In the upcoming Netflix docuseries titled Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, and her brother, John Andrew Ramsey, are sharing their thoughts on the unresolved murder of the young beauty queen.
Burke Ramsey, who was only 9 when his sister’s tragic death took place in December 1996 at their home in Boulder, Colorado, did not participate in the series. He cited negative past experiences with the media and online critics, which he discussed in a statement at the end of the final episode. Burke and his family have always denied any involvement in JonBenét’s death, insisting that an intruder was responsible.
The docuseries director, Joe Berlinger, reflected on the sensitive nature of true crime stories. He emphasized that behind these cases are real people who suffer greatly. Berlinger noted that investigators have stated that Burke is not a suspect, and he criticized the harmful nature of amateur sleuths who often make unfounded accusations.
Berlinger mentioned that Burke chose not to engage with the series and said, “We respected that.” He also expressed that Burke is doing well personally.
Burke, the son of John and Patsy Ramsey—who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006—has largely stayed out of the spotlight. However, he was brought into public discourse during a CBS docuseries in 2016 called The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey, which suggested, without solid proof, that Burke might have accidentally harmed his sister, with their parents allegedly covering it up.
In response to various claims about him, Burke has firmly stated, “You won’t find any evidence because that’s not what happened.” He expressed his frustration over persistent allegations against him and his family, saying, “What more evidence do you need that we didn’t do it?”
Throughout the years, Burke has felt the pressure of being in the public eye amid the media frenzy that followed his sister’s murder. He spoke about how the chaos of that time made him wary of the media, instilling a deep desire for privacy.
Reflecting on the ongoing attention to the case, Burke clarified, “I kind of wanted to make it about remembering her and not just another news story.” Following the CBS episode, he and his family sought legal action, filing a significant defamation lawsuit against CBS and certain individuals involved in the docuseries, which was eventually settled.
While Burke declined to take part in the Netflix series, his brother John Andrew stood up for him, labeling the accusations against Burke as utterly ridiculous and unfair, especially considering he was just a child at the time.
