JonBenét Ramsey’s life was tragically cut short at a young age, and nearly 30 years later, her father, John Ramsey, remains steadfast in his pursuit of justice.
The long-unsolved case has gained renewed attention through Joe Berlinger’s Netflix series, with John claiming to know who is responsible for her death.
The new series, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” directed by Joe, takes a fresh look at JonBenét’s nearly three-decade-old case.
Released on November 25, 2024, the three-part documentary features interviews with key figures, including her father, John, and uncovers law enforcement and media missteps that fueled conspiracy theories.
Joe explained, “Through unprecedented access and a comprehensive multi-year investigation, we reveal the deep flaws in how the case was originally handled, resulting in a sea of conspiracy theories that nearly destroyed the Ramsey family for a second time.”
The series also provides intimate reflections from JonBenét’s family, offering a glimpse into their lives before and after the tragedy. In the trailer, her older half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, recalls, “We were just a regular family” the day before JonBenét’s death.
John Andrew Ramsey during an interview | Source: YouTube/Netflix
Meanwhile his father, John, reflecting on the devastating aftermath, described it as “unbelievable,” capturing the profound impact the tragedy had on their once-ordinary lives.
The said tragedy unfolded on Christmas Day in 1996 when six-year-old JonBenét was killed in her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home. The next day, in the wee hours of the morning, her mother, Patricia “Patsy” Ramsey, called the police to report JonBenét missing.
John and Patsy Ramsey pictured on May 1, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado. | Source: Getty Images
She claimed to have discovered a ransom note on the staircase, allegedly from a kidnapper demanding $118,000 — a sum close to John’s recent bonus — or threatening JonBenét’s life.
Officers arrived but only sealed JonBenét’s room, failing to locate her during an initial search. Hours later, John discovered her body in the basement with a garrote (a type of handheld ligature) tied around her neck.
John and Patsy Ramsey during a meeting with the local Colorado media on May 1, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado. | Source: Getty Images
In “Cold Case,” John recalled finding a broken window and an out-of-place suitcase in the basement, which he believes the intruder used to exit the house
He discovered JonBenét’s body in the basement, where she was tied up with duct tape over her mouth. The businessman, who said he was “criticized for disturbing the crime scene,” removed the tape and carried his daughter upstairs, where officers confirmed she was dead.
John Ramsey looks over the grave of JonBenet Ramsey on June 29, 2006, in Marietta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
An autopsy confirmed that the beauty queen’s cause of death was strangulation. In addition, the report revealed that she had been se-ually assaulted and suffered a blow to the skull.
No one has been charged in JonBenét’s death, but her parents faced years of suspicion from police and intense media scrutiny, partly due to her visibility as a child beauty pageant contestant.