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Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? revisits the murder of JonBenét and focuses on the involvement of law enforcement figures, including Alex Hunter. The Netflix documentary by Joe Berlinger debuted on November 25, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenét Ramsey's murder on December 25, 1996.
Alex Hunter was the District Attorney of Boulder, Colorado, when the investigation into JonBenét's murder took place. Hunter served as DA from 1972 to 2000. According to the Denver Post, he studied at the University of Colorado and then the University of Colorado School of Law.
His decisions and handling of the case have been subjects of debate. While some criticized his approach, others defended his actions.
Alex Hunter's role in the JonBenét Ramsey Case
Alex Hunter, the former Boulder County District Attorney, faced media, public, and law enforcement pressure while handling as complex a case as the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey.
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Hunter's early reluctance to accuse the Ramsey family defined his tenure. He thought an intruder did it. He disagreed with the Boulder Police Department, which initially suspected the Ramsey family.
His case management was criticized. At the time, critics alleged that Alex Hunter may have been too sympathetic to the Ramsey family, delaying important decisions. However, supporters say Hunter's broader perspective was needed for a fair investigation. His actions ultimately shaped public perception of his career and the investigation.
As per E!Online, in an interview in 2004, the former Boulder County District Attorney spoke about experiencing a division between his office and Boulder PD in the course of the investigation into JonBenét's murder.
"Some Boulder Police people thought they knew who did it. And some of my people were convinced that it was an intruder that did it," Hunter said.
Alex Hunter's connection to the Ramsey family
Alex Hunter’s connection to the Ramsey family is one of the most debated aspects of the case. Many critics accused him of being too protective of John and Patsy Ramsey, particularly in the early days of the investigation.
Despite evidence that allegedly pointed to the Ramseys' involvement being a point of focus in media and public discussions, Hunter continued to explore other avenues, including the possibility of an intruder.
John and Patsy Ramsey were indicted by a grand jury in 1999 for their daughter's death. Hunter dropped the charges and said that he did not have enough evidence for proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite the grand jury's vote, his decision not to charge the Ramseys raised questions about his objectivity and relationship with the family.
The investigation and public scrutiny
There was a lot of tension between Alex Hunter and the local police during the investigation into JonBenét Ramsey's death. While Boulder Police were focusing on the Ramsey family, Hunter was determined to look into the possibility of an intruder. He even brought in his own investigators to back up this theory, which some thought hurt the police's work.
Hunter's critics believe that the case didn't move forward because he kept focusing on the intruder theory. The investigation was made harder by the fact that there was tension between the DA's office and the police department.
Meanwhile, those in support of the former DA reportedly opined that he had to take this stance in order to keep an open mind because the case was so complicated.
Alex Hunter's retirement
Hunter retired in 2001 after almost 30 years as the District Attorney for Boulder County. He didn't want to get reelected again, putting an end to his long career in public office.
Hunter discussed the relationship between the DA's office and the Boulder Police Department during the Ramsey investigation in public in 2004.
Burke Ramsey sued CBS for $750 million in 2016, subpoenaing Hunter. A documentary questioned the Ramsey family's murder involvement, prompting the lawsuit. Hunter was living between Colorado and Hawaii, and his lawyer argued that the lawsuit would disrupt his life and that the former DA did not wish to participate in the legal proceedings due to his age.
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? is available to stream on Netflix.
