New Evidence Reviewed in JonBenét Ramsey Murder Case
It has been nearly 30 years since JonBenét Ramsey was found dead in her Boulder, Colorado, home. What does the latest annual report from the Boulder Police Department say about the case? Read on for all of the details.
New Evidence Introduced in JonBenét Ramsey Murder Case
The 30th anniversary of the tragic death of child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey is right around the corner. The young girl was reported missing from her home on December 26, 1996. She was found later that day, strangled to death in the basement of her house in an upscale neighborhood in Boulder. No one has ever been charged in her death, making it one of the most prolific unsolved murder cases in American history.
An annual report released recently by the Boulder Police Department stated that new evidence is being considered in the case. The little girl was born in Atlanta, later settling in the quaint college town of Boulder.
JonBenét's murder grabbed headlines around the world for years. Several books, documentaries, true crime podcasts, and more have put the crime in the spotlight. The persistent speculation has led investigators to continue to provide annual updates about the investigation.
According to a video released on December 12 by Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, detectives have conducted multiple interviews over the last year. Redfearn also said that investigators re-interviewed some people due to new tips. The police chief also noted that the department has collected and tested new pieces of evidence, while also re-testing other pieces in an effort to generate new leads.
Redfearn offered hope to those wanting a resolution, noting that advancements in technology, especially in the field of DNA testing, could provide clues. The video message did not specify what types of new evidence have been introduced. Nor did Redfearn confirm who had been interviewed over the last year.
The Boulder Police Department wants people to know that it is never too late to come forward with information. Anyone with information can contact the department at BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov or call the police tip line at 303-441-1974.
About the JonBenét Ramsey Case
Law enforcement officers initially responded to the Ramsey home early in the morning on December 26, 1996. The victim's mother, Patsy Ramsey, made the call to police, saying that she had found a note detailing that her daughter had been kidnapped. The letter asked for $118,000 in ransom money, telling the Ramsey family not to call the police.
It was later that day that JonBenét's body was found in a spare room in the home's basement. Duct tape was wrapped around the victim's mouth and neck. According to police records, the death was ruled a homicide from the beginning. The cause of death was found to be asphyxiation from strangulation.
The Ramsey family was planning to fly to their home in Michigan to celebrate the holidays with family on the day that JonBenét was found dead. The girl's body was transported to Atlanta three days after the murder. She was buried in Marietta, Georgia, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery alongside her older half-sister, who perished in a 1992 car accident.
Investigators have long maintained that they believed the ransom note left the morning that JonBenét went missing was written inside the Ramsey home. A handwriting test conclusively eliminated John Ramsey as the writer; however, it did not clear Patsy. Both parents have been the subject of media scrutiny as possible suspects.
The Ramsey family moved back to Atlanta shortly after the tragedy. JonBenét's older 9-year-old brother, Burke, was also questioned by authorities.
The case has been embroiled in controversy for years. Some of the roadblocks that have popped up over the decades include grand jury investigations and indictments that went nowhere, a slew of DNA evidence that provided no substantial leads, and a teacher falsely confessing to the murder. Several detectives quit the case in light of all of the hiccups.
This tragedy has also been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. While some people maintain that the parents committed the crime, others point to Burke as the primary suspect. The police department initially said that the Ramsey family was cooperating with the investigation. However, law enforcement authorities also quickly told the public that it was an isolated incident and that the community was not in danger. This led many to believe that the Ramseys were the chief suspects.
The Ramsey family has filed several lawsuits against the media for their coverage of the case, alleging that they were portrayed as liars. Patsy Ramsey passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 in June 2006. She is buried next to her daughter in Georgia. John Ramsey later remarried and lives in Michigan.
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