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The JonBenét case, involving the gruesome murder of a 6-year-old girl in December 1996, is one of the most intriguing cold cases of the last few decades. It has gained renewed interest with the release of Netflix's latest documentary, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey.
The Boulder Police Force, who investigated the case, has reportedly not tested the trace DNA collected from JonBenét's clothes with the latest DNA testing methods like genetic genealogy. In the last few years, several cold cases have been solved with such methods and it could prove to be a breakthrough in identifying the perpetrator.
In November 2024, the police refuted claims that they were not pursuing viable evidence and leads in the JonBenét case. Nevertheless, people have expressed their frustration over the police's seeming inaction, with one Reddit user saying:
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"I can’t believe they haven’t done genetic genealogy with the mystery dna."
What is the JonBenét case all about?
JonBenét Ramsey lived with her father John Bennett Ramsey, mother Patsy Ramsey, and older brother Burke Ramsey in an upscale home in Boulder. She had competed in several beauty pageants by the time of her death, aged 6.
On Christmas night in 1996, JonBenét went to sleep after returning from a Christmas party at a family friend’s house. The next morning, Patsy found a lengthy ransom note demanding $118,000 in exchange for her daughter. The peculiar ransom amount was later found to be nearly the same amount as John's Christmas bonus that year.
Patsy immediately called 911, and investigators began searching their home for clues regarding JonBenét's disappearance. There were no signs of forced entry, which made John and Patsy seem like the prime suspects in their daughter's kidnapping.
However, the JonBenét case took a turn for the worse when John found his daughter's dead body in their basement. He recalled the horrific sight while speaking to CNN in December 2016:
"JonBenét was there. I saw her immediately. And it was a rush of relief. I thought, ‘God, I found my child.’ And then I pretty quickly realized that she may not be alive."
JonBenét was found with a chord tied around her neck and wrists. Her mouth was covered with duct tape. The report further said that s*xual assault could not be ruled out with certainty. Her autopsy report revealed that the young child had died from asphyxiation and a skull fracture; JonBenét reportedly had an 8.5-inch fracture on her skull.
Furthermore, Patsy, a pageant star herself, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 1993. She was in remission during the JonBenét case and died of cancer on June 24, 2006, aged 49. Patsy is buried next to her daughter at the St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Georgia.
Also Read: What happened to Elizabeth Ramsey? Details about JonBenét Ramsey's sister explored
The JonBenét case was marred by a botched investigation
From the start of the investigation, local authorities had made numerous mistakes that hampered the chances of solving the murder case effectively. For starters, they failed to collect potential evidence and secure the house, which was a crime scene. Family and friends walked in and out of the house freely, contaminating crucial evidence in the process.
The Boulder Police Department has been criticized for their handling of the case. Nearly 30 years later, the killer is still not identified.
In 2023, The Boulder Police Department revealed that they had convened a panel of outside experts, the Colorado Cold Case Review Team, to re-examine the JonBenét case. It also looked to determine if modern technologies or forensic testing might help produce new leads.
On November 27, 2024, the Boulder Police Chief, Steve Redfearn, released a statement on X, reaffirming his commitment to finding JonBenét's killer.
"The killing of JonBenét was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has never left our hearts. We are committed to following up on every lead and we are continuing to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved."
It continued:
"The assertion that there is viable evidence and leads we are not pursuing — to include DNA testing — is completely false."
Everything to know about Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is a true crime documentary series directed by Joe Berlinger and released on November 25, 2024, on Netflix. The three-part docuseries revisits the infamous JonBenét case and offers new insight with the never-before-seen audio diaries maintained by the Colorado Springs detective, Lou Smit.
It also features interviews with several individuals connected to the case, including the victim's 80-year-old father, John Bennett Ramsey. Moreover, the documentary highlights the mistakes made by police and suggests modern technology like DNA testing might help in finding the killer's identity.
The docuseries debuted at #1 on Netflix less than 24 hours after its release. Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is executive produced by Joe Berlinger, Jen Isaacson, Jon Kamen, and Craig D’Entrone.
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