By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

A few observations on the news that prosecutors in Boulder, Colo., have finally and definitively cleared the parents and brother of Jon Benet Ramsey in the 1996 murder of the 6-year-old girl.

(1)Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy showed strong character in her public apology to the Ramsey family. It was her predecessor, Alex Hunter, who said the family was under "a cloud of suspicion." Prosecutors should keep their lips zipped until they can file charges.

(2)John Ramsey, the father, has displayed a great deal of dignity throughout this bizarre 12-year ordeal that has consumed his family.

(3)If life was fair, Patsy Ramsey, the mother, would accept her vindication. She died of cancer a few years ago at age 49.

(4)Emerging DNA technology is incredible. The Ramseys were cleared by "touch DNA" left by skin cells on the child's garments.

(5)Jon Benet's family came in for a lot of criticism because of her participation in beauty pageants. Why do we presume to judge people based on a sliver of information, not even close to their complete profile?

(6)Will the right person ever be brought to justice? DNA evidence is the only hope. The traces left on the victim may yet find a match in the crime computer. After all these years, it's still maddening to remember how badly the Boulder police botched the crime scene.