DENVER (KDVR) — This month marks 28 years since the murder of a six-year-old girl in Boulder that has captivated the world ever since. As a new documentary series and fresh hope from police bring new heat to this notorious cold case, the father of JonBenét Ramsey told FOX31 he’s hopeful the case can be solved.
“Well it’s encouraging that they’re optimistic, for sure,” Ramsey told FOX31’s Jeremy Hubbard, referring to press reports citing investigative sources who say they feel like resolution is within reach in 2025.
Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey’s killing
“I think if the right things are done, it can be solved. I really believe there’s a high probability with the technology that’s out there today that wasn’t there eight years ago when the last DNA testing was done,” he said.
Ramsey is pushing for further DNA testing. Testing weeks after the December 26, 1996, murder revealed unidentified male DNA was found at the crime scene. Ramsey said police didn’t do much with that evidence because it didn’t fit the investigative theory that Ramsey and his late wife, Patsy, were to blame for their daughter’s death.
“Today’s technology that’s out there can do amazing things with very minute samples,” Ramsey said.
He’s hopeful police will use genealogical DNA, or genetic genealogy DNA testing, to trace potential suspects. And he’s fighting for more collaboration between Boulder Police and outside agencies and experts to solve the crime.
“If we don’t do that, we haven’t done the best thing we can do,” he told FOX31.
Ramsey said he’s encouraged by changes in the detective ranks at Boulder Police Department, including the departure of the lead investigator in the JonBenét case. And he’s encouraged by the arrival of a new chief, Stephen Redfearn, who took over the department on a permanent basis in September.
“You can’t promote from a dysfunctional organization and hope it’s going to get better,” he said.
Late last month, Boulder police released a video updating the JonBenét Ramsey investigation. In it, Redfearn said he is in communication with the Ramsey family.
“He’s a good guy, I’ve met with him a couple of times, I like him. He’s reasonably open, but he doesn’t tell me enough to give me confidence that things are happening,” Ramsey said. “They need to be more candid in what steps they’re taking than they have been. And that’s frustrating. He did call a couple of weeks ago, which I appreciated. But he doesn’t really tell me anything specific.”
The case has garnered new attention in recent days because of a docuseries on Netflix, called “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey.”
“I’ve not watched it. And people said you probably should’ve watched it. It’s upsetting. My wife did watch part of it and said it’s pretty good. It’s pretty thorough. And upsetting. But that was what we dealt with,” Ramsey said.
He said that he participated in the documentary and in interviews to keep the case alive. And it seems to be working.
“I got a letter yesterday from a lady that said ‘I think my husband did it. Please call me.’ So I will,” he said.
Late this month will mark 28 years since his daughter’s body was found in the cellar of their Boulder home the day after Christmas.
“You know, Christmas, for several years, we just didn’t celebrate. And then we realized we really need to do that,” he said.
Ramsey will spend part of the holidays with relatives in Denver. He plans to meet in person with Boulder police sometime after the first of the year, hoping for a big break in the case. Even if an arrest, prosecution or conviction ever comes about, he knows there’s a segment of the population who will always believe he and his late wife are to blame.
“It’s just lies. The Bible references that type of person as a fool. And basically says, keep the fools out of your life. I’m not concerned that there’s still going to be five, 10% of people who still think we’re guilty. That’s just life. And nobody said life was going to be fair all the time,” he said.
