Patsy Ramsey
Encyclopedia
Patricia Ann "Patsy" Ramsey (née Paugh; December 29, 1956 – June 24, 2006) was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey
, a 6-year-old American
beauty pageant contestant
who was murdered on December 25, 1996.
to Nedra Ellen Ann (née Rymer) and Donald Ray Paugh. She graduated from Parkersburg High School
in 1975, and went on to attend West Virginia University
, was an Alpha Xi Delta, and from which she graduated with a B.A.
in journalism
in 1978. She won the Miss West Virginia
beauty title in 1977; her sister Pamela won the same title three years later.
She married John Ramsey
on November 5, 1980. Their son, Burke, was born on January 27, 1987. She gave birth to her second child, JonBenét, on August 6, 1990 in Atlanta
. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado
in 1991.
On July 9, 2008, nearly 12 years after their daughter's murder, John and Patsy Ramsey were officially cleared in the death by the Boulder District Attorney's office based on new DNA evidence collected from JonBenet's clothing; this particular type of DNA analysis did not exist at the time of the killing. Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said new DNA tests point to an "unexplained third party" as responsible for the murder.
Several defamation lawsuits have ensued since JonBenét's murder. L. Lin Wood. was the plaintiff's lead attorney for John and Patsy Ramsey and their son Burke, and has prosecuted defamation claims on their behalf against St. Martin's Press
, Time, Inc., The Fox News Channel, American Media, Inc., Star
, The Globe
, Court TV
and The New York Post. John and Patsy Ramsey were also sued in two separate defamation lawsuits arising from the publication of their book, The Death of Innocence, brought by two individuals named in the book as having been investigated by Boulder police as suspects in JonBenét's murder. The Ramseys were defended in those lawsuits by Lin Wood and three other Atlanta attorneys, James C. Rawls, Eric P. Schroeder, and S. Derek Bauer, who obtained dismissal of both lawsuits including an in-depth decision by U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes that "abundant evidence" in the murder case pointed to an intruder having committed the crime.
In November 2006, Rod Westmoreland, a friend of JonBenét Ramsey's father, filed a defamation suit against Keith Greer, who posted a message on an Internet forum using the pseudonym "undertheradar". Greer had accused Westmoreland of participating in the kidnapping and murder. Greer has defended his statement.
on June 24, 2006 at the age of 49. She is buried at the St. James Episcopal Cemetery
in Marietta, Georgia
, next to her daughter. She died about 3:30 a.m. at her father's house with her husband by her side, lawyer Lin Wood said. She was originally diagnosed with cancer in 1993, when she was only 37, but was cancer-free for nine years until a recurrence in 2003.
in MADtv
episodes 417 and 502, and by Marg Helgenberger
in the 2000 miniseries
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town
. She was also featured (as a character) in the South Park
episode, "Butters' Very Own Episode
", and in an episode of Family Guy
as herself as a character.
JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Patricia Ramsey was an American child beauty pageant contestant who was murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. The six-year-old's body was found in the basement of the family home nearly eight hours after she was reported missing. She had been struck on the head and strangled...
, a 6-year-old American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
beauty pageant contestant
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
who was murdered on December 25, 1996.
Background
Ramsey was born in Gilbert, West VirginiaGilbert, West Virginia
Gilbert is a town in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 417 at the 2000 census. Gilbert was incorporated in 1918 and named for Gilbert Creek, which derives its name from the name of an early traveler in the area who was killed by Native...
to Nedra Ellen Ann (née Rymer) and Donald Ray Paugh. She graduated from Parkersburg High School
Parkersburg High School
Parkersburg High School is a secondary school located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States, that serves grades nine through twelve and is part of the Wood County School District...
in 1975, and went on to attend West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, was an Alpha Xi Delta, and from which she graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in 1978. She won the Miss West Virginia
Miss West Virginia
The Miss West Virginia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of West Virginia in the Miss America pageant.- Winners :- External links :*...
beauty title in 1977; her sister Pamela won the same title three years later.
She married John Ramsey
John Bennett Ramsey
John Bennett Ramsey is the father of homicide victim JonBenét Ramsey. He was the first to discover JonBenét's body in the wine cellar of the Ramseys' 15-room home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 25, 1996, just hours after her murder....
on November 5, 1980. Their son, Burke, was born on January 27, 1987. She gave birth to her second child, JonBenét, on August 6, 1990 in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
in 1991.
