Is Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey based on a true story? Explained

Is Netflix
Is Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey based on a true story? Explained (Image via Unsplash)

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is a true-story docuseries directed by Joe Berlinger. This three-part series explores the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey, examining the police and media efforts and investigating possible ways to solve the case. Premiering on Netflix on November 25, 2024, the series questions whether Colorado authorities will ever find JonBenét’s killer or if the mystery will remain unsolved.

The death of JonBenét Ramsey is one of the most mysterious crimes in recent years. The show looks at her murder and what happened after it, leaving the case unsolved for the last 28 years.

The official synopsis of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey reads:

"Nearly 30 years since her murder, a three-part Netflix series revisits the death of JonBenét Ramsey, the child beauty queen killed in her Colorado home, featuring interviews with key figures including her father."

Looking into the real story behind Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey

A symbolic image for Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Image via Unsplash/@Daniel von Appen)
A symbolic image for Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Image via Unsplash/@Daniel von Appen)

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is based on the real-life murder of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old girl, also known as the child beauty queen.

On the morning of December 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up in their Boulder, Colorado, home to find their six-year-old daughter, JonBenét, missing. Patsy discovered a ransom note on the stairs, demanding $118,000—the exact amount of John’s recent work bonus—for JonBenét’s safe return. Despite warnings not to involve authorities, the Ramseys immediately called the police and some friends.

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Just shortly after 5 am, the police showed up and started their investigation. Following a few hours, around 1:00 pm, John Ramsey and a friend searched the house.

John found JonBenét's dead body in the basement, wrapped in a white blanket. There was duct tape over her mouth, a rope around her neck, and her wrists were tied together. A broken paintbrush handle from Patsy's art supplies was used to make the garrote.

JonBenét's skull was fractured due to a severe blow to the head, as revealed by an autopsy. Additionally, she had been s*xually assaulted. The official cause of death was asphyxiation by strangulation, which was made worse by craniocerebral trauma. The timeline indicated that she passed away either in the late evening of December 25 or in the early hours of December 26, 1996.

As stated in the press release description by Netflix,

"The Boulder, Colorado police, who had little practical experience in homicide investigations, quickly cast suspicion on JonBenét's family as the most likely suspects, fanning the flames of media scrutiny and largely one-sided reporting, turning the case into a national obsession."

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Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey: The investigation and its growth

A symbolic image for Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Image via Unsplash)
A symbolic image for Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Image via Unsplash)

From the very beginning, there were a lot of challenges with the investigation. The crime scene was contaminated by the large number of people who were allowed to enter the house. There was a rumor which mentioned that murder experts suspected her brother Burke Ramsey.

People were suspicious of the ransom note because it was long, had a lot of unusual details, and was written on paper from the Ramsey home. It wasn't assured if there was a break-in. However, a lot of people thought that the crime scene was staged to look like a kidnapping gone wrong.

As reported by Soap Central, in 2003, DNA evidence found on JonBenét's clothes pointed to a man and cleared the Ramsey family. Even so, people kept arguing about how important this evidence was. Based on the DNA results, former Boulder police chief Mark Beckner questioned the decision to exonerate the Ramseys.

Despite many theories and extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved due to insufficient evidence. Key suspects were cleared, and crucial evidence was lost or mishandled, complicating the case.

Being a high-profile case, it has always stayed in the public eye, and new theories have come up over the years. However, the Boulder Police Department is still treating it as an open investigation in the hopes that new information or improvements in technology will eventually lead to answers.

The series aims to get people interested in finding JonBenét's killer again.


Viewers can stream Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey on Netflix after its release.

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Edited by Divya Singh
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