A closer look at what police found at the Ramsey family’s home in Boulder, Colorado, after their 6-year-old daughter JonBenet Ramsey was found beaten to death and strangled in the basement on December 26, 1996.
A mysterious ransom note
A two-and-a-half-page note demanding a ransom of $118,000 was left on the steps of the Ramsey family home. /Credit: AP/Boulder Police Department
In the early morning hours of December 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her six-year-old daughter JonBenét missing. incoherent ransom note left at their home in Boulder, Colorado.
The crime scene
The Boulder, Colorado, home where the Ramsey family lived at the time of the murder. / Credit: CBS News
Several hours later, JonBenét was found dead in the basement of the house. The police found no traces of burglary.
An unusual murder weapon
The garrote strangled JonBenét. / Credit: CBS News
JonBenét had been hit on the head and strangled with this intricately made device known as a garrote.
More evidence at the scene
JonBenét’s father found her in the basement of their home, wrapped in this blanket. / Credit: CBS News
JonBenét’s body was wrapped in this white blanket and her mouth was covered with duct tape.
One researcher’s theory
Det. Lou Smit / Credit: CBS News
Retired homicide detective Lou Smit, who was hired by the Boulder district attorney to work the case and later worked for the Ramsey family, believed an intruder entered the Ramsey home and killed JonBenét.
The killer is inside?
Evidence in the JonBenét Ramsey murder case includes an open basement window and a suitcase. / Credit: CBS News
Smit believed that the killer entered the basement through this window and used the suitcase to climb out again.
Evidence left behind?
Rope found in a guest room at Ramsey’s home. / Credit: CBS News
Authorities found this rope in a bedroom close to JonBenét’s. The Ramseys said it wasn’t theirs.
John Ramsey’s search for answers
In a November 2024 interview with
The DNA recovered from JonBenét’s body and clothing belongs to an unknown man. Her father, John Ramsey, believes new technology can and should be used to find out who it belongs to. He calls for new tests of the garrote, suitcase, blanket and other evidence.
The current research
Boulder Police/Credit: CBS News
In November 2024, Boulder police said: “The claim that there is viable evidence and leads that we are not pursuing – including DNA testing – is completely false.”
If you have any information about the case, call Boulder police at 303-441-1974 or email BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov
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