John Ramsey, the father of the late JonBenét Ramsey, has recently shared his feelings in a new docuseries about the painful accusations he faced after his daughter’s tragic death. The docuseries, titled “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?” is now available for streaming on Netflix.
In the show’s first episode, John recalls the intense scrutiny from both the police and the media. He expressed how overwhelming the situation was, sharing, “We had lost our child. I mean, I would have been happy to die, quite frankly, to relieve the pain.”
The series explores various suspects that law enforcement considered during their investigation, including an individual who falsely confessed to the crime. However, despite extensive investigation, no DNA evidence has yet linked anyone to JonBenét’s murder, which occurred on December 26, 1996.
Earlier that day, JonBenét’s mother, Patsy, called the police, distraught over her daughter’s disappearance. During the call, she mentioned a ransom note demanding $118,000—an exact figure that matched John’s recent bonus at work.
Tragically, John later discovered JonBenét’s body in their home. Reports indicated she had suffered sexual assault and strangulation, with duct tape covering her mouth and a garrote around her neck.
The investigation led to the couple, John and Patsy, becoming persons of interest along with their son Burke, who was only 9 years old at the time. In 1998, a grand jury voted to indict the parents for child abuse resulting in death, but the district attorney ultimately decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.
In 2008, the then-District Attorney, Mary Lacy, publicly apologized to the Ramsey family, acknowledging that new evidence had exonerated them and cleared Burke of any suspicion.
John Ramsey has consistently maintained his and his wife’s innocence throughout the years. In the docuseries, he discusses how his lack of trust in law enforcement affected their cooperation during the investigation.
He believes modern DNA testing, including genetic genealogy, could help solve the cold case. John has pointed out that there are seven pieces of evidence from the crime scene that haven’t been properly tested or used outdated methods.
Included in this evidence are the ransom note and a suitcase found near a basement window, which some believe to be the entry point for the perpetrator. He urges law enforcement to pursue advancements in technology that could lead to breakthroughs in the case.
John said, “We’re begging the police to engage. There are cutting-edge DNA labs that want to help and who believe they can move the case forward.”
