JonBenét Ramsey Investigators ‘Optimistic’ Cold Case Will Finally Be Solved

Nearly 30 years after JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered inside her family’s Colorado home, investigators may finally be closing in on the answer that has haunted America for decades.

JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, says DNA from an “unidentified male” has been recovered from the garrote used to strangle the 6-year-old beauty queen — evidence he believes could finally expose her killer.

JonBenét was discovered dead in the basement of her family’s Boulder home on Dec. 26, 1996, just hours after she was reported missing.

Despite decades of investigations, theories and intense public scrutiny, no one has ever been charged with killing her.

Now, John says Boulder authorities have told him they are “more optimistic than ever” that the notorious cold case can be solved.

But the 82-year-old father believes investigators must take one crucial step: send the available DNA evidence to a laboratory specializing in forensic genetic genealogy.

“During my last meeting with the chief and DA, I strongly urged them to seek help from one of the cutting-edge private labs to employ forensic genetic genealogy,” John said.

He compared the technology to a “nuclear weapon” for cracking cases in which investigators have DNA but no known suspect.

“To not employ FGG is like fighting the battle with bows and arrows,” he said.

Forensic genetic genealogy has helped authorities solve numerous decades-old murders by comparing crime-scene DNA with genetic information found through genealogy databases and then building family trees that can lead investigators to potential suspects.

David Mittelman, founder and CEO of genetic genealogy company Othram, said advances in DNA testing mean investigators may still have options even if only a tiny amount of evidence remains.

“DNA technology is so different than it was a few years ago,” Mittelman said, adding that laboratories no longer need as much genetic material as they once did.

“If suitable evidence remains in the JonBenét Ramsey case, I would strongly encourage investigators to pursue this approach,” he previously said.

One private investigator is even more bullish.

Jason Jensen has claimed he believes investigators may already know who killed JonBenét and predicted a major development could be coming.

He said he believes “the murder has already been solved” and that “an arrest is imminent.”

Authorities have not publicly confirmed that an arrest is coming.

John Ramsey, however, has repeatedly pushed investigators to use every available DNA tool and has even offered to help raise money to pay for additional testing.

“We’ve got to use this technique,” he said. “I firmly believe that it’ll solve the case.”

JonBenét’s parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, came under intense scrutiny during the early years of the investigation, but they were never charged.

Patsy died from ovarian cancer in 2006 at age 49 without ever learning who killed her daughter.

John has continued to defend his late wife, saying she endured years of accusations she could no longer answer for herself.

“She was a wonderful person,” he said. “She was a wonderful mother.”

The case has also come back into the spotlight because of former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods.

Woods, who worked for the agency for nearly 30 years and was part of the forensic operation during the era of the Ramsey investigation, pleaded guilty in an unrelated evidence-mishandling scandal.

There is no evidence Woods tampered with DNA evidence in JonBenét’s case.

The renewed attention comes as Hollywood once again turns its focus to one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history.

Netflix is producing The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey, an eight-episode limited series starring Clive Owen as John Ramsey and Melissa McCarthy as Patsy Ramsey.

According to the streamer, the series will examine how JonBenét’s murder “captivated — and divided — the nation” while exploring the speculation, grief and unanswered questions surrounding the case.

But for JonBenét’s father, television shows and renewed public fascination are secondary.

After three decades of waiting, he wants investigators to use the DNA technology now available and finally answer the question that has followed his family since Christmas 1996:

Who killed JonBenét Ramsey?