Investigators continue with handwriting analyses
By Charlie Brennan
%%byline%%By Charlie Brennan
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
BOULDER
--
Analysis of handwriting samples provided by John Ramsey has been completed, and investigators are now focusing on samples provided by others, according to sources close to the investigation.
Police are not commenting on what conclusions the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has reached about whether John Ramsey's handwriting matches the block lettering found on the 21/2-page ransom note connected to his daughter JonBenet's murder.
Experts say, however, it's unlikely that the CBI would continue analysis of writing samples from others if John Ramsey's handwriting matched the ransom note.
"They wouldn't waste the time and money in analysis of other people if they had identification with the dad,'' handwriting expert Andrew Bradley said.
Bradley said handwriting analysis is a far less definitive forensic art than, for example, DNA or fingerprint analysis. Experts generally agree that handwriting analysis is more effective in ruling suspects in than ruling them out.
Police only recently obtained handwriting samples from several other figures in the case. They collected a third sample from Patsy Ramsey, JonBenet's mother, having ruled that the previous two were of limited use because she was on medication at the time she provided them.
Also, police obtained a handwriting sample from Rollinsville resident Janet McReynolds, the wife of the man who played Santa Claus at the Ramseys' party Dec. 23, three days before JonBenet's body was found in the family's basement.
March 8, 1997
