A never-before-aired interview with JonBenet Ramsey's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, along with the late Barbara Walters, has resurfaced following the release of the new documentary about the 6-year-old pageant star’s 1996 murder. JonBenet was found dead in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado home the day after Christmas 28 years ago, and the case remains unsolved to this day. Ongoing public interest continues to surround the investigation, bolstered by John Ramsey’s recent push for retesting crime scene evidence for DNA using modern technology.
"The ransom note has an odd figure — $118,000. That was a bonus you had received," Walters, who was then host of ABC’s "20/20," notes during the interview conducted back in 2000 but never aired. "One-eighteen means something to the killer. We know this. We believe this. Whether it's tied to my bonus or something only the killer knows, we don't know," John Ramsey shared. When asked if she knew the amount of her husband’s bonus, Patsy Ramsey replied, "Not at the time, no." This resurfaced interview ties directly to the current investigation as it reflects emotional insights from the Ramsey family, whose lives were forever altered by the tragedy.
The over two-and-a-half-page ransom note demanding $118,000 was found on the staircase, leading panic-stricken Patsy Ramsey to call 911 early on the morning of December 26, 1996, claiming her daughter was missing. It wasn’t long before the shocking truth unfolded, when, later, John Ramsey found his daughter’s body wrapped in blankets, covered with duct tape and showing signs of violence, including being bludgeoned and strangled.
The media got ahold of the case immediately, turning it from a local tragedy to a national sensation. John and Patsy became key figures, with law enforcement leaning heavily on the theory of parental involvement. Despite their cooperation and submission of DNA samples, early investigations zeroed directly on the Ramseys, raising suspicion around them as parents of the murder victim.
Despite extensive investigations and the eventual exoneration of the Ramseys, John Ramsey, now 80, has continued to advocate for justice, hoping new technologies can finally yield results. He recently called upon Boulder police to re-evaluate evidence, particularly unidentified male DNA left at the scene during the early investigation. "We have an unidentified male DNA sample, which...by today’s standards, was primitive," Ramsey explained. "This information was reported to the police back in January 1997, yet it was kept secret because it conflicted with their conclusion of guilt against us. How do we explain this away?" he asked, hinting at what he sees as investigative missteps.
Over the years, assorted theories have swirled around the case, considering several suspects but leading to no arrests. A grand jury indicted the Ramseys for child abuse leading to death back in 1999; nevertheless, no charges were ever filed due to what was described as insufficient evidence. Despite numerous leads over the decades, including the presence of unidentified fibers and traces of DNA found within the crime scene, continuous focus on John and Patsy's involvement overshadowed other explanations.
Fast forward to September 2023, John Ramsey expressed optimism about new leadership at the Boulder Police Department, commenting on the appointment of Police Chief Stephen Redfearn who has started to engage with the Ramsey family openly. "We have not ruled any theory out, including intruder involvement," stated Chief Redfearn, and expressed willingness to explore all avenues of the investigation. He mentioned, "There were things identified over the years where we could have done things differently, and we acknowledge this." John Ramsey expressed hopes police will now be more collaborative with him moving forward.
Officials from the Boulder Police Department recently denied allegations of neglecting viable evidence or leads, reaffirming their active investigation stance as highlighted by statements made to media. The inquiry continues to explore areas previously untapped. Evidence not yet run through modern DNA testing poses myriad opportunities for closure along with the investigative body reaffirming its commitment to solving this cold case. “We continue to look at suspects and leads,” the Police Department stated, describing their operating philosophy as open-minded.
Among all of this, John Ramsey also passionately advocates for The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act, which would allow families of homicide victims to request federal oversights on their cases. "We’re searching for justice, and this could be one major step forward to alleviate fundamental issues within our system," he elaborated, insisting on the importance of providing closure to families of victims.
Patsy Ramsey, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006, may not see justice for her daughter; John, her steadfast advocate, continues to fight for hope, believing the truth is out there. Despite the decades of emotional battles and public scrutiny bordering on vilification, as he ages, he maintains faith DNA advancements can lead to breakthroughs. "Finding the killer... is not going to change my life at this point, but it will change the lives of my children and grandchildren," remarked John, underscoring the weight of his family's continued quest for justice.
With the anniversary of JonBenét’s death approaching, the renewed interest spurred by the documentary and fresh investigative inquiries elicits hope as John Ramsey continues to persevere through the pain, keeping the weight of his child’s memory alive. His ultimate aim is to prove his family's innocence and find the actual perpetrator to remove the long-held cloud above their heads, bringing peace to the restless mystery surrounding his daughter’s death.
