Fleet White

Fleet White is a former friend of Ramsey family and one of the last people to see JonBenet Ramsey alive. He was also present when the body was discovered in the Ramsey home. While initially supportive of the Ramseys, White became increasingly confused by their refusal to speak to police. White confronted John Ramsey about this, leading to a falling out between the two families. During their police interviews, several months after the crime, John and Patsy Ramsey said that they suspected Fleet White and his wife Priscilla White of involvement in the killing.

White was cooperative from day one of the investigation and met with police on multiple occasions. The Boulder Police Department confirmed that White and his family were not suspects. However the District Attorney's office, in conjunction with the Ramseys' hired investigators, continued to investigate White as a suspect. After a mentally-ill woman named Nancy Krebs alleged White's involvement in a widespread multigenerational pedophile conspiracy, District Attorney Alex Hunter publicly endorsed Krebs' theory. Police determined the theory was completely false.

Both the Boulder Police Department and the Boulder District Attorney's Office have repeatedly stated that Fleet White and his family are not suspects and have never been linked to the crime in any way, yet the Whites continue to be the victims of online conspiracy theories.

Hunter stated that Fleet White's "huge hands" made him "uncomfortable".

Background
Sailing

The Whites attended a Christmas party at the Ramsey home. White apparently misdialled 911 - the Ramseys later referred to this as "suspicious" in their book

The Whites' Christmas Dinner
Family dinner with the Ramseys

Morning of December 26
Patsy Ramsey called the Whites

Drove Burke to their house

Discovery of the body

Involvement in the Investigation
John's lawyer Mike Bynum called White on December 26. White met with Ramseys' attorneys and private investigators the next day. White also met with police

Confrontation with John Ramsey
White confronted John Ramsey about their refusal to speak to police.

The Ramseys later characterized White's behavior as "strange" and "erratic" - this was echoed by District Attorney Alex Hunter, and Lawrence Schiller.

Others have praised White for being the only member of the Ramseys' circle to question their lack of cooperation in their child's murder investigation.

Ramseys' Statements about White in Police Interviews
The Ramseys raised Fleet White's name numerous times in their interviews with police. Patsy claimed the Whites "acted differently than any of our other friends" and referred to White's behavior as "erratic" and "strange". John Ramsey referred to "extremely bizarre behavior on both their parts", referring to Fleet White and his wife. John also claimed "Priscilla was very jealous of Patsy" and had a "hatred of wealth". John also told police "Fleet White and Priscilla White knew our schedule". When asked about any linguistic features in the ransom note that stood out to him, John replied:


 * It ... used my name a lot. It started out "Dear Mr. Ramsey" and then it went into "John", "John", "John". That, to me, is unusual for people to use your name a lot. The only person -- at some point, I thought that, "gee, that sounds like so and so talking, because they use my name a lot" ... Fleet uses your name a lot. John this, John this. And that's unusual. And that was my only impression. I didn't think a whole lot. Fleet and Priscilla, we thought were our closest friends. So that's a bizarre thought. But it was a thought.

When asked about the cord used to strangle JonBenet, John replied:


 * I don't ever remember having anything like this. You know, if I look at friends that -- I mean some people buy rope and they just buy twine and that's it. This is more of a -- you know, somebody used this as more of a -- this is a little more refined than just buying clothes line rope, for whatever the uses were. Um, you know, certainly Fleet White was knew a lot about lines, mostly associated with sailboats. He knew a lot about that.

When asked about the tape found on JonBenet's mouth, John replied:


 * Well, if I were to speculate, that's something that Fleet White would have. [...] I can't remember for sure, but Fleet had -- when we got, went up to get our boat ready for this Mackinaw [...] race, Fleet had some special tapes, I remember white tape. And possibly I remember black duct tape.

Nancy Krebs
In 2000 a woman named Nancy Krebs implicated Fleet White and his elderly father, as well as John Ramsey in an elaborate conspiracy theory. Krebs accused White and Ramsey of visiting her in California when she was a child and raping her and filming it as part of a secret pedophile ring. District Attorney Alex Hunter publicly stated that he found the story "very believable".

Police determined that Krebs' story was a complete fabrication and again confirmed that Fleet White was not a suspect in the killing.

1997 exoneration
On April 16, 1997, Boulder Police Chief Tom Koby said:


 * "Mr. and Mrs. Fleet White, Jr. are not suspects in the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation. They are considered key witnesses. The Boulder Police Department appreciates the full cooperation they have received from the Whites since the beginning of their investigation. I feel this response is necessary due to the inaccurate portrayal of Mr. and Mrs. White in certain media publications.”

2008 exoneration
The Whites were cleared again in September 2008 by District Attorney Mary Lacy. In a letter to the Whites, dated September 12, 2008, Lacy stated:


 * I am writing to reaffirm that you are not suspects in the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. My office has been solely responsible for this case since December 2002. Since that date, I am not aware of any person associated with this office making any comment referring to any member of the Fleet White family as a suspect in this murder or otherwise suggesting any change to the conclusion in Chief Koby’s statement that you are only key witnesses.

2014 exoneration
Mark beckner January 23, 2014


 * Since December 26, 1996, the homicide of JonBenet Ramsey has been the subject of widespread news reports and speculation by the media. A great deal of that reporting and speculation targeted innocent community members whose only connection to the crime was as cooperating witnesses. This includes the Fleet White, Jr. family of Boulder who suffered embarrassment and damage to their reputations. The Boulder Police Department recognizes the suffering the Whites have endured as a result of the accusations made against the White family during the course of the investigation.


 * The Boulder Police Department investigators have always considered the White family to only be witnesses in this case. The Boulder Police Department has never considered the White family to be suspects in the case. In 2000, the police department did investigate allegations made by a California woman to District Attorney Alex Hunter, as reported in the press, that were intended to cast suspicion on the White family. The department found no evidence to support the unfounded allegations. There has never been any evidence to link the White family to the JonBenet Ramsey homicide.


 * We wish to express our gratitude for the White family’s cooperation and contributions in regard to the investigation of JonBenet’s death.

https://www.dailycamera.com/2014/01/23/fleet-and-priscilla-white-exonerated-in-death-of-jonbenet-ramsey-for-third-time/ Fleet and Priscilla White exonerated in death of JonBenet Ramsey — for third time