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“We’re Begging The Police”: 28 Years After Tragedy Struck 6YO JonBenét Ramsey, Her Dad Speaks Out

“We’re Begging The Police”: 28 Years After Tragedy Struck 6YO JonBenét Ramsey, Her Dad Speaks Out

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A nearly three-decade cold case could be solved if authorities would just give the green light to utilize DNA testing — and the victim’s father is desperate for answers.

Little JonBenét Ramsey was only six years old when she was found dead in her house. Although an autopsy revealed her cause of death was strangulation, cops have not been able to find her killer.

Highlights
  • JonBenét's father urges police to authorize DNA testing for a 28-year cold case.
  • DNA left on the weapon could identify JonBenét's killer.
  • Items from the crime scene remain untested nearly three decades later.
Points of View
  • Victim Advocate POV: Police must prioritize DNA testing to bring justice and closure to JonBenét's family.

  • Law Enforcement POV: Caution is needed; prioritizing proper procedures over pressure ensures thorough investigation.

  • Skeptical Observer POV: Doubts on police intentions rise due to the lack of transparency and delayed action.

But it turns out that genetic material was left on the weapon used to take JonBenet’s life, as well as the other items near the crime scene. Now, all eyes are on the police.

The evidence needed to solve a 28-year-old murder case could be in the hands of the police, as long as they agree to proceed with DNA testing

Image credits: Netflix

Ahead of the upcoming Netflix docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?, set to premiere on November 25, the little girl’s father, John Ramsey, opened up to People on the status of the investigation.

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“We’re begging the police to engage,” he said. “There are cutting-edge DNA labs that want to help and who believe they can move the case forward.”

However, no one is able to help the chief of police with this case until he asks for help. 

Image credits: Les voix des Anges

“We’re not asking them to do anything weird,” John stated. “Just do your job. Test the DNA.”

A handful of things were found alongside JonBenét’s dead body, but seven of those objects were never tested. As a result, John urged authorities to use advanced technology to closely examine these items. 

“Of the items sent to labs in the beginning, six or seven of them were returned untested,” he revealed. “We don’t know why they were not tested, but they were not tested. The garrote used to strangle JonBenét and a number of items were just sent back.” 

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Image credits: MCT / Vida Press

The 80-year-old added, “But to do the latest stuff, this whole genealogy research, they needed a different format of the sample. 

“And that’s why we’ve been advocating more testing be done by one or two of these very cutting edge labs, to retrieve a sample in the right format, which they can use to do genealogy research and searching, basically.”

The killing of JonBenét Ramsey is one of the most infamous unsolved child murders in history

Image credits: Doug Pensinger / Getty

On December 26, 1994, JonBenét was initially reported missing from her home, located in the 700th block of 15th Street in Boulder, Colorado.

A note had been found by the victim’s mother, Patsy Ramsey, which indicated that her daughter had been kidnapped. It demanded a $118,000 ransom be delivered in exchange for JonBenét’s life.

Image credits: Courtesy Everett Collection / Vida Press

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“We have your daughter in our possession. She is safe and unharmed and if you want her to see 1997, you must follow our instructions to the letter” wrote the sender, who claimed to be from a “group of individuals” representing a “small foreign faction.”

When police arrived to search the house, they stumbled upon the unfortunate scene of the six-year-old, lying lifeless. 

Image credits: Erik S. Lesser / Getty

Detectives have allegedly followed over 21,000 tips, letters, and emails to find her killer and have spoken with more than 1,000 people over the years. 

In 2006, a man confessed to the murder, but DNA evidence cleared him. Two years later, JonBenét’s parents and her older brother Burke were also cleared.

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As of 2024, the case remains open, and JonBenét’s father refuses to lose hope.

“If it stays in the hands of the Boulder Police, it will not be solved, period,” John said. “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.” 

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The police’s alleged lack of efforts has caused suspicions to arise

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Michelle Tian

Michelle Tian

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast.

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Michelle Tian

Michelle Tian

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast.

Renan Duarte

Renan Duarte

Author, BoredPanda staff

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This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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Renan Duarte

Renan Duarte

Author, BoredPanda staff

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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Major Harris
Community Member
7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he should look in the mirror. let's break it down. the note was for the same amount as his bonus, writing very similar to mom's. at first, "we do not know where she is we have searched everywhere!". the law arrives and he goes down directly to the basement, "hey, found her!", disturbing the crime scene. mom and dad lie to the police about their son's status on phone with police, whom you hear in the back. arrange a private plane to florida before everything. heart on her palm, just like mom had done in past. an "intruder" just happens to pick the one night that home security was off and family dog was at another place. and the police screw up by interviewing them TOGETHER as opposed to have them separated so as not to corroborate their stories.

Joanne Mendonza-Earle
Community Member
3 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They say her brother was cleared....but I have my doubts. They did have that open house for people to see their holiday decorations so a lot of strangers went through, and we saw a special that showed someone could fit through that basement window. But the blanket that came out of the dryer? The note w/ the exact amt of his bonus? HE finds her in that small basement room meanwhile family and friends are tramping through the house and ruining the forensics. The autopsy showed that she ate pineapple prior to her death, and she was up eating pineapple with her brother. It's all too suspicious.

Major Harris
Community Member
7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he should look in the mirror. let's break it down. the note was for the same amount as his bonus, writing very similar to mom's. at first, "we do not know where she is we have searched everywhere!". the law arrives and he goes down directly to the basement, "hey, found her!", disturbing the crime scene. mom and dad lie to the police about their son's status on phone with police, whom you hear in the back. arrange a private plane to florida before everything. heart on her palm, just like mom had done in past. an "intruder" just happens to pick the one night that home security was off and family dog was at another place. and the police screw up by interviewing them TOGETHER as opposed to have them separated so as not to corroborate their stories.

Joanne Mendonza-Earle
Community Member
3 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They say her brother was cleared....but I have my doubts. They did have that open house for people to see their holiday decorations so a lot of strangers went through, and we saw a special that showed someone could fit through that basement window. But the blanket that came out of the dryer? The note w/ the exact amt of his bonus? HE finds her in that small basement room meanwhile family and friends are tramping through the house and ruining the forensics. The autopsy showed that she ate pineapple prior to her death, and she was up eating pineapple with her brother. It's all too suspicious.

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