JonBenét Ramsey’s murder has lived rent-free in my mind since I was a teenager. Likely because the 6-year-old beauty queen’s killer is still at large.
Content Warning!
28 years later, no one has been charged for the brutal sexual assault and killing of JonBenét. Netflix documentarians re-explored the murder of JonBenét in a three-part series premiering on November 25th.
What to expect:
Netflix revealed “Director Joe Berlinger is reexamining the infamous cold case in a compelling three-part docuseries, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?“
“The series scrutinizes the missteps of law enforcement and the media.” It highlights “the relatively straightforward measures that could potentially solve this haunting mystery.”
The series poses a critical question as it unfolds. “Will Colorado authorities finally bring JonBenét Ramsey’s killer to justice?” Will they “offer her family the peace they’ve long sought?”
In case you missed the story of JonBenét’s untimely death:
“JonBenét Patricia Ramsey (August 6, 1990 – December 25 or 26, 1996) was an American child beauty queen.” She was killed in her family’s home at 755 15th Street in Boulder, Colorado. The assault and murder happened the night of December 25th or in the early morning of December 26th, 1996.
“Her body was found in the house’s basement about seven hours after she had been reported missing. She had sustained a broken skull and a garrote was tied around her neck.”
“The autopsy report stated that JonBenét’s official cause of death was “asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma. Her death was ruled a homicide.”
Suspects:
The Boulder police initially suspected that a long handwritten ransom note that was reportedly found in the home was written by JonBenét’s mom, Patsy. It appeared “The note and appearance of JonBenét’s body had been staged by Patsy and her husband, John, in order to cover up the death.”
“In 1999, the police and district attorney (DA) both said that JonBenét’s brother Burke, who was nine years old at the time of her death, was not a suspect. JonBenét’s parents gave several televised interviews, but resisted police questioning except on their own terms.”
In 2013, unsealed court documents were revealed. “A 1999 grand jury had recommended filing charges against the Ramseys for permitting the child to be in a threatening situation. John and Patsy were also accused of hindering the prosecution of an unidentified person who had ‘committed … the crime of murder in the first degree and child abuse resulting in death.’ However, the DA determined that there was insufficient evidence to pursue a successful indictment.”
“In 2002, the DA’s successor took over investigation of the case from the police.” They “primarily pursued the theory that an intruder had committed the killing. In 2003, trace DNA that was taken from JonBenét’s clothes was found to belong to an unknown male; each of the family’s DNA had been excluded from this match.”
“The DA sent the Ramseys a letter of apology in 2008, declaring the family was ‘completely cleared’ by the DNA results.”
Case closed:
Boulder police chief, Mark Beckner, disagreed with exonerating the Ramseys. He characterized the “DNA as a small piece of evidence that was not proven to have any connection to the crime. “
“In 2009, the Boulder police took the case back from the DA and reopened the investigation. National and international media coverage of the case focused on JonBenét’s brief beauty pageant career, as well as her parents’ wealth and the unusual evidence found in the case.”
“Media reports questioned how the police handled the investigation.” Additionally, the “Ramsey family and their friends have filed defamation suits against several media organizations. The crime is still considered a cold case and remains an open investigation with the Boulder Police Department.”
