handwriting samples 
blood samples 
hair samples

 the many items of household possessions and trace evidence seized during the searches of  the Ramseys' homes, vehicles, etc.

 clothing worn by the Ramseys 12/25/96 
 other items police failed to seize during their property searches

 medical records 
credit card records 
financial records 
phone records 

 Interviews: basic questioning to determine facts 
 Interrogations: intensive questioning with the intent of determining consistency, veracity of answers 
 Testifying under oath: such testimony, unlike more informal questioning, is subject to penalties of perjury if false

It should be noted that Det. Linda Arndt reportedly handed over a copy of the ransom note to Lee Foreman of the Ramsey team the first week of January, so the Ramseys had access to the note prior to giving most of the handwriting samples. 

Information has not been publicly released as to whether John Ramsey gave consent for his home to be searched the day the body was found. In fact, police were away securing a search warrant when he found the body, supposedly under the direction of BPD Det. Linda Arndt.  

The Ramseys have cooperated fully with requests to search, according to information available. Ironically, it is the DA who has dragged his feet on approving search warrants requested by the BPD, according to Det. Thomas and other sources.  

Search warrants are generally sought even when consent is granted to ensure admissibility of evidence, so the fact that search warrants were obtained has nothing to do with whether or not the Ramseys consented.  

The Ramseys allowed Burke and JonBenét Ramseys' medical records to be released early in the investigation (JonBenét's medical records from pediatrician Dr. Beuf logged in 1/10/97 according to an affidavit accompanying a search warrant), and provided other documentary evidence to the DA in June 1998, 18 months after the murder. At that time the Ramseys  promised to turn over all documentary evidence requested.  

In June, 1998, Larry Pozner, who is an NBC legal analyst and trial attorney in Denver who does not officially represent the Ramseys, stated that the Ramseys had handed over Patsy's medical records and phone records. He also claimed the Ramseys had been cooperating with the DA's office for at least a year, both answering questions and turning over documents. Hal Haddon, John Ramsey's attorney concurred that they had been cooperating. DA Hunter denied that such a relationship existed and stated there had been no contact whatsoever between his office and the Ramseys. 

Since it is not known what documentary evidence has been turned over, it is not known what documents are still be sought by the grand jury. However, recent news reports mentioned Patsy's medical records, credit card records, and phone records. This is contrary to reports by Larry Pozner that the Ramseys had voluntarily submitted these documents. The latter two, at least, were reportedly requested early on by the BPD, who wanted to issue search warrants to compel their production, but the request was denied by the DA at that time.  

 1/8/97: Burke was interviewed for two hours by a child psychologist with the Dept. of Social Services, and the police were allowed to submit questions and view the interview through a one-way mirror. However, it should be pointed out that such an interview is required in any situation where a child dies in Colorado, and was to determine whether Burke would be allowed to remain with his parents. A video of the interview was given to the police. 

 4/30/96: John and Patsy first met with police and district attorney interrogators over four months after the murder. The terms of the interrogation, which consisted of six hours with Patsy and two with John, had been negotiated for months. The Ramseys finally agreed, but only after DA Hunter turned over copies of police reports which detailed the behavior of the Ramseys on December 26 as well as their prior statements. Experts in interrogation were aghast that Hunter would undermine the interrogation process in this way. Their attorneys were in attendance. 

 July 12, 1997: John and Patsy met with Assistant DA Pete Hofstrom (a fellow church parishioner who had hosted a handwriting sample session for Patsy in his home) and Special DA Investigator Lou Smit and several police for an informal interview which is said to have lasted less than an hour. They were interviewed together. 

 June 10-12, 1998: Burke was interviewed/interrogated in Atlanta for three two-hour sessions by a representative of the Boulder DA's office. His attorney was present and the questioning was videotaped. 

 June 24-26, 1998: 18 months after the murder, after the police handed the case over to the DA, John and Patsy met with DA representatives for three days of interrogation. Police handed the case over to the DA, John and Patsy met with DA representatives for three days of interrogation. 

The Ramseys have expressed distrust of the Boulder Police Department since early in the investigation. Once the BPD turned the case over to the DA's office in June, 1998, the Ramseys volunteered to be interrogated by the DA's office if the police were excluded from the process.  

The Ramseys had hoped their June, 1998 sessions with the DA's office might pre-empt a grand jury being convened in this case or at least preclude their having to testify. It is still possible that they would not be subpoenaed to testify and their previous questioning would be submitted instead, but Fox News recently reported that the Ramseys are expected to be subpoenaed. The testimony they have already given would be used to assess the credibility of any new testimony.  

It has been stated that Ramsey friends who have refused to speak to authorities will be subpoenaed, but they have not been identified, nor have Ramsey family members who might be questioned.  

