Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey’s killing

DENVER (AP) Boulder, Colorado, police this week denied claims that there is solid evidence and leads regarding the 1996 murder of the 6-year-old girl that they are not following, amid resurgence of interest in the murder of JonBenet Ramsey sparked in part by a new Netflix documentary.

The day after Christmas 1996, JonBenet Ramsey, a beauty pageant competitor, was discovered dead in the basement of her family’s home in Boulder, a college town. After her mother called 911 to report her daughter missing and a ransom note left behind, her body was discovered a few hours later. The crime’s specifics and video footage of JonBenet participating in pageants made the case one of the most well-known mysteries in the US.

A month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s murder, the police made the remarks as part of their yearly report on the case. In reference to the three-part Netflix series Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, police claimed that they published it a bit sooner because of the increasing attention on the case.

Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn stated in a video statement that the police is open to news reports and films concerning the murder of JonBenet, who would have turned 34 this year, because they could lead to fresh leads. According to him, the department is dedicated to cracking the case, but in order to avoid any future prosecution, it must exercise caution while disclosing information about the investigation.

However, I can assure you that we have extensively investigated a number of individuals over the years, and we remain receptive to the information that investigators receive as we look into leads, he said.

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The police errors and the media circus surrounding the case are the main topics of the Netflix documentary.

JonBenet was strangled and bludgeoned. Despite the fact that her death was declared a homicide, no one was ever charged.

In the midst of rumors that her family was to blame, police received a lot of flak for their poor handling of the initial inquiry into her death. However, in 2008, a prosecutor exonerated her brother Burke and parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, on the basis of fresh DNA evidence found in JonBenet’s clothing that suggested an unidentified third party was involved in her murder.

Two years after Patsy Ramsey passed away from cancer, former district attorney Mary Lacy made the announcement. Lacy referred to the Ramseys as the crime’s victims.

John Ramsey has persisted in advocating for the resolution of the lawsuit. He backed an online petition in 2022 requesting that Colorado’s governor step in and assign an outside organization to handle the DNA testing in the case. He stated in the Netflix program that he has been pushing for the retesting of additional objects and the testing of a number of items that have not been prepped for DNA testing. He suggested running the results through a genealogical database.

Investigators have used DNA profiles from crime scenes and DNA test results posted online by family tree researchers to identify suspects in unresolved crimes in recent years.

In their annual report, police stated in 2021 that DNA had not been ruled out as a possible solution to the case. They also mentioned in 2022 that certain evidence might be used if DNA testing was conducted on it.

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In order to assess the investigation, make recommendations, and ascertain whether new technology or forensic tests could yield new leads, police claimed they assembled a group of outside specialists last year. Redfearn stated in the most recent update that although the review was completed, officers are still reviewing and analyzing the panel’s extensive list of suggestions.

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This report was written by Amy Beth Hanson from Helena, Montana.

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