to take the case before a grand jury would be made by Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter. But the police recommendation was one of the biggest steps in the investigation since the child was found murdered in her Boulder home in December 1996. No arrests have been made and no suspects named in the high-profile murder case that has captured worldwide attention. Police Commander Mark Beckner said: "The appropriate step at this time is to ask for a grand jury to assist us in gathering additional admissible evidence." Grand jury proceedings determine whether someone should be put on trial. A grand jury can be used to obtain sworn testimony, obtain evidence not otherwise available to investigators and to review the case for purposes of seeking an indictment. The case would most likely go before the grand jury that would be convened in May. Much attention in the case has focused on JonBenet's parents - rich and attractive - who police say remain under an "umbrella of suspicion." But the parents, John, a computer company executive and Patricia, a former
beauty pageant contestant, have strongly denied any connection with the murder and have criticized police for not solving the case. The parents could be made to appear at the secret grand jury proceedings, although they would be able to invoke the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, said Denver trial lawyer Scott Robinson, who is not involved in the case. The parents have moved to the Atlanta area with their 11-year-old son Burke. Police have said they wanted to interview the parents without conditions and most recently have tried to speak again with Burke Ramsey. The Ramseys and Burke were in the family home the night JonBenet was murdered. Her father found the girl's body in the basement some eight hours after her mother said she found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for the safe return of the child. In December, police said they faced three options: seeking an arrest warrant, asking for a grand jury or putting the case on inactive status until more information became available.
