[Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?
The brutal murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey in her Colorado home 28 years ago remains one of the most baffling and disturbing crimes in American history. Despite a botched initial investigation, new technology and a Netflix documentary series are reexamining the case, with the hope of finally solving the crime.
JonBenét was a local celebrity, having won numerous beauty pageants and titles. Her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, were a prominent family in Boulder, Colorado. On December 25, 1996, the family returned home from Christmas dinner, and Patsy tucked JonBenét into bed. The next day, JonBenét’s lifeless body was found in the family’s basement with a cord around her neck.
The investigation was marred by mistakes, including the failure to secure the crime scene and the loss of potential evidence. The police focused too much on JonBenét’s parents, who were eventually cleared of suspicion in 2008 after DNA evidence excluded them as suspects.
Despite the lack of progress, the Boulder Police Department has continued to investigate the case, and in 2023, they announced a new strategy to use advanced technology, including genetic genealogy, to solve the crime. The police have also refuted claims that they are not using every investigative tool possible.
In the decades since JonBenét’s death, detectives have probed 21,000 tips, traveled to more than a dozen states, and spoken with over 1,000 people in connection with her killing. Despite numerous dead ends, authorities have not given up on finding JonBenét’s killer. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said that if critical evidence or information emerges, JonBenét’s killer could be brought to justice.
The case has also seen one high-profile arrest, that of teacher John Mark Karr, who was arrested in Thailand in 2006. However, DNA evidence proved he had nothing to do with JonBenét’s death, and he was released.
JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, has lived under a cloud of suspicion despite being formally cleared. He believes that advanced technology, including genetic genealogy, can solve the crime. “Certain cold cases in recent years have been solved because of that,” he said.
The investigation continues, with the police using new techniques and technology to try to solve the case. For JonBenét’s family, the agony of her death has not subsided, and they remain hopeful that justice will be served.
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