JonBenét Ramsey
A child pageant star found in her own basement on Christmas morning.
Six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found bludgeoned and strangled in the basement of her family's Boulder home on December 26, 1996. A rambling ransom note was found on the kitchen staircase. The case remains one of America's most scrutinized unsolved murders.
The morning after Christmas, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her daughter missing. On the back staircase, she said, she'd found a three-page handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 — an oddly specific figure matching the size of John Ramsey's recent bonus. Hours later, John Ramsey found JonBenét's body in a small storage room in the basement. Her wrists were bound. A garrote made from a paintbrush handle was around her neck.
The Boulder Police Department made a series of critical errors: they didn't secure the crime scene, allowed friends of the family into the home, and let John Ramsey move the body before forensics arrived. Contamination of evidence would haunt the case forever.
A grand jury voted to indict John and Patsy Ramsey in 1999, but the district attorney declined to sign the indictment, citing insufficient evidence. In 2008, then-DA Mary Lacy officially exonerated the family based on 'touch DNA' recovered from JonBenét's clothing. That DNA has never been matched to any known individual.
In 2016, the case was reopened. New advanced forensic testing is ongoing. The killer remains at large.
- Dec 25, 1996Family attends holiday party; returns home around 10 PM.
- Dec 26, 5:52 AMPatsy Ramsey calls 911 reporting JonBenét missing.
- Dec 26, 1:05 PMJohn Ramsey discovers her body in the basement wine cellar.
- 1999Grand jury votes to indict parents; DA refuses to sign.
- 2008Ramseys officially cleared via 'touch DNA' analysis.
- 201620th anniversary — case reopened for advanced DNA re-testing.
- EX-01The 2.5-page ransom note, written on paper from a pad inside the house.
- EX-02A garrote made from a broken paintbrush handle traced to Patsy's art kit.
- EX-03Male DNA recovered from JonBenét's underwear and long johns, unmatched.
- EX-04An open basement window with a suitcase beneath it.
"Something in this file doesn't sit right. Ask the detective — he's read it a hundred times."