[35] JonBent's mouth was covered with duct tape, a nylon cord was found around her wrists and neck, and her torso was covered by a white blanket. True Crime Diva 2010-2023. ", RELATED: Bennett family murders: Full coverage of suspect's trial. As she got older, unresolved anger issues caused Vanessa to clash with her grandmother who had become her primary caretaker after the death of her parents. Upset that he was not getting any media attention, Jesperson drew a smiley face on a bathroom wall hundreds of miles from the scene of the crime and wrote an anonymous letter confessing to Bennett's murder, providing proof. RELATED: She was the sole survivor of one of Colorado's most brutal crimes. The ransom note was unusually long. In June 2021, a trailer appeared on iTunes for a new true crime podcast called Life After Happy Face, to be hosted by Melissa Moore and forensic criminologist Laura Pettler. Defense attorneys challenged the way police handled, stored, and tested evidence and attacked the failure to look for touch DNA on a number of items the killer is believed to have handled, including a butcher knife used in the attack. [10] Pavlinac claimed she began to drive toward northeast Portland, where Bennett said she lived with her mother, but Sosnovske forced her to drive east on Interstate 84 instead, before punching Bennett in the face and rendering her unconscious. The court bemoaned the existence of self-proclaimed experts without credentials trying to enter the case by accusing Patsy without scientific basis. His wife, Debra, was sexually assaulted and bludgeoned. [1] She was raised in Clatskanie, where she graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1950. Ewing, 60, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of felony murder in the Bennett familys slaying, one in a string of seemingly random attacks across metro Denver that terrified residents during a two-week span in early 1984. Investigators had collected and stored the killers DNA from the crime scene back in 1984 and since they did not know the hammer killers identity at the time issued a warrant for the arrest of John Doe on three counts of murder, attempted murder, felony murder, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of child sexual assault in the hope that technology in the future could aid in identifying the assailant. In March 2018, she was featured in an episode, titled "Put on a Happy Face", of the Investigation Discovery true crime series Evil Lives Here. The 1984 Bennett Family Murder - True Crime Diva The 1984 Bennett Family Murder Published: April 18, 2015 Last Updated on January 18, 2022 Share Bruce Bennett, 27, his wife, Debra, 26, and their two children, Melissa, 7, and Vanessa, 3, resided in a quiet neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado, in 1984. [37], The Killing of JonBent: The Truth Uncovered, broadcast by A&E on September 5, 2016, concluded that an unidentified male was responsible for JonBent's death, based on forensic DNA analysis of evidence. [82] Reich, a 41-year old school teacher, claimed to have drugged, sexually assaulted, and accidentally killed JonBent. Little Vanessas jaw was crushed,sending jagged bones into her windpipe. She was enrolled in kindergarten at High Peaks Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado. We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction. The same night he escaped, he broke into yet another couples house and attacked the male of the home. [107], In January 2018, a judge denied the CBS motion to dismiss, and the suit was allowed to proceed. Did the killer die? [34][a], Officer Rick French went to the basement and came to a door that was secured by a wooden latch. Hecontinued to attack the child causing severe injuries, but the 3 year old held on to life and was alive the next morning when she was discovered by her grandmother. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Three-year . Paris Bennett, 13, Raped And Murdered His 4-Year-Old Sister The boy committed this heinous crime because he wanted to punish his mother. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and Kimberlyhad a concussion. As Ewing stood trial for the Bennett murders this month, a . Although no semen was found, there was evidence that there had been a vaginal injury. Six days before Patrica Smiths murder, on January 4,a man nearly beat to death James and Kimberly Haubenschild, in their Aurora home. But I was just OK.. [1], At a very early ageas young as fiveJesperson would capture and torture animals. Her daughter and grandchildren, who resided with Patricia, found her body. [67][f] The indictment cited "two counts each of child abuse" and said the parents "did unlawfully, knowingly, recklessly and feloniously permit a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that posed a threat of injury to