Entertainment

Burke Wasn't JonBenét Ramsey's Only Brother

by Caroline Gerdes

In the nearly 20 years following JonBenét Ramsey’s murder case, the three remaining members of her family were thrust into the spotlight of the national media circus, especially her then 9-year-old brother Burke. But, he is not actually the only brother of JonBenét Ramsey who had other siblings from her father's first marriage — though Burke is the most well-known one. Now 29, he recently sat down with Dr. Phil in a three-part interview series for his first interview since the 1996 still-unsolved murder of his younger sister. But what about JonBenét’s half siblings? Over the last 20 years, they too have been part of the public eye, though to a much lesser degree.

CNN lists JonBenét’s siblings as: brother Burke Ramsey (born 1987), half-brother John Andrew Ramsey (born 1976), half-sister Melinda Ramsey Long (born 1971), and half-sister Elizabeth Ramsey who died in a car-accident at age 22 in 1992, four years before JonBenét’s murder. Elizabeth Ramsey’s cause of death and autopsy were again scrutinized during JonBenét's murder investigation, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Elizabeth, Melinda, and John Andrew were John Ramsey’s three children from his first marriage to Lucinda Lou Pasch, according to People. The magazine reported that the couple married in 1966 and divorced in 1978 — two years before John married Patsy in 1980.

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John Ramsey’s love life has since been tabloid fodder, following the death of his wife Patsy. John made headlines when he was reported as dating the mother of Natalee Holloway (the American teenager who disappeared in Aruba). A Fox News article from 2007 reported that the couple met at a fundraiser and had been spotted together in Alabama. And, in 2011, John married for a third time, as reported by The Daily Mail. He is still with his third wife, Jan Rousseaux.

The 20th anniversary of JonBenét's death has people wondering about what her family is up to now. But, what is not well-known is that her immediate family included much more than just her parents and Burke. Although, not much is known about her half-siblings, and I'm sure they'd prefer to remain out of the spotlight until the renewed media interest in their father and half-sister eventually goes away.