JonBenet Ramsey

By Richard Woodbury/Denver

What's taking this murder investigation so long? Apparently, Boulder district attorney ALEX HUNTER is going to great lengths to rule out all other suspects on the theory that by proving everyone else innocent, he can close down paths the defense lawyers for JOHN and PATSY RAMSEY might travel. Says a source within the investigation: "Anytime the Ramseys name a suspect or a piece of evidence that they think could prove someone else committed this crime, we have to check it out. If we can eliminate it, then that helps prove that an intruder didn't commit this crime." Hunter's wide-net investigation strategy, however, may have its flaws. One investigation source told TIME, "The thing in this case shouldn't be closing doors. The secret is to open one. Does it really matter if you get a guy's handwriting sample, DNA and alibi if then you don't thoroughly check any of them?" Investigators still suspect that Patsy Ramsey was involved in her daughter's death. Some also believe JONBENET was the victim of molestation and the molester was someone outside the Ramsey home but with frequent access to it. Says an investigator: "Patsy Ramsey knows what happened that night." He adds, "It's hard to imagine that John doesn't know something by now about what happened that night, but then again, anything's possible."

--By Richard Woodbury/Denver