John Ramsey is renewing calls for Boulder police to retest all available evidence in the 1996 murder of his daughter, JonBenét Ramsey, as fresh allegations surface against a former suspect. In an interview this week, Ramsey expressed confidence that advancements in genetic genealogy could finally solve the nearly three-decade-old case.
Ramsey, 81, told DailyMail.com that key evidence, including the makeshift garrotte used in JonBenét's killing and unidentified male DNA found on her underwear and beneath her fingernails, should be reexamined using the latest DNA techniques. He believes the killer could be identified within months, estimating a 60 to 70 percent chance of success if authorities commit to retesting.
"DNA technology has advanced dramatically since the last round of testing was done in the mid-2000s," Ramsey stated. "If it doesn't work, then I'll praise the police for trying everything they could."
The renewed push follows a bombshell claim by Jacqueline Dilson, who alleges her former partner, ex-journalist Chris Wolf, was responsible for JonBenét's murder. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, Dilson described Wolf as a man consumed by hatred toward Ramsey and his business connections, particularly to defense contractor Lockheed Martin, and claims he staged the crime scene as part of a politically motivated attack.
Wolf, now 65, has vehemently denied the accusations, calling them "completely absurd" and "the product of disturbed fantasy." He told Daily Mail, "I had absolutely nothing at all to do with the murder of JonBenét Ramsey."
Wolf voluntarily provided DNA, fingerprint, and handwriting samples to Boulder police in 1998. The department stated in 2011 that he had been "thoroughly investigated" and has never publicly cleared or charged him in connection with the case.
Dilson first reported her suspicions to police in January 1997, citing Wolf's erratic behavior on the night of JonBenét's murder. She claims he left their home for hours on Christmas night, returning late, covered in mud, and agitated. Over the years, Dilson submitted potential evidence to police, including clothing and bedsheets she believed could contain trace DNA or fibers.
However, Steve Thomas, the case's former lead detective, testified in 2001 that he was unsure whether any of the items were ever tested, expressing doubts about Dilson's reliability as a witness.
Ramsey, who met with Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn in January, plans to ask whether any of Dilson's materials were retained or tested, and whether Wolf remains under consideration as a suspect. He has also offered to pay for new testing himself, though police have indicated that wouldn't be necessary.
"The problem with Boulder Police is that on day one they decided that the parents did it," Ramsey said. "Investigating leads that pointed elsewhere was, in their minds, a waste of time."
JonBenét was reported missing on December 26, 1996. Later that day, her body was found by her father in the family's basement. The six-year-old was bound, gagged, and strangled, with the crime scene staged to resemble a kidnapping.
For more than a decade, the Ramseys were considered prime suspects, but in 2008, then-District Attorney Mary Lacy formally cleared them, citing new DNA evidence. Lacy apologized for the suspicion they endured, though the cloud over the Ramsey family has lingered.
Ramsey remains convinced that the killer's identity lies in the untested DNA evidence. He points to the success of genetic genealogy in solving cases like the Golden State Killer and Gilgo Beach murders.
Despite being critical of Boulder police's handling of the case in the past, Ramsey said he came away encouraged after his recent meeting with Chief Redfearn. "The police now have top-tier leadership in charge," he said. "We are cautiously hopeful we may finally be on the right track."
Though he believes Wolf remains a compelling suspect based on circumstantial evidence, Ramsey said DNA testing remains the key to unlocking the truth.