the child's life or health, which resulted in the death of JonBent Ramsey, a child under the age of sixteen. Why wasnt Vanessa raped? [25] The police believed that the note was staged, because it did not have any fingerprints except for Patsy's and authorities who had handled it,[8] and because it included an unusual use of exclamation marks and initialisms. As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. This article in the Denver post describes how after he murdered the Bennetts he went on to enter the house of a man in Kingman, Arizona and attempted to bludgeon the man to death with a 20lb rock. [57], Mary Lacy, the next Boulder County District Attorney, took over the investigation from the police on December 26, 2002. The first happened when Jesperson was around age 10, when he was friends with a boy named Martin. Wood said he would also file a suit against CBS at the end of October 2016. Melissa, 7, was sexually assaulted in the attack. In the years following, Jesperson said he often thought about what it would be like to do the same to a human. Dixon also survived. Whoever the killer was, he had no problem attacking innocent children. The weapon used was a hammer. The films Ruthless People, Ransom, Escape from New York, Speed[23] and Dirty Harry[24] have acceptance as sources. The Bennett family has been linked to both the Salvatore and Petrova families since 1st Century B.C. Ewing alreadywas serving a 40-year sentence in Nevada for attempted murder after beating a couple nearly to death with an ax handle in August 1984, just months after the Bennets were found dead in Aurora. [9] Garnett found that the statute of limitations for the crimes identified in the 1999 grand jury true bill had expired, and did not pursue review of the case against the Ramseys. [20], According to statements that Patsy gave to authorities on December 26, 1996, she realized that her daughter was missing after she found a two-and-a-half-page handwritten ransom note on the kitchen staircase at the Ramsey family's Boulder residence. I was in a coma, Vanessa Bennett said Thursday. There were no signs of forced entry or an apparent motive for the killings. This led police agencies in several states to reopen old cases, many of which were found to be possible victims of Jesperson. "We didn't have much hope then, but science and progress keeps marching on and ultimately we found this guy. Unsolved murder of an American child beauty queen, "JonBent" redirects here. [8] She also stated that before disposing of Bennett's body, Sosnovske cut a piece of fabric from her jeans to keep as a souvenir. Visitors picked up and cleaned surfaces in the kitchen, possibly destroying evidence. JonBent Ramsey was born on August 6, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, the younger of two children of Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey (19562006)[10] and John Bennett Ramsey (born 1943). Burke and his attorneys, who include Lin Wood, sought a total of $150 million in punitive and compensatory damages. "[8] He also stated that the unknown DNA from JonBenet's clothing "has got to be the focus of the investigation" at this point in time and that, until one can prove otherwise, "the suspect is the donator of that unknown DNA. [2], Pavlinac was born Laverne Johnson on December 19, 1932[a] in Marshland, Oregon. Jesperson's first known victim was Taunja Bennett on 21 January 1990, near Portland, Oregon, United States. The crime is still considered a cold case and remains an open investigation with the Boulder Police Department. [45] That DNA belonged to an unknown male person, and excluded the DNA of each of the Ramseys. If you alert bank authorities, she dies. Sam Tabachnik is a roving reporter for The Denver Post, focusing on stories outside metro Denver. You stand a 99% chance of killing your daughter if you try to out smart [sic] us. The family originated from Ancient Greece, then eventually settled in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Jury finds Alex Ewing guilty in 1984 Hammer, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Jury finds Alex Ewing guilty in 1984 Hammer Killer murders of Aurora family, Judge denies mistrial after Hammer Killer jury says its at impasse in 1984 slaying of Aurora family, Defense in Hammer Killer trial says multiple attackers carried out Aurora familys 1984 slaying, Hammer Killer suspect to stand trial 37 years after slaying of Aurora family, Colorado Hammer Killer suspect wont face death penalty in 1984 slayings, The Denver Post, other news outlets sue DPS for recording of closed-door meeting after East High shooting, Rock-throwing suspects turned back to take photo of fatal crash as memento, Jeffco affidavit says, Jury finds Jeremy Webster guilty of first-degree murder in Westminster road-rage shooting spree, Former Colorado judge censured for drunken sexual advances in first use of new discipline system. Use that good southern common sense of yours. He introduced himself to Bennett at a bar and invited her to a house he was renting. