New information has emerged suggesting a possible connection between the unsolved 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey and a separate, unsolved 1997 assault case involving a victim who attended the same dance studio as JonBenet. JonBenet’s father, John Ramsey, believes that there may be a link between the two cases, despite authorities previously stating that there was no connection. The assault case occurred just two miles from the Ramsey home, and the victim’s father noted similarities to the Ramsey case, including the method of operation of the attacker. Ramsey believes that the perpetrator of both incidents may have been hiding inside the homes for hours before attacking the victims.
The assault case involved an unknown suspect breaking into the girl’s home and attacking her in her bedroom, but fleeing when the victim’s mother heard whispering and confronted him. The victim’s father believes that the attacker may have been inside the home for several hours before the attack occurred. John Ramsey believes that the method of operation for the perpetrator in both incidents was the same, with the attacker waiting for the families to return home and hiding inside the house before carrying out the attacks. Despite the similarities in the cases, Boulder police previously stated that there was no definitive connection between the two incidents.
Boulder Police Department Chief Stephen Redfearn, the fifth police chief to work on the case since 1996, stated that officials have followed up on more than 21,000 tips and traveled to 19 states to speak with over a thousand individuals in connection with the case. Redfearn emphasized the commitment of local authorities to continue investigating the case until it is solved, stating that the killing of JonBenet was an “unspeakable crime” that has never left their hearts. The investigation remains a priority for the Boulder Police Department, who have partnered with federal officials, DNA experts, and the Colorado Cold Case Review team to pursue leads and evidence in the case.
In an August 1, 2000 update, Boulder police acknowledged that a report raised the possibility of a link between JonBenet’s murder and the 1997 assault case, however, at the time detectives did not find a definitive connection between the two incidents. Chief Mark Beckner stated that while the cases had some similarities, they also had more differences, and that the investigation was ongoing. Despite the lack of a confirmed connection at the time, authorities have continued to investigate potential links between the two cases, and have received assistance from DNA experts and federal officials in pursuing leads and evidence in both cases.
John Ramsey, JonBenet’s father, believes that authorities initially overlooked the possible connection between the two cases, and he suspects that the same perpetrator may have been involved in both incidents. While some have pointed out similarities between the cases, Boulder police maintained that there was no established link between the 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey and the 1997 assault case. Despite this, the investigation into both cases remains ongoing, with officials continuing to follow up on tips, evidence, and leads to bring closure to these tragic cases. Local authorities, along with federal officials and DNA experts, remain committed to solving both cases and bringing justice to the families of the victims.
The release of a new Netflix documentary about JonBenet’s murder, titled “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” has brought renewed attention to both the murder of JonBenet and the unsolved assault case from 1997. JonBenet’s father, John Ramsey, expressed his belief that there is a strong indication of a possible connection between the two cases and that the same person may have been involved in both incidents. Despite previous statements by Boulder police suggesting no definitive link between the cases, officials have continued to investigate potential connections and receive support from DNA experts and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to solve both cases. The investigation remains a priority for local authorities, with a commitment to following up on every lead until both cases are resolved.
