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There’s new hope that one of the greatest murder mysteries in American history might soon be solved.
Six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado home nearly three decades ago. But with new Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn now in charge of the investigation, her father, John Ramsey, said he now feels like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“They were just open to sincerely discuss the case,” Ramsey said to NBC, after meeting the new police chief on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. “I’m just very impressed with the caliber of the leadership now and that gave me great hope.”
The cold case received renewed attention from the public after the recent release of a documentary featuring John Ramsey and others with knowledge of the case. Keep reading to see what evidence John Ramsey hopes is re-tested all these years later.
John Ramsey says he wants DNA tested to clear his family’s name
John Ramsey, now 81, and his now-deceased wife, Patricia, along with their son, Burke, were often suspected of killing their daughter. But it wasn’t until 2008 that prosecutors cleared the family of JonBenét’s murder. Part of the reasoning was new DNA testing, not available in 1996, found a genetic profile of a male that does not belong to anyone in the Ramsey family — pointing to an outsider as the murderer, NBC reported.
“They kept that result secret from the D.A. — certainly from us,” John Ramsey told NBC. “The problem that police had is it’d conflict with their conclusion the family were the killers.”
He added, “Our family reputation has been damaged quite severely by the police. The only way it will be mostly restored is if there is a killer caught.”
What DNA evidence does John Ramsey want to see tested in JonBenét’s murder?
Ramsey told Denver’s ABC station he spoke to the new police chief, as well as the district attorney and others from the department, for close to two hours. He said most of the conversation focused on using genetic genealogy to test evidence for DNA. Though he didn’t disclose the evidence discussed, John Ramsey has previously shared that he wants the Boulder P.D. to re-examine the ransom letter, the garrote used to strangle JonBenét, and other items.
“If we do that, I believe there’s a pretty good chance we can identify the killer. I really do,” he told Denver7.
Ramsey said he himself brought a DNA expert to the meeting.
“I wanted to make sure the police understood the latest technologies that are available today for good DNA testing and research,” he told People magazine. “I guess the takeaway for me was that the police finally have competent leadership in place, and they haven’t had that, in my judgement, for 10, 8, or 28 years. A big improvement in leadership. And that’s encouraging, and that’s really step one, because nothing was gonna happen until that changed. I think they’re committed.”
John Ramsey explained that he didn’t have confirmation if or when the DNA might be tested.
Boulder police also gave an update to Denver7, and confirmed that the new chief met with John Ramsey, but added, “Beyond that, we cannot answer specific questions because this is an active and ongoing homicide investigation.”
