Nearly three decades after the killing of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, Boulder police say the investigation remains active as detectives continue collecting and re-examining evidence tied to one of the most infamous unsolved murders in U.S. history.
According to ABC News, JonBenét was found dead inside her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home on December 26, 1996, just hours after her mother discovered a handwritten ransom note claiming the child had been kidnapped.
The note demanded $118,000—an amount that immediately drew attention given its specificity. Later that same day, JonBenét’s father discovered her body in the basement. She had been beaten, strangled with a garrote, and suffered a fractured skull. An autopsy ruled her death a homicide.
As the case approaches its 29-year mark, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn released the department’s annual update, emphasizing renewed investigative efforts.
“This case remains a top priority for our department,” Redfearn said in a video statement. According to police, investigators have conducted new interviews, re-interviewed individuals based on incoming tips, and tested and retested evidence using modern forensic methods.
“Techniques and technology constantly evolve,” Redfearn said, noting that advancements in DNA analysis remain a key focus. Unknown DNA was previously found under JonBenét’s fingernails and in her underwear, evidence that continues to be evaluated as testing capabilities improve.
Authorities declined to specify what items were recently analyzed or who was questioned, citing the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The murder immediately captured national and international attention in the late 1990s, fueled by JonBenét’s participation in child beauty pageants and the unusual circumstances surrounding the crime. Early investigative missteps and intense media scrutiny followed the Ramsey family for years.
Per WSB-TV, JonBenét’s parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, were publicly suspected before being officially cleared in 2008 after DNA evidence excluded them and their son, Burke, as contributors. Patsy Ramsey died in 2006 and is buried beside her daughter in Marietta, Georgia.
Following JonBenét’s death, the Ramseys relocated to the Atlanta area in 1997 to escape relentless media attention. Police later confirmed they have remained in contact with the family.
Redfearn said he recently met with them and stressed shared goals. “We want to find and bring JonBenét’s murderer to justice,” he said.
Authorities continue urging anyone with information—no matter how much time has passed—to come forward. “It’s never too late,” Redfearn said.
Anyone with tips can contact the Boulder police directly, as the case remains open and under active review.