A decades-old unaired interview with the parents of murdered child pageant star JonBenet Ramsey reveals new insights into the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death.
According to Fox News, a previously unreleased 2000 interview with Barbara Walters has resurfaced, where John Ramsey suggests the killer's ransom note demand of $118,000 closely matched his annual bonus amount, potentially indicating a financial motive.
The interview's reemergence follows Netflix's November documentary release "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey," bringing renewed attention to the unsolved murder case. In the conversation with Walters, both John and his late wife Patsy Ramsey addressed the possible connection of the peculiar ransom amount to John's workplace bonus, with Patsy stating she was unaware of the exact figure at the time.
The case has recently seen developments with the Boulder Police Department's leadership change. Stephen Redfearn, who became the department's fifth police chief since the 1996 murder, has maintained ongoing communication with the Ramsey family regarding the investigation.
John Ramsey, now 80, has expressed optimism about the new leadership while continuing to advocate for the FBI's involvement in testing crime scene evidence. His primary focus remains on utilizing modern DNA technology to examine previously untested items from the crime scene.
The relationship between law enforcement and the Ramsey family has been complex throughout the investigation. Despite initial suspicions toward the parents, prosecutors eventually dropped their case against John and Patsy in 2006, following a controversial grand jury indictment in 1999.
Multiple pieces of evidence from the crime scene have never undergone DNA testing, including several potentially crucial items. These untested materials include the garrote used in the murder, the ransom note, a mysterious suitcase found in the basement, an unidentified flashlight discovered on the kitchen counter, and an unknown rope located in Burke Ramsey's room.
During the interview with Walters, John Ramsey addressed the significance of the ransom amount, stating:
Well, that was one of the theories that I came up with, that it was close to the net amount I'd received that year as a bonus. One-eighteen means something to the killer. We know that. We believe that. Whether it's tied to my bonus or something only the killer knows, we don't know.
The case has been marked by various challenges, including the handling of evidence and investigative approaches. Recent developments have focused on the potential of advanced DNA testing methods to provide new leads in the investigation.
The murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey remains one of America's most discussed cold cases, with sustained public interest nearly three decades after her death. John Ramsey continues to push for further investigation and DNA testing of evidence from their Boulder, Colorado home where JonBenet was found dead the day after Christmas in 1996.
Ramsey has particularly emphasized the importance of examining a male DNA sample discovered in 1997. He criticizes the police department's initial handling of this evidence, suggesting they kept it secret due to conflicts with their original theory of the case.
The Boulder Police Department, under Chief Redfearn's leadership, has committed to maintaining dialogue with the Ramsey family. Their statement confirms ongoing conversations while the investigation continues to pursue new leads and technological advances in forensic science.
JonBenet Ramsey's murder case continues to evolve with the emergence of the previously unseen Barbara Walters interview and new leadership at the Boulder Police Department. John Ramsey's theory about the killer's possible financial motivation, connected to his bonus amount of $118,000, adds another layer to the complex investigation that has spanned nearly three decades. The case remains active under Chief Stephen Redfearn's leadership, with John Ramsey advocating for FBI involvement and advanced DNA testing of untested evidence.
