Police in Colorado are following dozens of leads in JonBenét's murder and are quietly hoping they will get closer to a solution, two law enforcement sources told The Post.
“We don't know what it will take to fully open the door, but it feels like it's within reach,'' said a source close to the investigation. We are looking forward to 2025. This year is our year. ”
Momentum has stalled since 2023, when the former Boulder police chief convened a multiagency task force to investigate the case. Investigators say the group has only met in person once, but investigators say they are in regular contact.
“It wasn't as aggressive as anyone expected,” the investigator said. “But there is now a lot of pressure to solve this problem.”
Another law enforcement official said new Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfern, who takes office in early 2024, is now turning his attention to the case. It became a stain on the Boulder Police Department. ”
“We messed up this case from the beginning, but with the help of our new allies, we were finally able to solve the problem.”
boulder police station Annual update released He spoke about the murder investigation last Tuesday, a day after Netflix released the hit new documentary “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey.”
Police claim they are doing everything in their power to solve the mysterious case that has been plaguing them since 1996.
“JonBenet's murder was an unspeakable crime, and this tragedy has never left our hearts,” Redfern said. “We are committed to following up on every lead and will continue to work with DNA experts and law enforcement partners across the country until this tragic case is solved. is always a top priority.”
Redfern, who previously worked in the Denver suburb of Aurora, took aim at claims that detectives were not investigating all tips.
“Any claim that there is viable evidence or leads, including DNA testing, that we are not pursuing is completely false,” Redfern continued.
But Ramsey's family has criticized the Boulder Police Department, saying detectives have become distracted and have not sought the help they need.
Authorities sent some items for new DNA testing last year, but frustratingly they still can't solve the case.
“There were some terrible failures,” said JonBenet's father, John Ramsey. I said “today” last week. “But I believe that if the police accepted help from outside the system, they could solve this problem. That's where they fell short.”
JonBenét's murder has confounded authorities since the 6-year-old beauty queen was reported missing from her sprawling home in Boulder, Colorado, in the early morning hours of December 26, 1996.
Hours later, John Ramsey discovered the girl's body in the basement of his home. A garrote was wrapped around her neck, and the impact to the back of her head shattered her skull.
Police initially focused on JonBenet's family: her father, John. Mother Patsy. And Brother Burke. However, 15 days after the murder, DNA tests appear to have removed them as suspects. They were formally exonerated by the then-district attorney in 2008.
Twenty-eight years later, no one has been held accountable for JonBenet's murder.
However, John Ramsay has publicly stated that he is “cautiously optimistic” that there will be movement on the case soon.
“They need to accept the help that is offered,” said Ramsey, 80. “We have a new police chief coming in from the outside and I hope he is open to help so we can solve this problem.”
