Judge: Ramsey Housekeeper Can Talk
D E N V E R, July 5, 2001 -- A federal judge today ruledthat a former housekeeper for the parents of slain child beautyqueen JonBenet Ramsey can reveal what she told a secret grandjury two years ago.
No indictments were ever issued in the Boulder, Colo.,grand jury proceedings that ended in 1999 and neither was anyreport ever issued, meaning under Colorado rules that grand jurywitnesses had to keep their testimony secret indefinitely.
Linda Hoffmann-Pugh, who wants to write a book about herexperience working for John and Patsy Ramsey when they lived inColorado, sued Boulder's current district attorney, Mary Keenan,arguing the state's strict secrecy rule for grand juries wasunconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel agreed, ruling thatHoffmann-Pugh could repeat what she testified before the grandjury in 1999.
The judge said the rules were "invalid to the extent theyprohibit grand jury witnesses from disclosing their own testimonyafter a grand jury" has completed its work. Daniel's decisionopens the door for about 100 other grand jury witnesses to speakabout their testimony.
Suspicion About a Swiss Army Knife
Hoffmann-Pugh has been talking with the media about heropinions on the case. The difference is that now when shedescribes things she believes about the case she can also say shehas said the same thing in front of the grand jury.
But she may not disclose what questions she was asked ordescribe any reactions she may have seen from grand jurors, herNew York attorney Darnay Hoffman told reporters after the today'shearing.
The Ramseys were not a party to the case, but their attorneyLin Wood said he agreed with the judge's decision. "Ourpreference would be for the public to know the complete truth,"he said by telephone from Atlanta where the Ramseys now live.
The former housekeeper can for instance, relate how she toldthe grand jury that she hid a Swiss army knife that was foundnear JonBenet's body and that she believes only Patsy Ramseywould have known where the knife was.
Former Ramsey Supporter
The relationship between Hoffmann-Pugh and the Ramseysdeteriorated after the child's body was discovered in thefamily's home in December, 1996.
Initially the housekeeper supported the parents, but laterturned against them, presumably because Patsy Ramsey told policethe housekeeper had asked her for money just before Christmas.
Hoffmann-Pugh has sued the Ramseys for references they madeabout her in a book they have written on the case.
Ramsey attorney Wood said today he will be asking ajudge to dismiss the case.
Still Under an ‘Umbrella’
When JonBenet first disappeared it was believed she had beenkidnapped for ransom after Patsy Ramsey said she had found a notein the house, asking for $118,000 for the safe return of thegirl.
No arrests have been made in the case although police havesaid the parents remain "under an umbrella of suspicion."
The Ramseys have steadfastly maintained their innocence andhave criticized police for what they characterized as botchingthe case.
Under U.S. federal rules and the rules of at least 35 states,witnesses are free to discuss their testimony, but Coloradocontinues to follow the centuries long rule of strict grand jurysecrecy.