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? 28 year old Bruce Bennett had jumped into action when the attacker entered the family home and a struggle broke out between the two as Bennett attempted to protect his family. The killer then ascended the staircase and entered the couples bedroom where attacked Bruces wife, 26 year old Debra, who he raped before bludgeoning to death. The DA's office sought to take control of the investigation. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. New interviews were conducted following a fresh inquiry by a committee that included state and federal investigators. [34] Two police officers responded to the 9-1-1 call and arrived at the Ramsey home within three minutes. The DNA was submitted to the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a database containing more than 1.6 million DNA profiles, but the sample did not match any profile in the database. I cant remember her name, but she said your parents killer had been caught, she said. Devin Booker sulked. Photography Simon Folkard. His fourth victim was another sex worker, Laurie Ann Pentland of Salem, Oregon, whose body was found in November 1992. After the body of his first victim, Taunja Bennett, was found, media attention surrounded Laverne Pavlinac, a woman who falsely confessed to having killed Bennett with the help of her abusive boyfriend, John Sosnovske. Peter Manfredonia sentenced for 2020 crime spree, Missing Medford men found decapitated in Boston storage unit, Orange County dermatologist charged on multiple accounts of attempting to poison her husbands drinks indicted. The Ramseys developed a relationship with District Attorney Mary Lacy and her office, which was criticized by authorities such as the city's mayor, Leslie L Durgin. Ewing has been locked up since. The Bennett Family (Latin: Benedictus; English: Benedict; translates as "blessed" or "one who is blessed") is one of the main families in The Vampire Diaries and a matriarchal bloodline of powerful witches. Alex Christopher Ewing, 61, received life sentences for killing Colorado couple Bruce Bennett, 27, and Debra Bennett, 26, and raping and killing their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Jesperson signed each letter with a smiley face. [18] Jesperson himself also began writing letters to news and media outlets following his arrest and conviction, urging the courts to free Pavlinac and Sosnovske. [20], On 7 January 1996, more than five years after their conviction, Pavlinac and Sosnovske were released from prison after Jesperson and his attorney offered his confession with convincing evidence of his guilt. Jesperson worked as a truck driver to support the family. [51][53] According to Gregg McCrary, a retired profiler with the FBI, "statistically, it is a 12-to-1 probability that it's a family member or a care giver" who is involved in the homicide of a child. [64] JonBent's brother Burke Ramsey later said, "We didn't get spanked, nothing of the sort, nothing close, nothing near laying a finger on us, let alone killing your child. Then, this week, she got two phone calls one from someone with the Aurora Police Department, another from the District Attorneys Office. Murder in Halifax: Who killed Tanya Jean Brooks? [19] Patsy died of ovarian cancer at age 49 in 2006; she was interred next to her daughter. Hundreds of DNA tests were performed to find a match to the DNA recovered during her autopsy. Ewings DNA profile was entered into CODIS (the FBI's database) this year (2018 as I write this) and the following morning his profile was matched to the DNA found at the crime scenes of both the Bennett family and Patricia Smith. [66][e], A Colorado grand jury voted in 1999 to indict the parents. Not only was she left with physical injuries and scars as a reminder of the attack, she was also left with ADHD, PTSD and bipolar disorder. She threatened to call the police, and he strangled her. However, the evidence fell short of a definitive conclusion. [8] Pavlinac initially thought she was ill, but was told by Sosnovske that she was in fact dead. After all, Ewing was facing multiple counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Smith and the three members of the Bennett family. Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead. The mother of Bruce Bennett, 27, and grandmother of 7-year-old Melissa Bennett all killed in the 1984 home invasion, along with Debra Bennett, 26 the 87-year-old admitted shes very happy its all over.. [32] The series had 12 episodes. [5] Bennett had gone missing on January 21,[5] and was found deceased on January 22, lying on the side of an embankment along the Old Columbia River Highway in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Portland. [18] In his confession, Jesperson recounted how he had picked up Bennett at a bar in Portland on the evening of January 21, 1990. In September 1994, another Jane Doe was found in Crestview, Florida. The bludgeoned bodies of husband and wife, Bruce and Debra Bennett, were discovered and it soon became evident that they had both attacked with a knife and beaten to death. Emily had a brother and the only known male member of the Bennett family. In May 1998, he presented his findings to the Boulder police with other staff members of the DA's Office, concluding that the evidence pointed away from the Ramseys. It's been a long time waiting for this," said 87-year-old Connie Bennett following the verdict. When JonBent was moved, the crime scene was further contaminated, and critical forensic evidence was disturbed for the returning forensics team. National and international media coverage of the case focused on JonBent's brief beauty pageant career, as well as her parents' wealth and the unusual evidence found in the case. It was later determined that some windows and a door had been left unlocked that night. Ewing would not stop hitting her the entire time and eventually the woman realized that she would have to play dead in order to get him to stop. [11] These eyewitnesses stated that they saw Bennett playing pool with two unidentified men, neither of whom was Sosnovske. The jury had indicated it was deadlocked Thursday afternoon, but District Judge Darren Vahle asked them to go home for the night, rest, and return Friday to continue deliberating. John and Patsy were also accused of hindering the prosecution of an unidentified person who had "committed the crime of murder in the first degree and child abuse resulting in death". He had been questioned by police a week before, but they had no grounds to arrest him after he refused to talk. Sheila, Beatrice, Lucy, Ayana, and the Witch of the Five, along with a dozen or so other Bennett witches, had found peace and returned from peace, briefly, to aid Bonnie as. [99] Defamation suits have been filed by the Ramseys and their friends against several unnamed media outlets. However, after the witch trials began, the family relocated in Mystic Falls, Virginia in 1692. It's important that we still do.Sheila explains to Bonnie their family's history in Haunted. Police announced Friday that they have issued an arrest warrant for Ewing, who is currently serving a sentence of eight to 40 years at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. That last Christmas was 1983. [21], Following Bennett's murder, as all the attention was going to Pavlinac and Sosnovske, Jesperson wrote a confession on the bathroom wall of a truck stop and signed it with a smiley face. What about the Bennetts? [3], Treated like an outcast and a black sheep by his own family and teased by other children for his large size at a young age, Jesperson was a lonely child who showed a propensity for torturing and killing animals. May 30 2022 31 mins. "Happy Face Killer" redirects here. A long handwritten ransom note was found in the home. The childs skull was caved in on the right side of her forehead and a metal plate was inserted to reshape the skull, she suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw and neck. [76][h] Believing that the Ramseys were innocent, Smit resigned from the investigation on September 20, 1998, five days after the grand jury was convened against the Ramseys. U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes later concluded that "abundant evidence" in the murder case pointed to an intruder having committed the crime. [35][53][c], Lou Smit was a detective who came out of retirement in early 1997 to assist the Boulder County District Attorney's office with the case. Critics have questioned this theory, because there was an intact cobweb in the basement window. Our detectives have traveled to over 18 states and interviewed or spoken with more than 1,000 individuals.". [8] Upon her arrival, she claimed that Sosnovske was hiding between two large trailers, and that the body of Bennett lay wrapped in a blanket at his feet. JonBent Patricia Ramsey (August 6, 1990 - December 25 or 26, 1996) [1] was an American child beauty queen who was killed at the age of six in her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. He went on to continually beat the mans wife as she attempted to shield her husband from the blows of an ax handle while simultaneously on the phone to 911. Burke testified at a 1999 grand jury hearing. An Arapahoe County jury on Friday found Alex Ewing guilty of murder in the horrific 1984 killings of a 7-year-old girl and her parents in Aurora an emotional moment of justice nearly 40 years in the making.
