The murder investigation into the death of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey has been one of the most notorious and controversial cases in modern history. For years, investigators claimed to be suspicious of the family being involved in the crime. But they were eliminated in January 1997 by DNA evidence.

On Christmas Night 1996, JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in her Boulder, Colorado home. A ransom note demanding a $118,000 payment was found on the stairs inside the home. 

Hours later surrounded by friends and police her father, John, found her body in the basement.

Investigators determined that she had been hit over the head and sexually assaulted. She had been strangled and had a fractured skull. Her mouth was closed with duct tape, and a nylon cord was wrapped around her wrists and neck. 

Newly available documents show that DNA evidence recovered from JonBenét’s clothes and fingernails did not match any family members or close friends.

According to Fox News Digital, former El Paso County sheriff, John W. Anderson, shared all the details in his upcoming book titled “Lou and JonBenet: A Legendary Lawman’s Quest to Solve a Child Beauty Queen’s Murder.” 

In his book, Anderson shares the work of Colorado investigator Lou Smit, who came out of retirement in 1997 to work on the case. And died in 2010. 

Anderson believes Smit is the only person who had an unredacted copy of the documents, outside of law enforcement.

DNA evidence 

The book lays out the details of the documents and how the Boulder police ignored the DNA evidence that could have identified JonBenét’s killer and exonerated her family.

The DNA analysis revealed that if the minor components found in exhibits #7, 14L, and 14M were contributed by a single individual, then members of JonBenét’s family, including John Andrew Ramsey, Melinda Ramsey, John B. Ramsey, Patricia Ramsey, Burke Ramsey, Jeff Ramsey, John Fernie, Priscilla White, and Mervin Pugh would be excluded as sources of the DNA.

JonBenét’s parents, Patsy and John, were long considered persons of interest in the case. And were not officially cleared until 2008.

 Patsy died from cancer in 2006. And John continues to hope for justice.

“Whoever is responsible for this has lived the last 25 years in fear of being discovered; in fear that technology would one day evolve to the point that this homicide could be solved. That day, and that technology, are here now,” John Ramsey wrote to the current Colorado Governor, Jared Polis in 2022.

“I am 78 now and realize that time for answers is running out. The murder of my daughter can never be undone. There will never be peace or closure. But there can and should be justice,” he added.

The case remains unsolved, but with the release of new evidence, Anderson and Smit's family are hoping that JonBenét’s killer may still be found. 

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Boulder police tipline at 303-441-1974, [email protected], or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.nococrimestoppers.com.