cover image The Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBenet's Murder and How Its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of Truth

The Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBenet's Murder and How Its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of Truth

John Ramsey. Nelson, $24.99 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-7852-6816-1

Part memoir, part murder mystery and part diatribe, this book targets socially conservative Christians, but much of its content will undoubtedly engender sympathy in a broader audience. In response to three years of allegations that they killed their daughter, the Ramseys have written their side of the story, refuting the myriad accusations leveled against them and replacing them with their own recollections of events. These recollections paint a more than plausible picture of a family victimized at first by the horrific murder of a young child and then by a relentless media and police campaign to smear their reputations and prove their guilt. There is a whiff of narcissism in their tendency to refer to themselves in the third person; detailed descriptions of their homes, clothing and other possessions add to this impression. The Ramseys do, however, acknowledge that their wealth, now mostly gone, has protected them from the wrongful incarceration that many Americans endure. The Ramseys' attempt to set the record straight is at times tiresome, especially when they predictably complain about liberals who hate them because they are successful. But as we read their account of the hellishness of their lives since their daughter's murder, we realize that nothing about this situation has ever been fair and simply mourn that they had occasion to write this book at all. 16-page photo insert. Author appearances on 20/20, Today and Larry King Live. (Mar.)