Netflix has launched a three-part docuseries called “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?”
This is not Netflix’s first exploration of the case; in 2017, the platform released a hybrid documentary that examined how JonBenét’s murder has become a focal point of pop culture and conspiracy theories.
The new series revisits the notorious murder of JonBenét, a six-year-old beauty queen who was discovered lifeless in her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home in December 1996.
Additionally, there was a two-part miniseries titled “The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey,” which aired on CBS in 2016. This series itself became infamous for implicating JonBenét’s brother, Burke Ramsey, as the murderer. Soon after the mini-series saw daylight, Burke sued CBS for hurting his name, which we talked about before.
Now, with Netflix’s latest offering, viewers can gain further insight into JonBenét’s murder case. However, before you start watching it online, here are five key things you need to know about the case.
1) JonBenét Ramsey’s Case Transformed From A Kidnapping To A Homicide Investigation
JonBenét Ramsey’s heartbreaking story started as a kidnapping case but soon became a homicide investigation. Everything kicked off on December 26, 1996. At 5:52 AM, JonBenét’s mom, Patsy Ramsey, dialed 911. She reported her six-year-old daughter missing and mentioned a ransom note asking for $118,000.
Soon after, two officers showed up at the Ramsey house. They did a quick look around but didn’t lock down the house as a crime scene. Nothing happened for hours, and the kidnapper didn’t reach out again. This led to a more in-depth search.
Detective Linda Arndt led this search, with JonBenét’s dad, John Ramsey, and their friend Fleet White joining in. This time, they made a shocking find. At 1:00 PM, John discovered JonBenét’s dead body in a basement room, which investigators had missed during their first search.
This led to a shift from a frantic search for a disappeared child to a disturbing murder investigation. Even after years of examination and numerous theories, JonBenét’s killer remains unknown.
2) JonBenét Ramsey’s Crime Scene Was Severely Flawed
Many people have criticized how investigators handled JonBenét Ramsey’s crime scene, pointing out several mistakes that damaged potential evidence. John found his daughter’s body in the basement. He lifted her and brought her upstairs. This act, while natural, messed up the crime scene; here are photos.
At first, police thought someone had kidnapped JonBenét. Due to this, they secured her bedroom only. Thus, the rest of the house stayed open, which led to contamination. Also, friends, victim advocates, and even the family’s pastor came to support the Ramseys. Some visitors cleaned areas, including the kitchen. This wiped away key forensic clues without meaning to.
When people found JonBenét’s body, they saw duct tape on her mouth. A nylon cord tied her wrists and neck. Further, a white blanket wrapped her torso. These key details mattered a lot to investigators. But by the time forensic experts came back, someone had already moved a lot of important evidence.
So, the poor handling of the crime scene got in the way of the investigation and left open questions about how JonBenét died. Even now, these early mistakes stand out as a big problem in one of America’s most well-known unsolved cases.
3) What Forensic Analysis Revealed Regarding Ramsey’s Crime Scene?
Looking at JonBenét Ramsey’s crime scene showed key but confusing facts about her tragic demise. The autopsy found she died because she couldn’t breathe due to someone choking her, along with a cracked skull from a hard hit to the head. Though no semen turned up, injuries pointed to sexual abuse, and signs hinted that someone had cleaned her vaginal area.
Despite the cleaning, DNA was found at the crime scene, which proved crucial to the investigation. In 2003, tests revealed a mixed blood sample on JonBenét’s underwear with DNA from an unknown man. This DNA didn’t match any family members or known people and ended up in CODIS, but no matches came back.
More tests found extra genetic markers from unknown men, which some experts think might belong to the killer. Additionally, physical clues also suggested an outsider did it. A boot print near JonBenét’s body didn’t match anyone in the house, and a broken basement window hinted at a possible way in.
Also, unknown palm prints showed up near the scene. In 2016, cutting-edge forensic methods uncovered DNA from two unidentified people on evidence gathered earlier, making this chilling unsolved case even more baffling.
4) A Couple Of Things On The Ransom Note Doesn’t Fit In Properly
The ransom note in JonBenét Ramsey’s case continues to be a key and perplexing clue. Found soon after Patsy said her daughter was missing, it at first hinted at a kidnapping. But JonBenét’s body turned up dead in the family’s basement, which made people wonder if the note was real and what it was for.
