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Burke Ramsey: 'I Remember Being Downstairs After Everyone Was In Bed'

BOULDER, Colo (CBS4) - The brother of JonBenet Ramsey is speaking for the first time since her murder nearly 20 years ago.

Burke Ramsey was just 9 years old when his sister was found dead. His parents went to great lengths to protect his privacy and keep him out of the media spotlight. Now, at the age of 29, he's speaking exclusively on the Dr. Phil Show.

"Did you hit your sister over the head with a baseball bat of a flashlight?" Dr. Phil McGraw asked.

"Absolutely not," Burke Ramsey replied.

burke
(Credit: Dr. Phil Show)

Burke Ramsey addressed much of the speculation and theories surrounding the death of JonBenet.

"One of the reasons (a lead investigator) believes that you are the culprit here is that on the day of your sister's murder, you never asked about her welfare," Dr. Phil said.

"Well, it was pretty much, 'Hey, we can't find your sister. What do you think happened?' And I was like, 'Well, she's probably just hiding somewhere. Have you guys looked around the house?' The next time I talked to somebody, she's dead," Burke Ramsey explained.

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(Credit Dr. Phil Show)

Burke Ramsey watched interrogation tapes of police and a child psychologist interviewing him nearly 20 years ago. At one point he was asked to draw a picture of the family in which he drew his mom, dad and himself.

"Did you consciously not draw JonBenet?" Dr. Phil asked.

"I don't really remember what was going through my head. But she was gone, so I didn't draw her," Burke Ramsey replied.

burke-drawing
(Credit Dr. Phil Show)

Dr. Phil walked him through the funeral.

"I remember the viewing. The casket was small. Her eyes were closed. I think one of her eyes was a little bit droopy or something, but I thought that was weird," Burke Ramsey recalled.

JonBenet Ramsey
People light candles at the murder site of JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder in December 1997. (credit: Karl Gehring/Liaison)

He also addressed conjecture that his voice is in the background of the 911 call.

"Where were you when that phone call was made?" Dr. Phil asked.

"In my bed," Burke answered.

Ramsey maintains that he stayed in his bedroom while his mother and police frantically searched the house for JonBenet. He also admitted to being out of bed late the night his sister died.

"Yeah, I had some toy that I wanted to put together. I remember being downstairs after everyone was in bed … wanting to get this thing out," Burke Ramsey said.

"Did you use the flashlight so you wouldn't be seen?" Dr. Phil followed up.

"I don't remember. I just remember being downstairs with this toy," Burke replied.

dr-phil-burke
(Credit Dr. Phil Show)

Dr. Phil wraps up this revealing interview with Burke Ramsey with more direct questions about the details of one of the nation's biggest mysteries.

Dr. Phil's exclusive interview with Burke Ramsey continues Monday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. on CBS4.

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