Nearly 28 years after the tragic death of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, fresh attention is being drawn to one of America's most haunting cold cases. New details have surfaced involving an alleged confession from a man claiming to be a hired killer, as well as advancements in DNA technology that may hold the key to solving the case.
JonBenét was found murdered in the basement of her family's Boulder, Colorado, home on December 26, 1996. Her father, John Ramsey, discovered her body after finding a ransom note demanding $118,000-the exact amount of his bonus that year. The young beauty queen had been strangled and beaten, and signs of sexual assault were evident. Despite decades of investigation, the case remains unsolved.
In a shocking revelation, John Ramsey recently disclosed that a man using the alias "David Cooper" confessed to killing JonBenét over 20 years ago. According to Ramsey, Cooper claimed he was a professional hitman hired by a disgruntled former employee of Ramsey's computer company, Access Graphics. During two lengthy phone conversations, Cooper provided chilling details about the Ramsey home, including the presence of a red model airplane on John's desk-details that had never been publicly disclosed.
"My main objective in talking to him was trying to figure out if he was the killer who was in our house," Ramsey, now 81, told The National Enquirer. He added, "I said there is a little model airplane on my desk, what color was it? And he said, 'red.' And I said OK, the color is red."
Despite the specificity of Cooper's knowledge, Ramsey claims that the Boulder Police Department showed little interest in following up on the lead. "They told me, 'Why don't you have him come in, and we'll meet with him,' and I was like, great, that's a real encouraging response," Ramsey said sarcastically. He also alleged that his own private investigators dismissed Cooper's claims at the time, though he remains unsure why.
Adding to the intrigue, Ramsey recently received a letter from a Louisiana woman claiming that her husband-believed to be Cooper-is JonBenét's killer. Ramsey has yet to contact her but remains determined to pursue all leads. "We've let the killer walk for more than 28 years," he said. "I think it's imperative that we investigate every credible suspect that's been provided."
This revelation comes as advancements in DNA technology rekindle hope for progress in the case. Ramsey has called on authorities to retest key DNA evidence using modern techniques, such as genetic genealogy, which has successfully solved numerous cold cases in recent years. However, Ramsey claims the Boulder Police Department has resisted these efforts. "The last response I got from the [Boulder] chief of police was, 'Well, we don't think DNA technology had advanced far enough.' And that's nonsense!" Ramsey said.
The Boulder Police Department has faced decades of criticism for its handling of the case. In a recent statement, Police Chief Stephen Redfearn acknowledged past shortcomings while reaffirming the department's commitment to solving the case. "There are a number of things that people have pointed to throughout the years that could have been done better, and we acknowledge that as true," Redfearn said. "Our goal is to find JonBenét Ramsey's killer."
The case has been further complicated by years of suspicion cast on the Ramsey family. For 12 years, John, his late wife Patsy, and their son Burke were considered prime suspects, despite a lack of evidence connecting them to the crime. The family was officially exonerated in 2008, but public opinion has been slow to follow.
Key investigators, including the late Lou Smit, maintained that an intruder was responsible for JonBenét's murder. Smit compiled an extensive list of over 800 potential suspects before his death in 2010. His family has continued his work, clearing several individuals but struggling with the time and resources needed to test DNA and investigate leads.
The recent surge of public interest, partly fueled by Netflix's docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?, has amplified calls for justice. Ramsey collaborated on the project, which examines evidence and theories surrounding the case. Director Joe Berlinger emphasized the injustice faced by the Ramsey family, saying, They "were wrongfully convicted in the court of public opinion."
John Ramsey remains steadfast in his pursuit of answers. "JonBenét's still my 6-year-old blond-headed daughter who I love dearly," he told ABC News. "Let's do a reverse family tree and see if [the killer] had a relative living in Boulder in 1996."
As new leads emerge, including the claims tied to "David Cooper," and technology continues to evolve, there is renewed hope that this decades-old mystery may finally be solved.
