Investigators on the case of JonBenet Ramsay’s death are looking into genetic DNA testing to find the killer.
Six-year-old Ramsay was found dead in the basement of her family’s Boulder home on December 26, 1996, bludgeoned and strangled, several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind.
The death of her mother was determined to be homicide. However, nobody was ever arrested in this case.
On Monday, Boulder police said that as Ramsay’s anniversary approaches, they will be looking at ‘genetic DNA tests processes to determine if they could be applied to the case moving forward’. They also work closely with state investigators to develop ‘future DNA advances’.
“As the Department uses new technology to enhance its investigation, it actively reviews genetic DNA testing procedures to see whether those processes can be applied in this case moving forward,” it stated.
While police did not specify what genetic DNA processes are, they could possibly include databases generated from at-home DNA tests, KDVR.com reported.
To crack cold cases, detectives are increasingly turning to DNA genealogy databases. In 2018, they used them to identify the Golden State Killer in 2018.
Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., an ex-cop, was captured after DNA testing showed that he had been linked to several of the murders and 51 sexual assaults during this period.
The DNA of nearly 40-years-old was linked to crime scenes and to a distant relative. Finally, the tissue was traced to an anonymous discarded tissue taken from DeAngelo’s dumpster in suburban Sacramento. His sentence was to successive life sentences in August.
Oregon’s earlier in the year saw a man accused of killing 2 people, 20 years apart. His forensic genealogy had linked him to one of their 1999 disappearances and his presumed death. Christopher Lovrien pleads not guilty in the case of murder.
JonBenet Ramsay’s body (pictured) was found strangled in her basement hours following her disappearance on December 26, 1996.
While no member of the family was charged for the death, there were years when tabloids as well as the public thought that at least one person in the family had been.
JonBenét Ramsay who was found dead inside the basement of her parent’s palatial home in Boulder, Colorado in 1996 (pictured)
Boulder police said that as of December 2021 they have analyzed nearly 1,500 pieces of evidence related to the murder of JonBenet Ramsay, including 1,000 DNA samples.
According to police, the 1,000 DNA samples also include reference samples from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
According to police, they also investigated or reviewed 21,016 tips and letters. They interviewed 1000 people in 19 states.
Investigators still want to match the unidentified DNA found on Ramsey’s longjohns and Ramsey’s waistband. This has not led to any interest from anyone.
JonBenet’s older brother John Andrew Ramsey is calling for more police action despite their best efforts.
Ramsey stated that the Boulder police had done too little. “What we want is results. It doesn’t matter if it’s Boulder police or another agency. Great if another agency is involved. You will do whatever it takes for JonBenet to be found dead.
JonBenet, six year old, was discovered covered with a white blanket and duct tape.
John and Patsy would be the main suspects in the death of their daughter for over a decade. It wasn’t until 2008 when police finally exonerated them.
Genetic DNA testing represents the latest development in an unsolved crime in American history. It all started with JonBenet’s body being found strangled and bludgeoned in her basement just hours after she had been reported missing December 26, 1996.
A white blanket was wrapped around her neck with a nylon string, and her wrists were tied above her head. Then she had her mouth closed using duct tape.
John and Patsy were her parents and called police to report the kidnapping. The note demanded $118,000 in ransom to secure her safe return.
Police arrived at their house shortly thereafter in marked police vehicles, despite this.
John and Patsy would be the main suspects in their daughter’s murder for over a decade. It wasn’t until 2008 when police finally exonerated them.
After reports that the handwriting in the ransom notes was identical to Patsy’s, members of the public suspected her of being the victim of murder. However, she provided police with a sample and it was proven she didn’t write the note.
Many people also believed there was someone else in the household, even though they said that no footprints were found in the snow surrounding the house.
Burke Ramsey was at nine-years old when he was accused of killing his sister.
John Mark Karr (41 years old) confessed that he had killed the tiny beauty in 2006. This was 10 years after JonBenet’s murder.
Although there was no family member ever accused of the death, for decades tabloids as well as the public believed they were.
CBS aired The Case Of: JonBenet Ramsey a few years back. It concluded with investigators concluding that Burke Ramsey had been responsible for the death of his sister despite him being only nine.
Burke sued the network, and was awarded damages in excess of $750 million.
Ollie Gray was the private investigator who investigated the case of the murder even though he quit working for Ramseys. In 2016, Gray claimed that the victim in the crime against the child was 26-year old Michael Helgoth, a nearby junkyard owner.
Alex Hunter was at that time the District Attorney and held a press conference on February 13 1997. He spoke with JonBenet’s killer saying, ‘The suspect list narrows. Soon, there won’t be anyone on that list except you.
Helgoth committed suicide at home two days after his death.
Helgoth died in 2003, and it wasn’t until years later that his DNA had been discovered under JonBenet’s nails or her underwear, which cleared him.
John Mark Karr, a 41 year-old teacher of mathematics confessed in 2006 to having killed the beautiful little girl 10 years later than JonBenet.
His DNA was not compatible with that of the body of the girl and he was therefore arrested in Bangkok.