Detective who quit JonBenet case and proclaimed innocence of Ramseys dies in Colorado
By APThursday, August 12, 2010
Detective who defended Ramseys dies in Colorado
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A detective who proclaimed the innocence of JonBenet Ramsey’s parents after being hired to investigate the case has died. Lou Smit was 75.
He had cancer and died at Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.
Smit worked for Colorado Springs police and other agencies and was credited with helping lock up more than 200 killers during his career.
After retiring, he was hired to join the troubled investigation into the death of 6-year-old JonBenet. He later resigned, insisting that an intruder had killed her and that John and Patsy Ramsey were innocent.
Smit helped solve other high-profile slayings in Colorado, including the 1975 rape and murder of Karen Elisa Grammer, the sister of actor Kelsey Grammer.
