JonBenet Ramsey’s father, John Ramsey, says he plans to satisfy with the Boulder Police Division chief in Colorado subsequent month, alongside a consultant from an unbiased genetic family tree analysis lab, as he pushes native authorities to permit an out of doors lab to check crime-scene proof from his daughter’s unsolved 1996 homicide case.
Thursday marks 28 years since 6-year-old JonBenet was discovered strangled and bludgeoned to dying within the basement of her household’s Boulder house on Dec. 26, 1996, and her killer stays unknown.
“We have now requested a gathering with [Boulder Police Department] Chief [Stephen] Redfearn in January. He stated yup, completely, let’s get collectively,” John Ramsey, 80, advised Fox Information Digital. “We haven’t scheduled the day but, however we’ll get that found out. That’s an essential assembly. We’re going to have a consultant with us for considered one of these cutting-edge labs to elucidate what they’ll and might’t do. Hopefully, he’ll settle for their assist.”
Ramsey added that if the BPD chief agrees to permit an unbiased lab to conduct testing on the practically three-decades-old crime scene gadgets — one thing he’s been pushing to do for years — he’ll really feel “comfy we’ve bought issues shifting.”
“The rationale I’ve performed these media interviews — Netflix, that documentary — is to maintain stress on the police. We’re not going to go away, of us,” Ramsey stated.
Ramsey needs police to retest sure proof for traces of DNA, together with exterior male DNA that federal officers disclosed in 1997, and take a look at different gadgets for the primary time.
Non-public genetic family tree databases have grown considerably during the last decade, and the expertise used to determine and hyperlink DNA to particular people is extra superior than it has ever been, making the opportunity of figuring out a suspect in JonBenet’s homicide utilizing genetic proof extra promising than ever earlier than.
There are greater than 20 gadgets within the case which have by no means been examined, together with, however not restricted to, a garrote discovered round JonBenet’s neck, a ransom observe discovered within the Ramsey home on the morning of the homicide, a suitcase discovered within the basement that authorities consider the killer used to flee out a window, an unknown flashlight discovered on the Ramsey household’s kitchen counter the morning of the homicide and unknown rope present in brother Burke Ramsey’s room that day, in keeping with public information initially obtained by journalist Paula Woodward, who has revealed two books concerning the Ramsey case.
Whereas it’s unclear if officers will have the ability to discover or determine any suspects within the case by partnering with an unbiased lab with entry to personal databases, Ramsey is hopeful that it’s the subsequent step for him in his pursuit for justice for his daughter, whether or not it yields outcomes or not.
“DNA is fairly difficult stuff. I’ve discovered that,” Ramsey stated, “however that’s the explanation that must be retested. That’s the one step that we’re asking the police to do is interact considered one of these one or two cutting-edge labs on this planet and see what we provide you with … and we come up empty-handed, then I’ll say, ‘Thanks. You tried. That’s the very best we will do proper now with in the present day’s expertise. Thanks.’ However till we try this, we haven’t performed every little thing that could possibly be performed.”
Ramsey stated he lastly feels hopeful that he and BPD are making “progress” within the case 28 years after his daughter’s homicide.
BPD advised Fox Information Digital that the division has “usually met with the household and plans to take action in 2025.”
Chief Redfearn is the fifth police chief to tackle the case since 1996, and he was formally appointed in September after serving because the interim chief for the Boulder Police Division beginning in January. BPD detectives have adopted up on greater than 21,000 suggestions, emails and letters and traveled to 19 states to interview or converse with greater than a thousand individuals in reference to the case.
“The killing of JonBenet was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has by no means left our hearts,” Redfearn stated in a November assertion reflecting on 28 years since JonBenet’s homicide. “We’re dedicated to following up on each lead and we’re persevering with to work with DNA specialists and our regulation enforcement companions across the nation till this tragic case is solved. This investigation will all the time be a precedence for the Boulder Police Division.”
Native authorities have partnered with federal officers — together with the FBI — and DNA specialists from throughout the nation, in keeping with BPD.
“The homicide of JonBenet Ramsey is a horrible tragedy and sparked years of unanswered questions and theories. Our workplace has efficiently prosecuted different chilly case homicides and lots of homicide circumstances,” District Legal professional Michael Dougherty stated. “In each a type of circumstances, it was the proof that proved the defendant(s) responsible. Whether or not it’s DNA or different proof, extra is required to resolve this homicide. I respect the collaboration with CBI, the FBI, and the Boulder Police Division.”
Officers have sorted by way of 2,500 items of proof and roughly 40,000 studies with greater than 1,000,000 pages documenting the investigation. The Colorado Chilly Case Assessment staff has additionally offered BPD with a listing of suggestions for the division to pursue, in keeping with Redfearn.
