Warning: This article contains disturbing subject matter, including the murder of a child.
Since 1996, society has been obsessed with the gruesome murder of 6-year-old beauty queen, JonBenét Ramsey, and now the case is getting a second life as a docuseries on NetflixcalledCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?Within Netflix’s vast catalog of movies and TV shows, there is a significant number oftrue-crime shows and documentaries. Oftentimes, these projects go over some of the biggest and strangest crimes to date and offer interviews and theories as to what really happened.The case of JonBenét Ramsey is just one of many that still make people wonder.
There are a few reasons why JonBenét Ramsey’s murder became such acaptivating true crime story. First and foremost, JonBenét’s age made her death all the more upsetting. At just 6-years-old, many had to wonder who would commit such a crime. Furthermore,JonBenét was not just a regular child, but a beauty queenwho had captured the hearts of many in the pageantry world. Last, but certainly not least, the case of JonBenét Ramsey was especially unique because the main suspects were her very own family members. The fact that this case still remains unsolved is frustrating and confounding.
JonBenét Ramsey Murder Theories & Problems
On August 07, 2025,6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her home in Boulder, Colorado. JonBenét had been reported missing seven hours earlier by her parents, Patsy and John. Police arrived on the scene on the night of December 25, but did not find JonBenét until 1 pm the following day. Upon discovery, it was determined that JonBenét had a broken skull and had died of asphyxiation through the use of a garrote. The only people known to be in the Ramsey house at the time were Patsy, John, and their 9-year-old son, Burke.
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The initial theory as to what happened to JonBenét was that she was kidnapped and killed by an unknown suspect. The main evidence behind this theory was a long ransom note that was found in the Ramsey home. However, a number of issues with the investigation put this theory and the entire case in jeopardy. For example,police only cordoned JonBenét’s bedroom as a potential crime scene, which left the rest of the house to be sulliedby officers and visitors. Furthermore, when JonBenét was found, John Ramsey immediately picked her up and took her upstairs, contaminating the crime scene.
The JonBenét Ramsey Ransom Note Explained
Why The Kidnapping Theory Didn’t Quite Work
The biggest piece of evidence in the JonBenét Ramsey case was the ransom note that the Ramseys found on their kitchen staircase. The note was quite long and was presumably written at the crime scene, which is quite unusual. In the note,the “suspects” demanded $118,000 from the Ramseys for the safe return of JonBenét. On top of that, the writers claimed to be “a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction.” Authorities could find no fingerprints on the note besides their own and those of Patsy Ramsey. All in all, the ransom note was considered strange.
Despite the appearance of a ransom note, authorities could find no sign of forced entry into the Ramsey’s household.
Soon enough, the kidnapping theory began to unravel. Despite the appearance of a ransom note, authorities could find no sign of forced entry into the Ramsey household. There was really no evidence that JonBenét had been kidnapped, like her parents claimed. Another suspicious detail was that $118,000 was the exact amount John Ramsey earned for his Christmas bonus, and no one came forward to try and claim this money.Many believed that Patsy herself had written the ransom note, however, handwriting experts have claimed that her penmanship does not match that of the note.
Why JonBenét Ramsey’s Parents Were Initially Suspects
How The Ramseys Were Ruled Out As JonBenét’s Killers
Considering the discrepancies between the ransom note and the kidnapping theory, Patsy and John Ramsey became prime suspects inthe murder mysteryof JonBenét. There was no evidence of a kidnapping, but there was certainly evidence of a crime scene being staged, most notably the ransom note. The Ramseys also stood out because, statistically, homicides of children are typically done by family members or caregivers. It didn’t help thatthe Ramseys were somewhat uncooperative in solving the death of their child. However, due to a lack of evidence, the Ramseys were never actually charged with the murder of JonBenét.
Although authorities could not find strong evidence that JonBenét had been kidnapped, they also struggled to find evidence that Patsy and John had committed the murder. Some postulated that Patsy had accidentally killed JonBenét after a bedwetting incident, but there was no evidence to prove this, and also, Patsy had no history of violence or rage. Plus,testimony from Burke Ramsey confirmed that the Ramseys seemed to be a loving family. Despite attempts to indict the Ramseys on child abuse, Patsy and John were eventually cleared as suspects by the District Attorney and a grand jury.
Who Else Was Suspected In JonBenét Ramsey’s Murder
The DNA Evidence Explained
One other surprising theory related to the Ramseys was that 9-year-old Burke had committed the murder. Similar to the theory about Patsy,many theorized that perhaps Burke had accidentally killed JonBenét due to a fightover a bowl of pineapple. To protect their son, the Ramseys staged a kidnapping and crime scene. However, just like with Patsy and John, the authorities could find no evidence that Burke had committed the crime, and he was never an official suspect. After several interviews with Burke, he seemed to be a normal child from a loving family.
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The only other theory is that an unknown assailant murdered JonBenét. The most notable piece of evidence to back up this theory is the fact thatDNA from an unidentified male appeared on JonBenét.Some key suspects included the Ramseys' neighbor, Chris Wolf, a local journalist whose girlfriend suspected him, and the family housekeeper. Police also theorized that JonBenét’s pageantry background may have lured in child predators. Considering that several windows in the Ramsey house were open, many believe that an intruder came in, killed JonBenét, and then left, leaving just their DNA and a bootprint.
Is The JonBenét Ramsey Case Still Open?
The Future Of The JonBenét Ramsey Case
The murder of JonBenét Ramsey occurred nearly 30 years ago, yet the case still remains open. In 2002, the case was taken over by the DA’s office. In this time, the Ramseys were cleared of any wrongdoing due to the DNA evidence. The Boulder police took over the case once again in 2009, and it has remained open ever since, although it is considered a cold case.Based on the recent release of Netflix’sCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?,it is clear that the public is still desperate to understandwhat happened to the 6-year-old beauty queen.
There is no telling whether the case of JonBenét Ramsey will be solved one day. As more time passes, the likelihood of a solid ending seems further and further away. However, withNetflix true crime projectslikeCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?,interest in the case remains high, and therefore, solving the murder is still an option. Hopefully, this new Netflixseries can shine a light on the case and allow new evidence to make this cold case hot once again.
