While Ramsey family dines at friend Fleet White's house in late afternoon and early evening, suspect enters Ramsey house through basement window. Suspect, intending to kidnap JonBenet, writes ransom note on one of many note pads lying around the house. Ramseys return home and go to sleep. Suspect creeps up rear spiral stairs, enters JonBenet's bedroom. Suspect binds girl's wrists, carries her to basement, two floors below.
Kidnap plot turns into sexual assault.
JonBenet possibly awakens, recognizes attacker and screams. Suspect, deciding he must kill girl to protect himself, ties garrote around her neck, strangling her. Stick used to twist garrote is broken off one of Patsy Ramsey's paintbrushes. Suspect uses object to strike JonBenet in head to make sure she is dead. Killer leaves house through basement window, possibly using Samsonite suitcase as a step up to the window, which is 5 feet off the floor.