Boulder, Colorado, police have made a new announcement regarding the ongoing investigation into the December 1996 death of JonBenét Ramsey. While the murder remains unsolved, authorities feel they could be closer than ever to solving it.
The police released a statement explaining who the cold case investigative team is and why they are being introduced to the case 26 years later.
The statement explains, "As we approach the 26th anniversary of JonBenet Ramsey's homicide, the Boulder Police Department and Boulder County District Attorney's Office wanted to provide another update about the ongoing homicide investigation."
The statement continues, "Since JonBenet's murder, detectives have investigated leads stemming from more than 21,000 tips, letters, and emails. We have traveled to 19 states to interview or speak with more than 1,000 individuals."
The statement then touches on the DNA evidence that exists from the crime scene, describing it as "extremely small and complex." It's also unclear if that evidence can be used, as the team has had "several discussions with private DNA labs about the viability of continued testing of DNA recovered from the crime scene and genetic genealogy analysis."
The statement adds, "As in any cold case homicide, the investigation can always benefit from the perspective of outside experts. So, in addition to talking with the private DNA labs, the Boulder Police Department will be consulting with the Colorado Cold Case Review Team in 2023."
"The Cold Case Review Team is comprised of professional investigative, analytical, and forensic experts from across the state. The Review Team is another tool to help further cold case homicide investigations, including making recommendations based on best practices in the investigative field."
Police Chief Maris Herold issued her own statement reiterating the department's dedication to solving the crime. As she said, "This crime has left a hole in the hearts of many, and we will never stop investigating until we find JonBenet’s killer. That includes following up on every lead and working with our policing partners and DNA experts around the country to solve this tragic case. This investigation has always been and will continue to be a priority for the Boulder Police Department."
JonBenét's father, John Ramsey, offered his own reaction to the news. He tweeted, "Interesting. This is positive. Forward progress. More work to be done to catch a killer but it can be done."
