The Big Picture
John Ramsey, the father of JonBenét Ramsey, whose 1996 murder remains unsolved, has renewed calls for advanced DNA testing in a new Netflix docuseries, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? Speaking candidly about the tragedy and its aftermath, Ramsey criticized law enforcement and the media for what he calls mismanagement of the investigation.
Father's Grief and Reflection
John Ramsey revealed the deep pain he felt following the murder of his 6-year-old daughter, stating in the series, "I would have been happy to die... to relieve the pain."
Ramsey, now 79, revisited how the family became central figures in the investigation and faced accusations from police and the media.
He described feeling betrayed by authorities, saying, “We assumed the police would use discernment and realize we didn’t murder our child. They never did.”
The Murder and The Initial Investigation
On December 26, 1996, JonBenét's mother, Patsy, called police after finding a ransom note demanding $118,000—the same amount as John’s recent bonus.
Hours later, John discovered JonBenét’s body in the basement. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
Evidence at the scene included a garrote around her neck, duct tape over her mouth, and a suitcase near an open basement window, where some believe the killer entered and exited.
Family Under Suspicion
Initial investigations focused on the Ramseys. In 1998, a grand jury voted to indict John and Patsy for child abuse resulting in death, but the district attorney declined to pursue charges, citing insufficient evidence.
In 2008, then-District Attorney Mary Lacy publicly exonerated the Ramsey family, apologizing for prior accusations and confirming DNA evidence had cleared John, Patsy, and their son, Burke.
Push for Advanced DNA Testing
John Ramsey has been advocating for the use of cutting-edge genetic genealogy and other DNA technologies to re-examine evidence, including seven items from the crime scene, which he says were either untested or analyzed with outdated methods.
Key items include the ransom note and the suitcase found in the basement.
"We’re begging the police to engage,” John told PEOPLE. “There are state-of-the-art labs that believe they can move the case forward.”
What’s Next?
Despite decades of dead ends, Ramsey remains hopeful that advances in DNA technology could finally bring justice for JonBenét. He continues to push for cooperation from police, calling on them to embrace modern tools to solve one of the nation’s most infamous cold cases.
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