In a letter to JonBenet's father, district attorney Mary Lacy writes that a new "touch DNA" test done on skin cells left behind on JonBenet's long underwear points to a third party and not a family member.

"We do not consider your immediate family, including you, your wife, Patsy, and your son, Burke, to be under any suspicion in the commission of this crime," Lacy wrote.

"I wish we could have done so before Mrs. Ramsey died," the letter says. "To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry. No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion."

Patsy Ramsey died two years ago of ovarian cancer.

John Ramsey remains hopeful that the killer will now be found thanks to the new DNA evidence: "I think the people that are in charge of the investigation are focused on that, and that gives me a lot of comfort. Certainly we are grateful that they acknowledged that we, based on that, certainly could not have been involved."

Last update: 01-29-2009 20:44