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What Is Brian Scott Doing Now? The Ramsey Family Gardener Is Speaking Up

by Kenza Moller

When it came to the murder of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey 20 years ago, plenty of people involved in the young girl's life were questioned. Among them was the Ramsey family landscaper and gardener, Brian Scott, who recently spoke out about JonBenét in CBS' new docu-series, The Case Of: JonBénet Ramsey. After hearing his comments, some people might be wondering: what is Brian Scott doing now, and what role did he play in the JonBénet investigation?

First, let's rewind to the JonBenét case and Scott's initial involvement in the investigation. This year's CBS documentary wasn't Scott's first time speaking about the Ramsays or the case in public. He was initially interviewed by author Lawrence Schiller in 1999 for the book Perfect Murder, Perfect Town. In an excerpt from the book published by Newsweek, Scott described JonBenét's boundless curiosity and her seemingly disinterested attitude in the pageants she routinely took part in.

"I remember how intelligent JonBenét was," Scott said, explaining to Schiller that he'd been a gardener at the Ramseys' home during the last two years of JonBenét's life. "That's why I never talked to her as if she were just a little kid."

Scott relayed a story in which he and JonBenét played with raked leaves. "That was probably the last time I spoke to JonBenét," Scott told Schiller. "Six weeks later I took the morning paper from my front steps and saw it. I don't even remember now what the headlines said."

One of two things that stood out in Scott's words to Schiller was his description of Burke Ramsey, JonBenét's older brother, who was often been painted as a possible suspect by the public. "He almost never said a word to me," Scott told Schiller. "Just played by himself in the backyard, completely occupied with his own projects. ... He always seemed to play alone."

Although Scott never came out and pointed a finger at Burke, his comments seemed to paint him in a less than favorable light. Ramsey's attorney, L. Lin Wood, however, has cautioned that any attempt to connect Burke to the death of his sister is false and defamatory. Recently, Wood told Romper in a statement:

In May of 1999, the Boulder District Attorney and the Boulder Police Department publicly confirmed that Burke Ramsey was not a suspect or even a possible suspect. Any statement conveying that this young man was involved in the brutal murder of his sister - his life's best friend - is unquestionable false and defamatory.

Scott also brought up John Bennett Ramsey, JonBenét's father, when speaking to Schiller, relaying a story in which JonBenét cried over her father's absence. According to Scott, JonBenét said Jon would disappear for long periods of time, that she didn't know where he went, and that she missed him. Scott told Schiller:

I didn't know what to say — didn't know enough about the situation, didn't want to intrude or play counselor. It wasn't my place. I changed the subject and started to rake up the leaves.

Of any accusations that involve John or Patsy (JonBenét's mother), Wood told Romper, "In terms of the accusations against John and Patsy Ramsey, the Boulder District Attorney, Mary Lacy, publicly exonerated them in 2008 based on irrefutable DNA evidence. She apologized to the family and assured them that in the future, they would be correctly treated as victims. The days of Ramsey accusations should have ended then and there."

Hopefully, the full series on CBS will help clear up any remaining questions for the Ramsey family and those that cared about JonBenét, and give others, like Scott, the chance to share memories of the children that aren't so dark.