JonBenet Ramsey: Forensic scientist certain 6-year-old girl's murder can be solved by re-examining DNA evidence
JonBenét Ramsey’s family is hopeful that advances in DNA technology will help solve the cold case in connection with her death nearly two decades later.
John Andrew Ramsey, the late child beauty queen's half brother, met with forensic scientist Richard Eikelenboom in episode 11 of 'The Killing of JonBenét: The Final Suspects' to understand how DNA evidence could help trace the person behind JonBenét's in December 1996, Us Weekly reports.
“Of course, it’s a lot of work,” Eikelenboom says. “But, yeah, this case, I think with all the commotion, it’s worth it to do this kind of work and put a couple of police officers on it … [and] redo all the DNA.”
The 44-year-old relative asked the Independent Forensic Services founder if 23-year-old evidence from JonBenét murder could be destroyed if retested.
“DNA is prone to damage a little bit more than, like, blood, saliva,” Eikelenboom responded. “There’s no doubt about it.”
Nonetheless, Eikelenboom is confident that the Ramsey case can still be solved.
“The state of Colorado is very dry, which is extremely good for your DNA,” he said. “Even if they didn’t store it in very good conditions — which I cannot imagine, but let’s assume they didn’t — the normal air conditions are very dry there, which means that’s good for your DNA.”
In a previous episode of the podcast, John Andrew said he was "absolutely confident” that DNA technology could help his family.
“In my mind, if it’s not today, it’s tomorrow. We’re going to crack this," he added.
John Ramsey and the late Patsy Ramsey — JonBenét’s parents — were initially deemed suspects in the case. However, further investigation coupled with DNA results cleared them of the crime.
JonBenét was discovered dead in her home in Boulder, Colorado on December 26, 1996, just a day after Christmas. At the time, she was only six years old and was found by her father eight hours after being reported missing by her parents.
She was found bludgeoned, strangled and hidden underneath a white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck. Her wrists had been bound above her head while her mouth was covered using duct tape. The child's death still remains unsolved generating conspiracy theories and headlines.
Having said that, the Boulder Police Department still has an open investigation on the case.