FINDING JUSTICE
Who was Patsy Ramsey? Former beauty pageant winner whose daughter JonBenet was murdered in unsolved cold case
Theories have centered on both JonBenét’s family and the possibility of intruders
NETFLIX’s Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? re-examines one of the biggest cold cases in history.
The new three-part doc tells the story of a six-year-old beauty pageant contestant, and how her parents faced their worst nightmare. Here’s what we know about her mother, Patsy.
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Who was Patsy Ramsey?
Patsy Ramsey was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey, whose mysterious death at the age of six has haunted the nation since December 26, 1996.
Born in West Virginia on December 29, 1956, Patsy was a beauty queen, who won the Miss West Virginia title in 1977.
She was 23 when she married businessman John Ramsey on November 5, 1980.
Patsy and John Ramsey’s son, Burke, was born on January 27, 1987, followed by their daughter JonBenét on August 6, 1990.
The family moved to Boulder in 1991 for John’s work.
Patsy entered JonBenét in beauty pageants, where she won several titles before the age of six.
However, early on the morning of December 26, 1996, John and Patsy awoke to find a ransom note on the doorstep of their Colorado home.
The note claimed JonBenét had been kidnapped and demanded $118,000 for her safe return.
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It also warned the family not to contact the police.
Despite this, the Ramseys immediately called 911.
JonBenet Ramsey's dad reveals fresh hope 'monster' who killed his daughter will be found after probe takes major turn
When police arrived, they made critical missteps.
They failed to secure the home, allowing multiple people to enter and exit, potentially contaminating the scene.
Victims’ advocates, present to support the family, reportedly wiped down surfaces in the kitchen, possibly removing valuable forensic evidence.
By early afternoon, with no leads on JonBenét’s whereabouts, John began gathering the ransom money, desperate to ensure his daughter’s safety.
In a heartbreaking turn, John ventured into the basement around 1 pm and found JonBenét’s body.
She lay covered with a blanket, black duct tape over her mouth, her wrists bound, and a cord tightened around her neck.
John brought her lifeless body upstairs, hoping against hope, but she was already gone.
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Forensic experts arrived and sealed off the home, beginning their investigation.
An autopsy later revealed JonBenét had died from a blow to the head, and investigators confirmed she had been sexually assaulted.
As the case unfolded, speculation grew around potential suspects, sparking intense media scrutiny.
Theories included an unknown intruder, someone familiar to the family, and even pointed to her parents, John and Patsy.
JonBenét’s nine-year-old brother, Burke, was also briefly under suspicion.
On July 9, 2008, the Boulder District Attorney cleared John and Patsy of any wrongdoing in their daughter's death.
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The unresolved details surrounding JonBenét Ramsey’s tragic death have led to decades of debate and countless theories.
Investigators and the public alike search for answers to this heartbreaking mystery.
What happened to Patsy Ramsey?
Patsy sadly passed away from cancer in 2006 at the age of 49, never learning who was responsible for her daughter's death.
Shortly after, teacher John Mark Karr confessed to the murder, but DNA evidence did not match, leading to dropped charges.
In 2019, long-time suspect and convicted pedophile Gary Oliva allegedly confessed to “accidentally” killing the six-year-old in a series of letters.
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In November 2022, the Boulder Police Department issued an update on the cold case, stating that the investigation remains active.
However, they noted the available DNA evidence is "extremely small and complex," making progress challenging.
Who did Ramsey marry after Patsy died?
After his wife’s passing, John met Beth Holloway, the mother of missing Natalee Holloway.
Reports surfaced that the two had started dating, though Ramsey clarified that they had simply “developed a friendship of respect and admiration” based on shared experiences with their children.
Later, Ramsey moved to Moab, Utah, where he met Jan Rousseaux in 2011.
The two eventually married and settled in Michigan.
How to watch Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey examines the investigation and suggests new measures that could help solve this horrific crime.
The series examines law enforcement and media missteps, pointing out the simple actions that could solve this haunting case.
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It raises a pressing question: Will Colorado authorities finally act to bring JonBenét Ramsey’s killer to justice and provide her family the long-awaited peace they deserve?
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? will premiere on Netflix on November 25.
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