CNN - 2 arrested in theft of Ramsey crime scene photos

January 15, 1997
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EST

BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- Police arrested two people Wednesday morning in connection with the theft of crime scene photos from the JonBenet Ramsey killing, an official in Boulder told CNN. Some of the photos were published in a supermarket tabloid.

The photos were shot at the home of John and Patricia Ramsey on December 26, the day their 6-year-old daughter was found dead in a basement room. JonBenet, a former Little Miss Colorado, died of strangulation.

Lt. Larry Hank of the Boulder County Sheriff's Department said the suspects were processed at the county Justice Center and released. Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter and Sheriff George Epp were scheduled to provide more details at an afternoon news conference.

The Boulder Camera newspaper said Wednesday the suspects are a photo lab employee, one accomplice and possibly another participant. Charges could range from misdemeanor obstruction of justice to felony theft.

Photo Craft Laboratories in Boulder processes film for the county coroner's office, the newspaper said. The company has not commented on the matter.

"I've never seen anything like this happen in Boulder County in my 24 years of law enforcement," Epp said. "It's important to me that it be resolved as quickly as possible."

The Globe tabloid, which published some of the crime scene photos earlier this week, denied any wrongdoing. Tony Frost, editor of the 1.3-million circulation paper, said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Tuesday night that he paid a source "less than $10,000" for the photos.

Under an agreement reached with the Boulder County Attorney's office, the Globe will return the photos to the county coroner, but retain publication rights to those it published.