Lin Wood Letter to the Editor

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~56~1072413~,00.html

Letters to the Editor, December 25
December 25, 2002 
Accountability goes for newspapers, too 

In its Dec. 24 lead editorial, "Accountability - what a concept!," the Rocky Mountain 
News raises questions of accountability relating to the recent decision of Boulder 
District Attorney Mary Keenan to take charge of the investigation of the murder of 
my clients' daughter, JonBenet Ramsey. 

The News opines that Keenan's decision was little more that a cheerful surrender by 
the Boulder Police Department of its role because the Ramseys had lost faith in the
 department. Not surprisingly, this editorial opinion is supported by comments from 
Craig Silverman, an individual who for years has been a source for negative quotes 
about John and Patsy Ramsey published in supermarket tabloid articles. 

If the News had bothered to investigate facts derived from reliable sources before it 
formed its opinion, I believe your editorial staff might have found substantial, solid 
support for my opinion that after her two-year review of the case, Keenan's decision 
was based on her objective conclusion that the Boulder Police Department was not 
capable of conducting an unbiased investigation into JonBenet's murder. 

The News has never attempted through use of the open records act to investigate the 
conduct of the Boulder Police Department and expose facts that would inform the public 
why Colorado taxpayers have wasted millions of dollars on a failed and flawed police
 investigation of a child's murder. Perhaps if it had learned the facts before voicing its 
opinion, the News might have better understood Keenan's decision and applauded it. 

Accountability is a concept that applies to journalists as well as government officials. 
Look in the mirror. 

L. Lin Wood 
Attorney for John and Patsy Ramsey 
Atlanta, Ga.