MURDER WATCH: Gruesome killing of JonBenet Ramsey, 6, remains unsolved after 26 years
MURDER WATCH is a weekly special feature that focuses on unsolved crimes that have rocked the nation, and in many cases, the world. We look at the crime itself, the investigation, the suspects and of course the current status of the case. Readers can reach out to our writer if they have know of unsolved cases they would like more information on.
BOULDER, COLORADO: On December 26, 1996, six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. Despite a lengthy and highly publicized investigation, the case remains unsolved to this day. While several believed that JonBenet was accidentally killed by a member of her own family who then staged her death to look like a kidnapping, others argue that an intruder broke into the Ramsey home, slaughtered the beauty queen, and left her there for her family to find.
Over years, the case has garnered significant media attention and has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and television specials. Despite this, the investigation has yet to yield any definitive answers as to who killed JonBenét and why. The gruesome murder which became a 'cold case' is now revived once again as the investigators are trying to solve the puzzle once again, this time with a more experienced team of investigators.
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Who was JonBenet Ramsey?
Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey and John Ramsey welcomed their second child, JonBenet, into the world on August 6, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia. JonBenet began participating in children's beauty competitions at a young age thanks to her mother's guidance, and she went on to win numerous titles, including Little Miss Colorado Sunburst in 1995. Patsy Ramsey competed in pageants in the past and won Miss West Virginia in 1977.
Patsy obtained a BA in Journalism from West Virginia University in 1978. Two years later, Patsy married John, and their son, Burke Ramsey, was born in 1987. For John's job, the family relocated to Boulder, Colorado, after JonBenet was born. The family had a vacation property in Michigan, a yacht, and two private jets. Their estimated net worth in 1999 was $6.4 million.
What really happened?
On the morning of December 26, 1996, Patsy called the police to report that JonBenet was missing and that a ransom note had been left in their home. The note demanded $118,000 for the safe return of JonBenet and indicated that she had been kidnapped by a group calling itself "SBTC." The Boulder Police Department launched an immediate investigation and began searching for the missing girl. Due to the Christmas holiday, seasoned police officers were not present when they arrived at the Ramsey home, allowing less skilled officers to handle the alleged kidnapping.
Just after 1 pm, JonBenet's body was finally found in the basement of the house. She was covered in a blanket, had her mouth taped shut, and had a garrotte placed around her neck using a paintbrush as leverage. The Coroner later concluded that JonBenét was killed by ligature strangulation and craniocerebral injuries. She had numerous cuts on her legs, neck, cheek, and other body areas.
The murder house
The Ramsey family's four-story, 7,000-square-foot home in Boulder had five bedrooms, several staircases, and a sizable basement that extended the whole width of the house. The basement was divided up into a number of smaller spaces. The kids frequently played down below. It served as storage as well, containing old paint cans, arts and crafts supplies, and ornaments.
There was a chamber with a window and a previously broken windowpane to the northwest of the basement. John frequently locked himself out of the house, and this was an easy way in, therefore the pane was never fixed. According to authorities, the kidnappers entered the house through a window. A suitcase was placed beneath the window, which is supposed to have helped the intruders in exiting the house, according to authorities.
The potential suspects
One of the primary theories surrounding JonBenet's murder is that her parents, John and Patsy, were involved in some way. Both John and Patsy were interviewed by police and were later given polygraph tests, but neither test indicated deception. In 1999, the couple was officially cleared of any involvement in the murder by the then District Attorney Alex Hunter. In 2002, the Ramsey family was sued by a group of media organizations for defamation, claiming that the family had defamed them in a book written by John and Patsy titled 'The Death of Innocence'. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, but the media speculation and public scrutiny of the Ramsey family have continued.
Another theory that has been proposed is that JonBenet was killed by an intruder. This theory is supported by the fact that there were no signs of forced entry into the Ramsey home on the night of the murder. In 2006, DNA evidence found on JonBenet's clothing was linked to an unknown male, lending credence to the theory that an intruder was involved. John Karr, a teacher residing in Thailand, was thought to be another suspect in the murder. In 2006, Karr admitted to killing JonBenet. He was also under investigation in America on suspicion of publishing child pornography.
Despite the fact that there was no proof connecting him to the crime, he was extradited back to the US. He later admitted that he might have spent time in a Thai prison infamous for its subpar circumstances if he hadn't confessed to killing JonBenet. In recent years, there have been a number of developments in the case. In 2016, the Boulder District Attorney's Office announced that it was reopening the investigation into JonBenet's murder. In 2019, the office announced that it had obtained new DNA evidence that could potentially lead to the identification of a suspect. However, to date, no arrests have been made and the case remains unsolved.
Future of the investigation
Recently, nearly 26 years after the murder police in Boulder, Colorado, said that they will consult a state-run cold case team to continue the investigation. The Colorado Cold Case Review Team, which consists of a team of professional investigative, analytical and forensic experts from across the state will make recommendations on how to best proceed with the investigation. John Andrew Ramsey, JonBenet's half-brother, described the participation of the Cold Case Review Team in the investigation as "forward progress." He wrote from his Twitter account, "This is positive. Forward progress. More work to be done to catch a killer but it can be done."
This is positive. Forward progress. More work to be done to catch a killer but it can be done.
— John Andrew Ramsey (@JRamsey_Truth) November 9, 2022