DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case, spurred in part by the release of a new documentary on Netflix, police in Boulder, Colorado, this week denied the claims that viable evidence and leads regarding the murder of the 6-year-old girl in 1996 would not be explored.
JonBenet Ramsey, a beauty pageant contestant, was found dead in the basement of her family's Boulder home the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was discovered hours after her mother called 911 to reporting her daughter missing, leaving behind a ransom note. The details of this crime, along with video footage of JonBenet at beauty pageants, have propelled this case into one of America's most high-profile mysteries.
The officers' comments came during their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's murder. Police said they released this update earlier because of increased attention to the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey.”
In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes reporting and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have turned 34 this year, in hopes of generating news tracks. He emphasized the department's commitment to solving the case while making it clear that it must be careful about what information is shared about the investigation to protect possible future prosecutions.
“What I can tell you is that we have thoroughly investigated several people as suspects over the years and we remain open to what may have happened while reviewing the information that comes to detectives,” he said. he declared.
The Netflix documentary highlights the mistakes made by the police and the “media circus” surrounding the case. JonBenet was killed by strangulation and beating, with her death ruled a homicide, but no one was ever prosecuted.
Police were widely criticized for their handling of the initial investigation, as rumors swirled about his family's possible involvement. However, a prosecutor cleared his parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, as well as his brother Burke, in 2008, based on new DNA evidence found on JonBenet's clothing, pointing to the involvement of an “unidentified third party.” » in his murder.
Former prosecutor Mary Lacy's proclamation came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy had described the Ramseys as “victims of this crime.” John Ramsey continued to advocate for the case to be resolved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking the governor of Colorado to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing. In the Netflix documentary, he said he was advocating for several elements, not yet tested, to be tested and others to be retested. He suggested that the results be submitted to a genealogical database.
In recent years, investigators have identified suspects in cold cases by comparing DNA profiles with DNA test results shared online by people seeking to trace their family trees.
In 2021, police stated in their annual update that DNA had not been ruled out to help solve this case. In 2022, they noted that some evidence could be “burned” if DNA testing was carried out. Last year, police said they had convened a panel of external experts to review the investigation and give recommendations on using new technology or forensic testing that could provide new leads. In the most recent update, Redfearn said that review had been completed, but police were continuing to work on a “long list of recommendations” from the panel.
The ongoing investigation into JonBenet Ramsey's murder demonstrates how justice can be a tortuous path, often hampered by past mistakes and a hyped media. This case, emblematic of the dismay in the face of crime, also illustrates the value of DNA intelligence in the search for truth. The authorities' current commitment to exploring all avenues, even after so many years, is a sign of hope for all families facing unresolved cases. As a society, we must ensure that these tragedies are not forgotten and that every effort is made to honor the memory of the victims. This calls for collective reflection on ways to renew our approaches, to use the technologies at our disposal to possibly provide answers to questions that remain unanswered.
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