Daughter's murder
After the murder of JonBenét in the family's home in December 1996, Boulder law enforcement officials declared that Patsy and her husband were "under an umbrella of suspicion" due to their possible involvement in the crime. The couple spent the next 10 years defending themselves against the allegations by insisting that an intruder killed their daughter. As of 2010, no charges have ever been filed against anyone for the murder.On July 9, 2008, nearly 12 years after their daughter's murder, John and Patsy Ramsey were officially cleared in the death by the Boulder District Attorney's office based on new DNA evidence collected from JonBenet's clothing; this particular type of DNA analysis did not exist at the time of the killing. Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said new DNA tests point to an "unexplained third party" as responsible for the murder.
Defamation lawsuits
Jonbennet got sexually abused and strangled with string during the killing.Several defamation lawsuits have ensued since JonBenét's murder. L. Lin Wood. was the plaintiff's lead attorney for John and Patsy Ramsey and their son Burke, and has prosecuted defamation claims on their behalf against St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, Time, Inc., The Fox News Channel, American Media, Inc., Star
Star (magazine)
Star is an American celebrity tabloid magazine.-History:Star was founded by Rupert Murdoch in 1974 as competition to the tabloid National Enquirer with its headquarters in New York City. In the late 1980s it moved its offices to Tarrytown, NY and in 1990 Murdoch sold the magazine to The Enquirers...
, The Globe
The Globe (tabloid)
Globe is a supermarket tabloid first published North America on November 10, 1954 in Montreal, Canada as Midnight by Joe Azaria and John Vader and became the chief competitor to the National Enquirer during the 1960s. In 1978 it changed its name to the Midnight Globe after its publisher, Globe...
, Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
and The New York Post. John and Patsy Ramsey were also sued in two separate defamation lawsuits arising from the publication of their book, The Death of Innocence, brought by two individuals named in the book as having been investigated by Boulder police as suspects in JonBenét's murder. The Ramseys were defended in those lawsuits by Lin Wood and three other Atlanta attorneys, James C. Rawls, Eric P. Schroeder, and S. Derek Bauer, who obtained dismissal of both lawsuits including an in-depth decision by U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes that "abundant evidence" in the murder case pointed to an intruder having committed the crime.
In November 2006, Rod Westmoreland, a friend of JonBenét Ramsey's father, filed a defamation suit against Keith Greer, who posted a message on an Internet forum using the pseudonym "undertheradar". Greer had accused Westmoreland of participating in the kidnapping and murder. Greer has defended his statement.
Death
Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey died after a battle with ovarian cancerOvarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
on June 24, 2006 at the age of 49. She is buried at the St. James Episcopal Cemetery
St. James Episcopal Cemetery
St James Episcopal Church Cemetery was founded in 1849, as a parish burial ground that was laid out on the furthest corner of the 20-acre St. James' Episcopal Church property, at the corner of Winn Street and what is now Polk Street in Marietta....
in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, next to her daughter. She died about 3:30 a.m. at her father's house with her husband by her side, lawyer Lin Wood said. She was originally diagnosed with cancer in 1993, when she was only 37, but was cancer-free for nine years until a recurrence in 2003.
In popular culture
Ramsey was portrayed by Alex BorsteinAlex Borstein
Alexandrea "Alex" Borstein is an American actress, singer, voice actress, writer and comedian. She is best known for her long-running role as Lois Griffin on the animated television series Family Guy, and as a cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv.A native of Highland Park, Illinois,...
in MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
episodes 417 and 502, and by Marg Helgenberger
Marg Helgenberger
Mary Marg Helgenberger is an American film and television actress known for her roles as Catherine Willows in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as K.C...
in the 2000 miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town is a 2000 American television miniseries directed by Lawrence Schiller. The teleplay by Tom Topor is based on Schiller's book of the same title....
. She was also featured (as a character) in the South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode, "Butters' Very Own Episode
Butters' Very Own Episode
"Butters' Very Own Episode" is the fourteenth and final episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 79th episode of the series overall. "Butters' Very Own Episode" originally aired in the United States on Comedy Central on December 12, 2001...
", and in an episode of Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
as herself as a character.