The tragic death of the former child star continues to captivate public attention decades after her shocking murder, especially as Netflix revisits the unsolved case. Despite numerous individuals, including her own family members, being linked to the crime, no arrests have been made to this day.
The new series, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” directed by Joe, takes a fresh look at JonBenét’s nearly three-decade-old case.
Released on November 25, 2024, the three-part documentary features interviews with key figures, including her father, John, and uncovers law enforcement and media missteps that fueled conspiracy theories.
Joe explained, “Through unprecedented access and a comprehensive multi-year investigation, we reveal the deep flaws in how the case was originally handled, resulting in a sea of conspiracy theories that nearly destroyed the Ramsey family for a second time.”
The series also provides intimate reflections from JonBenét’s family, offering a glimpse into their lives before and after the tragedy. In the trailer, her older half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, recalls, “We were just a regular family” the day before JonBenét’s death.
John Andrew Ramsey during an interview | Source: YouTube/Netflix
Meanwhile his father, John, reflecting on the devastating aftermath, described it as “unbelievable,” capturing the profound impact the tragedy had on their once-ordinary lives.
The said tragedy unfolded on Christmas Day in 1996 when six-year-old JonBenét was killed in her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home. The next day, in the wee hours of the morning, her mother, Patricia “Patsy” Ramsey, called the police to report JonBenét missing.
Officers arrived but only sealed JonBenét’s room, failing to locate her during an initial search. Hours later, John discovered her body in the basement with a garrote (a type of handheld ligature) tied around her neck.
In “Cold Case,” John recalled finding a broken window and an out-of-place suitcase in the basement, which he believes the intruder used to exit the house
He discovered JonBenét’s body in the basement, where she was tied up with duct tape over her mouth. The businessman, who said he was “criticized for disturbing the crime scene,” removed the tape and carried his daughter upstairs, where officers confirmed she was dead.
An autopsy confirmed that the beauty queen’s cause of death was strangulation. In addition, the report revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and suffered a blow to the skull.
No one has been charged in JonBenét’s death, but her parents faced years of suspicion from police and intense media scrutiny, partly due to her visibility as a child beauty pageant contestant.
The ransom note initially pointed to an intruder as JonBenét’s killer, though some investigators doubted its legitimacy. Over the years, suspicion fell on JonBenét’s family, including her mother, Patsy, her brother, Burke, and her father, John.
Patsy faced accusations, including claims in a book by former detective Steve Thomas, that she killed JonBenét over bedwetting. Similarly, on “Good Morning America” in 1999, Detective Linda Arndt claimed she had a “nonverbal exchange” with John that led her to believe he was the killer — a claim he adamantly denied, including allegations of sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Burke, who was nine years old at the time of his sister’s death, became a subject of intense scrutiny after a CBS special suggested he may have accidentally caused her fatal injuries.
According to the docuseries, JonBenét allegedly took a piece of her brother’s pineapple on Christmas night, sparking a moment of anger. The program theorized that, in his frustration, Burke might have struck her on the head with a flashlight, resulting in her tragic death.
John Ramsey embraces Burke Ramsey at the grave of JonBenet Ramsey on June 29, 2006, in Marietta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the ongoing speculation, Burke has consistently denied involvement in JonBenét’s death. On the 20th anniversary of her passing, he appeared on “Dr. Phil” and was directly asked if he had struck his sister with a flashlight or baseball bat.
Burke firmly responded, “Absolutely, not.” When questioned whether he would have heard something if someone in the house had been responsible, he replied, “Probably, yeah.”
Facing persistent accusations, Burke pursued legal action to clear his name. In October 2016, he sued forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz for $150 million in damages.
Shortly after, he filed a $750 million lawsuit against CBS and others involved in “The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey” for allegedly damaging his reputation by falsely accusing him of killing his sister. NPR reported in 2019 that the defamation case was settled.
A newspaper headline about the murder pictured on January 7, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado. | Source: Getty Images
The family was officially cleared of any involvement in 2008. By that time, Patsy had passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006 and was laid to rest beside JonBenét.
Over the years, numerous suspects have been linked to JonBenét’s case, but none were charged. Shortly after Patsy’s passing, schoolteacher John Mark Karr, then 41, was arrested after claiming, “I was with JonBenét when she died. Her death was an accident.” However, Karr was later cleared.
John has since suggested several possible suspects, including Bill McReynolds, a man known to the family as “Santa Claus,” who had visited their home.
John recalled Bill saying, “He and JonBenét had a kind of special little bond.” Adding to suspicions, Bill’s daughter had been kidnapped a decade earlier, and his wife had written a play about a murdered little girl. However, DNA tests ruled out Bill and his wife.
John also pointed to the family’s housekeeper, Linda Hoffman Pugh, who had borrowed $2,000 from Patsy before Christmas. Police searched Linda’s home and found duct tape and cord similar to what was used in the crime, but her alibi held up. Neither her DNA nor handwriting matched evidence from the scene.
Other suspects included a convicted sex offender, Gary Olivia who carried JonBenét’s photo in his wallet, and a Boulder journalist who had previously written about John’s company, but none were ever charged.
One case that stands out to John is a masked intruder who raped a 12-year-old girl in Boulder, Colorado, nine months after JonBenét’s murder. The man fled when the girl’s mother intervened. “To me, it could easily have been the same person,” John said, but added, “The police blew it off as, ‘No, it’s not the same.'”
Despite the numerous suspects and theories over the years, John, 80, remains hopeful that the truth about JonBenét’s murder can still emerge. In a recent interview, he expressed his belief that the key to solving the case may already be in the hands of law enforcement.
He strongly urged authorities to permit external experts to assist, convinced this collaboration could finally bring resolution to the decades-old mystery. John has voiced frustration with Boulder police for refusing to allow advanced DNA testing on key evidence, including material found on the garrote used to strangle JonBenét.
In another interview, he urged, “We’re begging the police to engage,” noting that modern labs are ready to assist. Criticizing the department’s inaction, he added, “Nobody can come in and help unless the chief of police asks. […] Just do your job. Test the DNA,” he pleaded.
Since Patsy’s passing, JonBenét’s family has worked to move forward while pursuing justice. John got married again in 2011 with wedding fashion designer Jan Rousseaux in Michigan. He reflected on JonBenét, saying, “I have no doubt she will be smiling.” By 2016, John and Jan were living between Michigan and Las Vegas.
Moreover, John once described Burke as leading a quiet life, working as a software engineer, and taking pride in his independence. Meanwhile, JonBenét’s half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, has been vocal about the case, criticizing the Boulder Police Department but remaining hopeful that DNA advancements will lead to answers.
John and Patsy Ramsey pictured leaving their home on February 20, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
JonBenét Ramsey’s tragic death continues to captivate the public as her family fights for justice nearly 30 years later. With advances in DNA technology offering new hope, her loved ones remain determined to uncover the truth and bring closure to this enduring mystery.