Back to Intruder Theories Linda Hoffman-Pugh (Ramsey Housekeeper) The Linda Hoffman-Pugh Theory Incriminating Evidence Against Linda Hoffman-Pugh Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Linda Hoffman-Pugh Mervin Pugh (Ramsey Handyman) The Mervin Pugh Theory Incriminating Evidence Against Mervin Pugh Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Mervin Pugh Brian Scott (Ramsey Landscaper and Gardner) The Brian Scott Theory Nathan Inouye (Stine Baby-sitter) The Nathan Inouye Theory Incriminating Evidence Against Nathan Inouye Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Nathan Inouye Rod Westmoreland (John Ramsey's Financial Advisor) Other Disgruntled Ramsey Workers

 

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Linda Hoffman-Pugh (Ramsey Housekeeper)

The Linda Hoffman-Pugh Theory

• Linda Hoffman-Pugh was named as a possible suspect by the Ramseys photo. Her husband, Mervin Pugh, was the Ramsey's handyman.
• Motive: Money; had asked Patsy Ramsey for a loan of several thousand dollars.
• Means: Had a key, knew the house, knew JBR so would have been able to lead her downstairs.
• Opportunity: Likely knew their schedule on Christmas night as well as their travel plans for December 26.

 

Incriminating Evidence Against Linda Hoffman-Pugh

• Internet poster Deb (post 1207) has provided the following evidence that points towards Linda:

1. Suspicious Comment. Stated "aren't you afraid she might get kidnapped?"
2. Apparent Lie About Wine Cellar. Stated that she didn't know the cellar was there, even though they removed the trees from there.
3. Had access to the paper used for RN, so could have written it at any time.
4. Knew the backstairs were primarily used, knew the dog was gone
5. If caught in the house, could have had an excuse - wanted to drop off a gift before they left in the morning, left something behind, looking for the check, etc.
6. Told mixed stories
7. No Alibi. Home asleep in bed alone, husband slept on couch alone.
8. Per Pam, she would say weird things (i think)
9. Would have been able to get JonB downstairs because JonB trusted her and/or her husband and could have been the person who told JonB about Santa coming after Christmas.
10. Would have felt comfortable offering JonB pineapple

• Deb (post #1828) has offered additional reasons for suspecting LHP:

1. She was suppose to work that day, but backed out.
2. Lied about why the money was needed.
3. She lied about Mrs Ramsey drawing pictures on JonnieB's hand.
4. Came up with the Barbie nightgown being stuck to the blanket which she said must have been in the dryer - hmmm,what made her think that?
5. Had a key - had access to everything
6. Knew the family very well, all their little sayings, like "southern common sense", was around the grandfather who used "fat cats"
7. Knew the dog was gone
8. Motive: Needed money
9. Knew they would be using the back staircase and which was commonly used to leave Patsy's purses to be cleaned for her.
10. She and her husband only had each other as alibis - and they did not sleep in the same room.
11. Her husband is or was an alcholic by his appearance
12. Her daughter might fit the underwear??
13. She would know how soundly the Ramsey's slept and that they could not hear much on the 3rd floor.
14. She would feel safe if caught in the house, could say she was looking for the check, or left something there that she needed.
15. JonnieB would be feel safe going downstairs with her.
16. She stated "aren't you afraid she might be kidnapped?"
17. She knew where she hid the red knife.
18. Lied about not knowing about cellar room - they removed the trees from there.
19. $118,000 would seem like a lot of money to them, which she would have seen on his paycheck stub.
20. Changed her story about Patsy being warm & kind, to Patsy having a split personality - sweet, then angry...
21. Ransom note was first made out to Mr & Mrs R. She liked Patsy, she probably thought John was aloof.
22. She changed her stories so much as if to cover for someone.
23. She came up with the idea of Subic Bay Training Center from a picture that hang in the Ramsey's house, when actually it just said Subic Bay.
24. She knew they were leaving town, and if they needed more money, now was the time to do it.

• TGRB Questions. Internet poster TGRB has posted a series of questions WebbSleuths that illuminates why some suspect Linda Hoffman-Pugh.

 

Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Linda Hoffman-Pugh

• DNA Not a Match. The DNA found at the crime scene reportedly is of a male, so it cannot match Linda Hoffman-Pugh's. Internet poster Jayelles has deduced from documents shown in the Tracey documentary that Mervin Pugh also has been cleared on DNA.

