In Netflix’s new docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? viewers are once again confronted with the tragic and unsolved mystery of the 6-year-old’s death, a case that has captivated the public for nearly three decades. While the three-hour series does not provide the definitive answers many have hoped for, it offers a compelling reevaluation of the intense scrutiny placed on JonBenét’s family, particularly her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and her young brother, Burke. The documentary delves deep into the wrongful accusations against the family, providing fresh perspectives on how media hysteria and flawed investigations clouded the truth.
In a case that has remained unsolved since 1996, Cold Case shines a light on the missteps in the early investigation and how false information perpetuated harmful assumptions. As the documentary unfolds, it becomes clear that the initial focus on the Ramseys as suspects was not only misguided but potentially harmful. Paula Woodward, an investigative journalist who covered the case, sums it up succinctly: “People hated the Ramseys, and it was because of the information that had come out about them that was incorrect.”
From the very beginning, the Ramseys were subjected to intense public and media scrutiny. John Ramsey, who now stands at 80 years old, recounts the constant media harassment his family endured in the aftermath of JonBenét’s death. “We’d stay with friends and within a day or two, the house would just be surrounded by cameras and people banging on the door and the windows,” he recalls in the docuseries. The emotional toll of living under a microscope is evident as John, now aged, reflects on the years of unanswered questions and the overwhelming weight of public suspicion.
The media’s fixation on the Ramseys reached absurd levels, with a 1999 poll by Scripps Howard News Service revealing that a quarter of the respondents believed JonBenét’s mother, Patsy, was responsible for the murder. Five percent even suspected Burke, who was only 9 years old at the time. Despite this, Burke declined to participate in the documentary, citing the long-lasting damage caused by the media and “online web sleuths” who had vilified him. In fact, in 2019, Burke received an undisclosed settlement from CBS after a defamation lawsuit related to a 2016 special that implicated him in the killing.
John Andrew Ramsey, John’s son from his first marriage, provides a poignant insight into the absurdity of blaming Burke, a young child at the time. “You look back at pictures of 9-year-old Burke, and it’s just absurd to think, ‘Oh yeah, he could’ve killed his sister and delivered this level of violence,’” John Andrew says.
One of the most unsettling moments in the docuseries comes from a 1997 mock trial conducted by Geraldo Rivera, in which a panel of jurors was asked to determine whether the Ramseys were responsible for JonBenét’s death. The trial, designed as a sensationalist exercise, involved the testimony of a supposed child abuse expert who made an inflammatory claim about JonBenét’s behavior in a videotaped performance. The expert suggested that JonBenét had been “sexually stimulated” while playing the saxophone, an outrageous mischaracterization of the footage, which showed the young girl pretending to play the instrument. Patsy Ramsey’s reaction to this false accusation was one of disbelief and disgust. “I could not believe what I was hearing,” she said in an earlier interview. “It’s sick for someone to even remotely allude to something so horrible; just nauseates me.” After the televised “jury” returned a verdict implicating her, Patsy was left emotionally devastated. “I went to bed for about two days because I just was mortified,” she admitted.
Beyond the media spectacle, Cold Case also raises questions about the investigation itself, particularly concerning the DNA evidence collected from JonBenét’s body. Investigators discovered DNA belonging to an unknown male on JonBenét’s fingernails and underwear. The results, which ultimately excluded the Ramsey family as potential contributors, were kept secret for months. John Ramsey, in the documentary, expresses his belief that the police intentionally withheld the information. “They were told in January by their lab, ‘We tested the DNA. There is unidentified male DNA, which excludes the parents and the son, Burke,’” John Ramsey explains. “They kept that secret from the media and the district attorney for months… because it conflicted with their conclusion that we were the killers.”
This decision to withhold exonerating evidence raises significant concerns about the integrity of the investigation. Had the police been more transparent about the DNA findings, would the case have unfolded differently? Could the focus on the Ramsey family have been avoided, allowing investigators to pursue other leads more effectively? These questions remain unanswered as the mystery surrounding JonBenét’s death continues to perplex investigators and the public alike.
While Cold Case doesn’t offer a resolution to the tragedy, it does succeed in providing a more nuanced understanding of the immense toll the case has had on the Ramsey family. It humanizes them, showing the personal anguish they endured as a result of the public’s unrelenting suspicion. The documentary also serves as a critique of the media’s role in sensationalizing the case and the way it contributed to the unfair treatment of the Ramseys.
The tragic death of JonBenét Ramsey, which has remained one of the most high-profile unsolved murders in American history, continues to captivate audiences and inspire investigations. As the Cold Case series demonstrates, the case is as much about the wrongful accusations that tore apart a family as it is about the unresolved questions surrounding JonBenét’s death. The docuseries reminds viewers of the dangers of rushing to judgment based on incomplete information and the lasting damage that can be inflicted on innocent people in the process.
In the end, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? does not provide the closure many have been desperately seeking for nearly three decades. However, it does offer a fresh perspective on the case, urging viewers to reconsider long-held assumptions and to question the motives behind the media’s portrayal of the Ramseys. While the mystery remains unsolved, the documentary forces us to confront the painful reality that, in the pursuit of answers, the lives of an innocent family were irreparably damaged.