JonBenét Ramsey's unresolved murder case has been a baffling mystery.
According to People, John Ramsey advocates for the application of modern DNA techniques on old evidence to uncover his daughter's killer.
Nearly three decades have elapsed since the tragic murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey in her family home in Boulder, Colorado. Despite the case’s age, John Ramsey, her father, is pushing hard for the Boulder police department to embrace new DNA testing methodologies which he believes could finally provide the answers the Ramsey family has been seeking.
John Ramsey is not sitting quietly by. He has publicly criticized the Boulder Police for their hesitancy to retest evidence found at the crime scene using advanced technology. This includes items such as handmade garrote, which was part of the grim findings back in 1996.
A Plea for Advanced DNA Testing
"We're begging the police to engage,” says Ramsey, 80. “There are cutting-edge DNA labs that want to help and who believe they can move the case forward.”
A Netflix docuseries, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?” expected to be released soon, has rekindled interest in the tragedy. It’s a grim reminder of the unsolved case that continues to haunt the Ramsey family and much of the American public.
The murder, which took place the day after Christmas, has seen various suspects from within the Ramsey family itself. A ransom note found in the house further complicated investigations, with JonBenét's parents and her brother also under suspicion at various points. Neither John Ramsey, his late wife Patsy, nor their son Burke was ever charged.
John Ramsey suggests using genetic genealogy to advance the investigation, which may well point out connections previously unrecognizable with older technology. Yet, he implies that resistance from law enforcement is hindering possible progress.
John Ramsey's View on Police Cooperation
"We're not asking them to do anything weird,” says John. “Just do your job. Test the DNA.”
The refusal to implement modern testing comes against a backdrop where from the initial onset, items sent for DNA analysis were not completely examined. "Six or seven" items were returned untested, John stated a factor that could potentially change the course of the investigation if revisited.
The family home has seen numerous owners since the incident, echoing a physical turnover that contrasts starkly with the static nature of the case's progress. Through it all, John Ramsey holds on to the hope for an eventual resolution, a sentiment bolstered by potentially unlocking new evidence through DNA advancements.
Rethinking Police Approach to Cold Cases
“If it stays in the hands of the Boulder Police, it will not be solved, period,” he tells PEOPLE. “If they accept help, all the help that's out there, that's available and offered, it will be solved. Yes, I believe it will be solved.” John Ramsey’s critique extends beyond the immediate handling of his daughter’s murder case to a broader commentary on how law enforcement tackles unsolvable cases. The heartbreaking loss of his wife Patsy to cancer in 2006 only adds a layer of sadness to a quest for justice that has yet to find its conclusion.
As the Boulder police department holds the authority over the investigation, their next steps could very well determine if this nearly 30-year-old case will at last be resolved, or continue to remain an open wound for the Ramsey family and the broader community.
In conclusion, John Ramsey remains hopeful yet frustrated at the stagnation. With new advancements in DNA technology and a willing community of forensic experts ready to assist, the potential to finally solve the murder of JonBenét Ramsey hangs in balance, awaiting administrative greenlighting that has yet to come.