Similarly, a few things about the note seemed off. It asked for $118,000—an exact amount that matched John’s work bonus that year. It didn’t sound as urgent as most ransom notes do, even though it warned not to call the police. Also, the note was long—two and a half pages, which is not normal since most ransom notes are short and to the point.
The note also said things that didn’t make sense together. For instance, it seemed worried about JonBenét’s safety but also made threats that didn’t sound real. Apparently there was also a practice ransom note found inside the house.
Plus, the fancy way it was written made people think maybe someone who knew the Ramseys wrote it, or maybe someone wrote it that way on purpose to throw off the police.
The case has sparked doubt due to the absence of signs pointing to forced entry or a fight. The broken window in the basement and other clues found nearby might have been set up, which casts doubt on the idea that an outsider committed the crime.
@hexesandhorrors #greenscreen #jonbenetramsey #ransom #ransomnotes #ransomnote #ramsey #ramseyfamily #jonbenet #jonbenetramseycase #unsolvedcases #unsolvedmurders #unsolvedmystery #theramseyfamily #jonbenetramseycase #jonbenetramseytheories #jonbenetramseydocumentary ♬ original sound – Hexes & Horrors
What’s more, the alleged kidnapper didn’t reach out again, which back up this idea. These odd details pushed detectives to look into other possibilities, such as someone the family knew being behind it.
5) Two Main Theories Emerged Regarding JonBenét’s Murder Surfaced
The JonBenét Ramsey murder case has sparked two primary explanations: the family’s involvement and an intruder’s actions. Both ideas have strong support, but neither has definitive proof.
Those who think the family played a role suggest a Ramsey family member might be responsible perhaps because of an accident followed by attempts to hide it. People who doubt the family’s innocence point to differences in what the Ramseys said and how they seemed unwilling to help the police.
For example, the ransom note found in the house has led some to think it was fake, meant to throw off detectives. Some people have even suggested that JonBenét’s brother Burke, who was 9 at the time, might have been involved by accident. However, this idea is debatable and lacks evidence.
Even Detective Arndt, who was with the Ramsey family waiting for the kidnapper to call back as mentioned in the ransom note, began to suspect family involvement, particularly regarding John Ramsey. She has discussed her suspicions in interviews, and online sleuths have echoed her concerns.
For instance, one Reddit user commented:
It makes me so sick the way John now mocks her in interviews and deliberately misrepresents what she said. He pretends she said that she knew he was the killer because of the “look in his eyes,” when in reality she knew it was him because she told him to search the house and he went directly to her body after acting suspiciously all morning and then pretended not to know she was dead (even though she was in rigor mortis) to give himself an excuse for moving the body and contaminating the crime scene.
Many others supported this view by saying:
“Exactly. I think he brought her upstairs because he knew that his DNA was already all over her so in order to cover it up, he messed with the crime scene.”
“Bingo! At that point in time, they didn’t even know where Jonbenet was… But Jon Ramsey knew cus he carried her up the steps from the basement.”
The intruder theory, however, points to signs of an outside attacker. A smashed window in the basement, strange footprints in the snow, and DNA from an unknown man on JonBenét’s clothes back up this view.
@tbuaincvi5x Jobenet Ramsey's father pleads with police to solve murder after 28 years: 'Just do your job'#fyp #fypage #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage ♬ original sound – tbuaincvi5x
While early probes found no obvious signs that someone had broken in, later looks suggested an intruder might have gotten into the house through the basement. Both ideas stress key evidence, which keeps the case open to argument and unsolved even after many years.
6) Bonus: Are Jonbenét Ramsey’s Parents Still Alive?
JonBenét Ramsey’s mom, Patsy Ramsey, passed away in 2006 when she was 49. Cancer in her ovaries ended her life. She breathed her last at her dad’s house, with her husband, John, next to her.
As cops looked into the case, some blamed Patsy for writing the ransom note. But a federal court said this wasn’t likely, based on what six handwriting experts found. The court also slammed people without proper skills for making false claims about her.
JonBenét’s dad, John, is still with us and keeps pushing to find out who killed his daughter. At 80, he won’t give up on getting justice. Also, John has talked in interviews and taken part in TV shows, like his recent spot before Netflix put out Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?
