Police have launched a new investigation into the murder of JonBenét Ramsey, enlisting a fresh squad of experts in hopes of cracking the 1996 cold case.
Ahead of the 26th anniversary of the 6-year-old’s mysterious death, the Boulder Police Department said it was partnering up with the Colorado Cold Case Review Team to continue digging for answers.
“Since JonBenét’s murder, detectives have investigated leads stemming from more than 21,000 tips, letters, and emails. We have traveled to 19 states to interview or speak with more than 1,000 individuals,” the Boulder Police Department said in a statement Wednesday.
JonBenét, who was a child beauty queen, was reported missing from her family’s Boulder home on the morning of Dec. 26, 1996, by her mother, who found a bizarre ransom note demanding $118,000 in exchange for the girl.
Her father, John Bennett, found his daughter’s body in the basement of the family’s home later that day. The young beauty had been beaten, strangled and potentially sexually assaulted.
The only people known to be in the home had been John, Patsy and brother Burke, who was 9 at the time.
JonBenét’s body was found by her father in the basement of the family’s home. ZUMA PressThe ransom note had appeared to have been written by JonBenét’s mother Patsy, and both parents fell under intense allegations that they killed their own daughter before staging the mysterious scene, or helped cover up a murder committed by Burke.
A police investigation cleared both parents in 2008 when DNA from an unidentified third party was found on JonBenét’s pajama pants.
The 26-year anniversary of her death is this December. Getty ImagesVarious theories about the murder have run rampant in the last two decades. Some speculate it may have been an intruder who killed Ramsey, while others believe the killer may have been a former pageant photographer who was arrested on child pornography charges in 2019.
Despite passionate media speculation, no solid leads were ever formed.
The Boulder Police Department, in addition to working with the cold case team, will partner with private DNA labs in reviewing the case. The cold case team is made up of professional investigative, analytical and forensic experts from across the state.
While investigating her death, police have traveled to 19 states to interview or speak with more than 1,000 individuals Ramsey family collection/ DiscovPolice said the team “is another tool to help further cold case homicide investigations.”
“This crime has left a hole in the hearts of many, and we will never stop investigating until we find JonBenét’s killer,” Police Chief Maris Herold said Wednesday.
“That includes following up on every lead and working with our policing partners and DNA experts around the country to solve this tragic case. This investigation has always been and will continue to be a priority for the Boulder Police Department.”
JonBenét’s half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, who was 23 and not in Colorado at the time of her death, called the move “interesting” in a Wednesday tweet.
“This is positive,” he wrote. “Forward progress. More work has to be done to catch a killer but it can be done.”
In recent years, John Andrew has joined his father advocating for police to utilize newer, more advanced technologies to try and solve the cold case.
Following JonBenét’s death, an autopsy revealed she died from strangulation and a blow to the head. The Boulder City Medical Examiner reported an 8 1/2-inch fracture on her skull.
No one has ever been charged in her killing.
