBenét was lying facedown when the ligature was tied." (Schiller 1999, S. 661)

"Investigators would also enlist the aid of a knot expert, John Van Tassel of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He would eventually determine that the slip knots used in the wrist and neck ligatures were of standard fare. The end of the cord wrapped around the remains of the paintbrush were observed to be concentric loops and ended in a simple hitch that secured the knot in place. Again, there was nothing particularly fancy about the knots suggesting that a skilled perpetrator had been responsible for tying them." (Kolar 2013, S. 65f.)

Michael Kane: "If Mary [Lacy] has reached this conclusion [that the knots were "sophisticated"] she clearly has not reviewed her own file [...] I don't know where this came from that these were sophisticated knots. I don't know that anybody had the opportunity to untie those knots who was an expert in knots, but the Police Department had somebody who fit that category, and that was not the opinion of that person, who said these were very simple knots."

Forensic Evidence Recovered from the Garrote

 * Fingerprints: CBI reported in February 1997 that no fingerprints were found on the paintbrush.


 * Fibers: Fibers identical to fibers from the jacket Patsy Ramsey was wearing on night of the killing were found "tied into the ligature found on JonBenet's neck".


 * DNA: The DNA from the cord of the neck ligature was a mixed sample with a major component from JonBenet Ramsey, and an unidentified minor component. The minor component was not consistent with any member of the Ramsey, or with the "unidentified male 1" profile derived from the underwear.


 * Serological Evidence: Blood was detected on the cord of the neck ligature.

What is a Real Garrote?
"This was not an amateur device. This was a professional strangling tool."

- John Ramsey

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The "missing piece of the paintbrush"
The brush portion of the paintbrush was found in the paint tote. The tip-portion was not taken as evidence. Some have suggested that the tip of the paintbrush was "missing".

A sophisticated "torture/bondage" device
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A distraction - Staging
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Mercy killing
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"Boy Scout" device/knot-tying hobbyist
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