JonBenet Ramsey's father urges Trump to advocate for genetic genealogy in daughter's 1996 murder case
WASHINGTON, DC: Nearly three decades after the tragic murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, her father, John Ramsey, is calling on President Donald Trump to intervene and pressure Colorado authorities to adopt cutting-edge DNA technology in the ongoing investigation.
John, who is frustrated with the Boulder Police Department’s handling of the 1996 case, is pushing for the use of investigative genetic genealogy, a powerful tool that has cracked cases like the Golden State Killer, and has even pledged to help raise funds to make it happen.
What did John Ramsey say about getting Trump on the case?
During an interview with Fox News Digital at CrimeCon in Denver, John Ramsey said he urged the district attorney not to let finances stand in the way of advancing the investigation into his daughter’s murder.
“I told the DA that money should not be a restrictor here,” John stated. “I need to get Donald Trump on them. He'll stir things up one way or the other, but somehow we've got to get them to do that.”
Ramsey pointed to the president's past involvement in far less serious matters as a reason for hope. He added, "If he got involved in the… Cracker Barrel (issue) This is a whole lot of a bigger deal than the Cracker Barrel. Help us. So that's the bottom line."
John has long criticized how Boulder authorities handled his daughter's case, but after meeting with the department’s new leadership, he expressed cautious optimism. He believes the use of investigative genetic genealogy, a modern forensic technique responsible for cracking cold cases like the Golden State Killer, could be a game-changer.
“I’m absolutely convinced it’s the gold standard today,” John said. “So I've been pushing that pretty hard in terms of what I think ought to happen. And I don't know that they're doing it. I know they listen, but I don't know where they are mentally in terms of making that happen."
He added, “To me, it's a no-brainer that it would be done, but I don't know how to make it happen. All I can do is ask.”
John Ramsey says police system in the US is 'primitive'
On Saturday, September 6, John Ramsey announced the launch of a petition urging Colorado lawmakers to update state legislation to match the federal Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act.
The federal law gives families the right to request a formal review of unsolved murder cases under federal jurisdiction, a right that, John argues, should extend to state cases as well.
“I was shocked by how the system works in our country,” the 81-year-old said. “We have 18,000 police jurisdictions. Each one is a little island of authority and if that chief of police of an island doesn't want help, help can't come in. They have to be invited. That's primitive in my opinion.”
Earlier, during CrimeCon in Las Vegas, he had also announced a separate petition calling on Colorado Governor Jared Polis to authorize an independent agency, rather than the Boulder Police Department, to conduct advanced DNA testing using modern forensic methods.
The case that continues to haunt the nation began on December 26, 1996, when six-year-old JonBenet was reported missing by her mother, Patsy Ramsey, after she discovered a ransom note demanding $118,000.
Later that same day, John found his daughter’s body in the basement of their Boulder home. An autopsy revealed she had died from strangulation and a blunt force head injury.
For years, John has been vocal in his criticism of the Boulder Police Department, accusing them of mishandling the case due to what he described as “arrogance,” “ego,” and lack of experience.
In response, the department says it has remained committed to solving the case. According to official statements, investigators have pursued over 21,000 tips, letters, and emails, and traveled to 19 states to interview more than 1,000 individuals connected to the case.
"The killing of JonBenet was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has never left our hearts," said Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn in a November 2024 video message.
"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 added.
