Topics: Crime, News, True Crime, US News, World News, Parenting
JonBenét Ramsey’s father John Ramsey has spoken out after 'new evidence' has been identified in his daughter's cold case.
For those unfamiliar with the harrowing story, it's now been 29 years since six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered inside her home in Boulder, Colorado.
The day after Christmas in 1996, she was found dead in the basement, strangled and with her skull fractured, but no one has ever been charged.
Almost three decades later and the child beauty queen's death remains as one of America's most infamous unsolved cases.
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Each year, the Boulder Police Department give an annual update on the case, and this year, it's brought some fresh hope to JonBenét's family.
In the update, detectives outlined how they have followed up on every lead that has come into the department, which includes 'more than 21,016 tips, letters and emails and traveling to 19 states to interview or speak with more than 1,000 individuals in connection to this crime'.
Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said: "The killing of JonBenet was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has never left our hearts.
"We are committed to following up on every lead and we are continuing to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved. This investigation will always be a priority for the Boulder Police Department."
He continued: “Last year we gave you an update about a lot of the work that has been done to solve this crime and those efforts have continued. This case remains a top priority for our department."
The police chief revealed that this past year, detectives have conducted 'several new interviews' as well as 're-interviewed individuals based on tips' they've received.
He added: "We have also collected new evidence and tested and re-tested other pieces of evidence to generate new leads. Techniques and technology constantly evolve.
"This is especially true with technology related to DNA testing.
"Detectives continue to consult with outside experts from across the country as well as our state and federal partners to strategise and explore all options when it comes to evidence testing.
“It is never too late for people with knowledge of this terrible crime to come forward, and I urge those responsible for this murder to contact us.”
Reacting to the news of new evidence, interviews and DNA, John Ramsey spoke on NewsNation's Banfield about how he's 'more optimistic than he's been in a long time'.
He explained: "Chief Redfern told us, in September we had a meeting with him, he had submitted evidence for additional DNA testing. He didn't say what evidence it was but that it was submitted again, or perhaps new.
"We of course have advocated that if certain evidence was taken from the crime scene and has never been sampled then it ought to be - the main one being the garot they used to strangle my daughter."
The father continued: "So it's encouraging, and the key really, in progress, has been the addition of new leadership there. It was not very good for 25 to 26 years. They brought in Chief Redfern from the outside, I've met with him three or four times. I'm impressed with him, I think he's sincere.
"We're going to ask for a meeting again in January for an update. They've been fairly quiet about what they've been doing. If I read between the lines of his latest report that he issued, there's some encouraging words there so I'm more optimistic than I've been in a long time."
Ramsey also made it clear he wants detectives to make use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) - a type of DNA testing that combines genetic genealogy with DNA analysis to solve cold cases.