 

• Not a Suspect by Police or Ramseys. "The Eleventh Circuit, however, affirmed the district court's decision that the defendants' [John and Patsy Ramsey] book, when considered as a whole, does not defame Ms. Hoffman-Pugh as a matter of law. Id. The court concluded that the book, when fairly read, did not convey that Ms. Hoffman-Pugh was a suspect in the murder." (Carnes 2003:80).

1. "Key to the Eleventh Circuit's analysis is the defendants' failure to ever state that Ms. Hoffman-Pugh, defendants' housekeeper, was considered to be a murder suspect by them or by the police (Carnes 2003:80).

 

• Ramseys Vouch for Character. "Instead, the Book [John and Patsy Ramsey's] states that, before they knew their daughter's fate, at a time when they believed her to have been kidnapped and were running through their minds people who knew JonBenet, the defendants never believed that Ms. Hoffman-Pugh would hurt their daughter even if she had kidnapped her because she was a "good, sweet person." Id. at 1226 (Carnes 2003:80-81).

 

• Does Not Fit Profile. "In addition, the Eleventh Circuit notes that Ms. Hoffman-Pugh does not fit defendants' profile of the culprit detailed later in the Book, which describes a male, age 25 to 35, who is either a former convict or has been around hardened criminals, and who had access to a stun gun. Id. Finally, the court concluded that when, read in its entirety, the Book indicates that Ms. Hoffman-Pugh is not a suspect. Id. at 1227." (Carnes 2003:80-81).

 

• Chance to Lie Averted. If Linda or Mervin were guilty, one would expect them to have provided an alibi for one another. Instead they pointedly indicated that they had slept in different rooms.

 

Mervin Pugh (Ramsey Handyman)

The Mervin Pugh Theory

• Who Is Mervin Pugh? Linda Hoffman-Pugh's husband Mervin worked sometimes as a handyman for the Ramseys. So while he was not at the house as frequently as his wife, he certainly had access and keys to it and could have become familiar with the basement area in particular (he had been expected to fix the broken window in the storage room next to the train room, but it's not clear whether he was ever asked or completed the work.

 

Incriminating Evidence Against Mervin Pugh

• TGRB Questions. Internet poster TGRB has posted a series of questions WebbSleuths that illuminates why some suspect Linda Hoffman-Pugh.

 

Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Mervin Pugh

 

Brian Scott (Ramsey Landscaper and Gardner)

The Brian Scott Theory

• Basic information about this theory has been posted at

acandyrose.com.

 

Nathan Inouye (Stine Baby-sitter)

The Nathan Inouye Theory

• Who Is Nathan Inouye? In her 2000 Atlanta interviews (316:9-25; 317:1-11), Patsy indicated that Nathan was an American of Japanese descent who was a college junior or senior living with the Stines and would, on occasion look after Burke and JonBenet? He also would, on occasion, take them to school in the morning.

 

Incriminating Evidence Against Nathan Inouye

• BlueCrab Theory. Internet poster Bluecrab claims Nathan Inouye should be considered a suspect.

 

Exculpatory Evidence Favoring Nathan Inouye

• Alibi. However, Nathan reported in a private email being home with his family in California during Christmas 1996 and Bluecrab has offered no evidence to the contrary despite being pressed repeatedly for this information over many years.

 

• Already Investigated by DA? Bruce Levin point-blank asked Patsy Ramsey in the 2000 Atlanta interviews(316:9-25; 317:1-11) for contact info on Nathan Inouye and was assured by Lin Wood this would be forthcoming.

 

Rod Westmoreland (John Ramsey's Financial Advisor)

 

Other Disgruntled Ramsey Workers

• There are some aspects of the RN that are very "personal" and appear to be directed at John, exhibiting possible resentment over his wealth. Some have posited that other workers who felt unfairly treated by the Ramseys may have had the means (a house key) and motive to lash out in revenge.
• Jay Pettipeace. One example is Jay Pettipeace a Ramsey housepainter. Internet poster tipper has provided some reasons Pettipeace may have been upset with Ramseys.
• Dennis Kelly. Kelly was a painter who painted the Ramsey basement in 1995 or 1996. The Ramseys were sent a letter stating this individual had a grudge towards the Ramseys. More details are at acandyrose.com.