December 26, marked the seventeen-year anniversary of JonBenet Ramsey’s death. While her murder still remains unsolved, a new book titled Mr. Ramsey, Listen Carefully!: Facts, Fictions, Lies and Legends in the Murder of JonBenet Ramsey, that has been four years in the making, is nearing completion. The book, written by long-time investigative reporter for Boulder’s 9News Paula Woodward, is scheduled for publication next yera by Kensington Publishing Corp., and will discuss the mystery revolving around murder, that has had spectators intrigued for years.

Woodward began writing the book, with the cooperation of JonBenet’s father John Ramsey, four years ago. “I visited with him in Charlevoix (Mich.) in 2009 and asked him to participate in the book, and explained my reasons for doing the book,” she said. “I have cooperation from John Ramsey, from law enforcement people, from Ramsey attorneys, from people involved on the periphery. A lot of people seemed willing to talk. Some were anonymous, but they are known to me — and my editor, of course.”

According to JonBenet’s late mother Patsy Ramsey, the family had been attending a Christmas party the night before her disappearance. Supposedly, JonBenet fell asleep in the car on the ride home and her parents carried her upstairs to her bed. That was the last time they saw their daughter. The next morning, around 5:00 a.m., Patsy walked downstairs into her kitchen and discovered a ransom note saying that they had kidnapped their daughter and were holding her captive until they received a ransom of $118,000. The note said that they would make a phone call to set up an exchange of the money for JonBenet, however the call never came and neither did JonBenet. Eight hours later, John found JonBenet’s, partially clothed, body in the basement of their Boulder, Colorado home.

John, Patsey, and JonBenet’s brother, Burke, were immediately considered suspects in the murder, but have since been cleared as suspects. While many felt that JonBenet’s parents were responsible for their daughter’s death, Woodward says she’s not so sure. “That case was full of misperceptions, and nobody knows what I thought then and after reviewing it for four years, nobody knows what I think now,”

While Woodward did have the cooperation of many when writing her book, there were several people that thought it was best to leave the cold-case alone. “I think at this point, not much that can be said about the case or reported about the case or written about the case has any effect anymore,” said Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner. “This is really a cold case. Too much time has passed; too much has already been made public.”

District Attorney Stan Garnett agreed with Beckner. “There has been far too much speculation about this case, in the press, in books and on the Internet about what the evidence means, or doesn’t mean,” he said. “My views of that evidence, however, will only be stated in open court if a case is filed. Otherwise, my staff and I have nothing to say about another book on the Ramsey case.”

Image via NDN