For almost three many years, the unsolved homicide of JonBenét Ramsey has lingered in America’s consciousness as some of the mysterious chilly instances in historical past. Now, with Netflix’s new docuseries Chilly Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey bringing renewed consideration to the investigation, many are questioning in regards to the man who has by no means stopped trying to find solutions: her father, John Ramsey.
Associated: The place Is JonBenét Ramsey’s Brother Now? His Life After Being Accused of Her Homicide
The nightmare started the day after Christmas 1996, when Boulder, Colorado police had been known as to the Ramsey household’s dwelling. Earlier that morning, JonBenét’s mom Patsy Ramsey had found a prolonged ransom observe demanding $118,000 for his or her daughter. Hours of frantic looking led to tragedy when JonBenét’s physique was discovered within the basement. The 6-year-old magnificence pageant star had been strangled to demise, leaving a group shaken and spawning many years of theories, accusations, and media hypothesis that usually solid suspicion on the household themselves.
However after years of a lot public scrutiny, private tragedy, and irritating useless ends, JonBenét’s father continues to be round—and he’s remained decided to uncover the reality about his daughter’s homicide. From his ongoing push for brand spanking new DNA testing to his current advocacy for out of doors assist with the investigation, right here’s what we learn about the place John Ramsey is now and his dedication to discovering justice for JonBenét.
What occurred to JonBenét Ramsey’s father after her demise?
Within the rapid aftermath of JonBenét’s homicide, John Ramsey’s life was understandably modified eternally. As president of Entry Graphics, a profitable laptop companies firm, he had constructed a cushty life in Boulder. Nevertheless, the household quickly discovered themselves on the heart of a media storm.
Documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger, director of the 2024 Netflix collection Chilly Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, informed In the present day, “That is essentially the most brutalized man, I believe, in American historical past. Think about shedding your youngster in the best way that that youngster was misplaced and being blamed by the media, largely as a result of the police fed false tales or incomplete tales to the press, and it was only a wildfire of wrongful accusation.”
The stress pressured the Ramsey household to relocate to Michigan in 1997, searching for privateness and a contemporary begin. The years following JonBenét’s demise introduced extra heartbreak for John when he misplaced his spouse Patsy to ovarian most cancers in 2006 at age 49. The couple had stayed collectively by the investigation and maintained their innocence all through.
The place is JonBenét Ramsey’s dad now?
On the time of the Netflix documentary’s 2024 launch, John Ramsey was 80 years outdated and persevering with his decades-long quest for justice for his daughter. He lives in Charlevoix, Michigan along with his new spouse Jan Rousseaux, a designer whom he married in 2011. Although provided the chance to preview the documentary about his daughter’s case, Ramsey selected to not watch it.
“I’m doing this for the sake of my kids and my grandchildren. This cloud over our household’s identify must be lifted,” Ramsey informed In the present day in November 2024. “They want to have the ability to go on and shut this chapter and go on with their lives. It’s arduous on them.”
Today, Ramsey stays targeted on pushing for brand spanking new investigations and superior testing strategies. “I imagine it may be solved if the police settle for assist from outdoors their system,” he mentioned. “That’s been the flaw for 25 years.” His perspective is supported by Berlinger, who famous there are objects from the crime scene that also have to be examined for DNA for the primary time, whereas different items ought to be re-tested.
The Boulder Police Division, below new chief Steve Redfearn, issued a press release to NBC Information saying they’re “persevering with to work with DNA specialists and our legislation enforcement companions across the nation till this tragic case is solved.” Ramsey expressed cautious optimism in regards to the new management, noting, “The brand new chief of police looks like an excellent man, (an) open communicator. All he’s acquired to do is open the door and let all this assist in that’s standing there ready to assist.”
When requested why he continues his search after almost three many years, Ramsey shared, “You don’t recover from it. One mom described the lack of her youngster as a gap in her coronary heart that received’t heal, and that’s an excellent description.” He went on to inform In the present day, “You’re completely different going ahead. What we realized early on was we wanted to be stronger now than ever, for our different kids who’re nonetheless residing, this was a horrible tragedy for them, and for us, too.”
Whereas acknowledging that discovering the killer received’t change his private loss, Ramsey stays dedicated to clearing his household’s identify. “Discovering the killer will not be going to alter my life. I’ve misplaced JonBenét and it’s not going to carry JonBenét again. I want to shut this chapter so we might be extra relaxation and at peace,” he mentioned. “I received’t surrender urgent the authorities to do their job till I see that they do their job, and that’s been the frustration for 25 years.”
