Nearly three decades have passed since six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was murdered in her Boulder, Colorado home.
The case has haunted America ever since December 26, 1996.
But JonBenét Ramsey's father revealed one breakthrough that could finally catch her killer.
AI Technology Enters the Investigation
John Ramsey, now 81 years old, believes artificial intelligence could crack his daughter's 29-year-old murder.
A Stanford University professor reached out with an offer nobody expected.
"We got a letter a month ago or so, two months maybe, from a Stanford University professor who said, 'I have developed an algorithm using AI that can do the research necessary on this genealogy research,'" Ramsey told reporters.
The professor offered to do the work for free.
He just needs the SNP data from DNA evidence collected at the crime scene.
"All the pieces are there," Ramsey explained.
"You just got to pick them up and use them."
New DNA Testing Brings Hope After Decades
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn announced dozens of items from the 1996 crime scene are being tested with new DNA technology.
Some items have never been tested before.
The most critical piece is the garrote used to strangle the six-year-old.
"The most important one was the garrote that was used to strangle my daughter," Ramsey told the Daily Mail.
"That had to have DNA evidence on it because it was a very complex knot, I'm told, and the assumption is that this creature couldn't have tied that wearing gloves."
The family's former defense attorney Hal Haddon said DNA analysis of the knots could be "promising" because someone had to tie those sophisticated knots with bare hands.
The Precedent That Proves It Works
AI-powered genetic genealogy already cracked the Golden State Killer case in 2018.
Joseph James DeAngelo evaded capture for decades after committing 13 murders and over 50 rapes between 1974 and 1986.
Investigators uploaded his DNA to GEDmatch, and AI algorithms built a family tree that led straight to him.
"IGG is a very powerful tool — just use it," Ramsey said.
"If they do it and they come up empty-handed, at least that way I can say thank you, you've tried everything you can so far."
Boulder Police Finally Gets Competent Leadership
For nearly three decades, Ramsey watched incompetent leadership bungle the investigation.
The crime scene was contaminated from day one when family and friends wandered through the house.
But Chief Redfearn's arrival changed everything.
"I'm very satisfied and impressed with the leadership now in place and believe they are committed to do all that can be done using the latest technology," Ramsey said.
The department is now working with the FBI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and multiple forensic labs across the country.
"This investigation will always be a priority for the Boulder Police Department," Redfearn said.
Closing the Chapter After 29 Years
Ramsey knows time is running out.
"This chapter needs to be closed in my family's life," Ramsey explained.
"My son John Andrew works in this case a lot with me, and he shouldn't have to do that."
The strain on his son's marriage shows the toll this case continues to take.
The family has been pushing for the Homicide Victim's Families' Rights Act in Colorado.
This would allow murder victims' families to request reviews of cold cases handled by federal agencies.
Right now families have no legal right to see how investigations are being handled.
Ramsey believes there's a 70% chance his daughter's killer could be identified within months if Boulder police use the Stanford professor's AI algorithm.
Legendary homicide detective Lou Smit compiled a list of 700 potential persons of interest before his death.
Smit theorized JonBenét's killer was someone who held a grudge against John Ramsey.
"There's so many leads — but using DNA makes this case solvable," Ramsey told reporters.
The killer has walked free for 29 years while JonBenét's family has lived under a cloud of suspicion and grief.
AI technology that didn't exist in 1996 could finally bring this monster to justice.
Boulder police have the DNA evidence, the cutting-edge technology, and a Stanford professor offering his algorithm for free.
They can solve this case in months or keep following primitive leads for another decade while the killer remains free.
Sources:
- Fox News, "JonBenet Ramsey case could benefit from new DNA technology as police renew commitment," December 26, 2025.
- CNN, "JonBenét Ramsey's father John pushes for more DNA testing to be used to identify the killer," January 29, 2025.
- Oxygen True Crime, "John Ramsey Says New DNA Tech Could Solve JonBenet's Murder," January 30, 2025.
- Daily Mail, "JonBenet Ramsey: Girl's father John Ramsey believes her murder is soon to be solved," December 2025.
- Denver Gazette, "Boulder police share latest developments in JonBenét Ramsey investigation," December 13, 2025.
- Open Data Science, "3 Examples of AI Helping Police Solve Cold Cases," November 26, 2024.