Although Patsy gave the "green light" in August, 1998, to her friends and family to speak publicly about the case (only sister Pam Paugh emerged), apparently some Ramsey supporters have refused to speak privately to authorities.  

The Whites, ex-friends of the Ramseys, have cooperated with the police throughout but perhaps have not been willing to speak to the DA's office, as they have expressed fear that the DA will share anything they disclose with the Ramsey team. Also, according to Fleet White, his attempts to communicate with the DA's office have been one-sided (the DA has not appeared interested in Fleet's status or testimony as a prosecution witness). There may be other witnesses who fall into this category as well.  

 Failure to be skeptical about the kidnapping. 
 Failure to seal off the entire property as the crime scene, resulting in contamination of evidence. 
 Failure to contain or remove the many Ramsey friends invited by the Ramseys to the home that morning, further contaminating the scene. 
 Failure to adequately search the house that morning. 
 Allowing John Ramsey to find JonBenét's body, allowing more contamination. 
 Failure to follow basic police procedure in questioning the Ramseys. 
 Refusing help from the more experienced Denver Police Department and the FBI.

Although entirely within their rights, many feel the Ramseys severely hampered the progress of the investigation by throwing legal obstacles in its way, and that their behavior was very unusual for innocent parents of a murdered child. Although they claim to have fully cooperated with the investigation, it has not been in a timely manner and they have, at a minimum, failed to turn over all requested documents. In addition, some of their supporters have refused to talk to authorities. 
The BPD felt the private investigators hired by the Ramseys stepped on the toes of and possibly compromised their own investigation.

The DA was perceived by the BPD as failing to support it in the Ramsey investigation from the very beginning. Some in the DA's office were seen by the BPD as advocates for the Ramseys. Smit's joining the DA's team made matters worse, as he seemed to align himself even more strongly with the Ramseys. 
The Ramseys' disdain for the BPD and stated preference for the DA's office added to the rift between the two. 
Search warrants requests by the BPD were nixed by the DA; much of the evidence sought in those original search warrant is now being compelled by the DA through the grand jury's subpoena power. 
The BPD requested a grand jury investigation within the first few months, when the memories of reluctant witnesses was fresh and evidence was more likely to be available and not contaminated; the DA denied that request. 
The DA provided police reports and other confidential case information to the Ramsey team as a condition of negotiation with the Ramseys, much to the dismay of the BPD and experts in the field of interrogation; the BPD was thus hesitant to share future information with the DA's office, reinforcing the poor relationship and lack of communication between the two offices. 
BPD investigators felt the direction of the investigation was being determined by politics, not driven by the facts of the case.

 Both BPD Detective Steve Thomas' resignation letter and ex-Ramsey friends Fleet and Priscilla White's letters served to point out the seeming reluctance of the DA to support the Ramsey case investigation and the many political, business, and personal connections between the Ramsey team and the prosecution team. Certainly there is a strong appearance of a conflict of interest and that the Ramseys are being treated to a different justice system than most people would experience in the same situation. 
 Additionally, DA Hunter's track record is one of dragging his feet in murder cases, refusing to go to trial unless he has an ironclad case, and plea-bargaining with defendants, who have often been accepted what some feel are greatly reduced charges and sentences.

 By putting the Ramseys in a role of "unofficial" suspects, the hands of investigators have been tied in many respects. The DA has stated he doesn't want to charge the Ramseys until and unless he has enough evidence to be able to convict them at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. Secondly, if the Ramseys were charged, discovery procedures would force the DA to turn over all prosecution records to the Ramseys, and the Ramseys' right to a speedy trial would demand the case go to trial before Hunter has all the evidence he wants. Because the Ramseys have not been charged, Hunter's office and the BPD have had to walk on legal eggshells, making it more difficult to compel evidence. This Catch 22 has contributed to the need for a grand jury to compel evidence which is still outstanding.

Many elements in this case have combined to make it one of the most high profile murder cases in history. The parent's wealth, Patsy's background as a former beauty queen, JonBenét's pageant videos, the Ramseys' appearance on CNN within a week of the murder, and the Ramseys' lawyering up, hiring of a public relations firm and perceived lack of cooperation with authorities catapulted the case to the front pages and have kept it there.  
 Leaks and rumors without foundation have led to complaints that the case is being tried in the media. 
Both sides have used the media for their own ends, perhaps cancelling each other out. The Ramseys have participated in CNN interview and controlled press conference, as well as a documentary which aired on the A&E network on the eve of their anticipated grand jury testimony. Ironically, the documentary attacks the use of the media to manipulate the public. Highly irregular public letters from witnesses, disgruntled investigators on both sides, and John Ramsey himself may have endangered the future of the case.