JonBenét Ramsey’s father insists his daughter’s 28-year-old murder will still be solved

JonBenét Ramsey’s father still clings to hope that his daughter’s killer can be caught, says Thursday he welcomes new pop culture attention to the nearly 28-year-old murder.

John Ramsey, 80, said advances in DNA technology could help police in Boulder, Colorado, take a fresh look at the killing that gained international attention around Christmas 1996.

“So we want to keep the cause alive and in front of people,” Ramsey told NBC’s ‘TODAY’ show. “I believe it can be solved if the police accept help from outside their system. That has been the mistake for 25 years.”

Ramsey spoke on “TODAY” with Joe Berlinger, the director of the upcoming Netflix Documentaries “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” which will be released next week.

While the Ramsey murder case is burned into the minds of Gen X and Baby Boomers, Gen Z and younger Millennials may not be paying as much attention, Berlinger said.

“There’s a whole new generation of true crime fans who have rediscovered the story, going down these rabbit holes on Reddit and message boards, continuing to blame the family, continuing to spin conspiracy theories,” Berlinger said. “So I really wanted to set the record straight. It’s a very clear eye examination of how it’s so clear this was an intruder.”

While renewed attention to his child’s slaying may also spawn conspiracy theories, Ramsey said there is a net benefit of fresh eyes on this unsolved murder that has captivated much of the nation for nearly three decades.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Ramsey said. “We are grateful that the public and frankly the world cares about the murder of our child.”

Memories can still be jogged, even 28 years later, to create a case-breaking tip, according to Ramsey.

“Hopefully somebody who knows something would come forward,” he said.

The young beauty queen JonBenét was found dead in early morning hours of December 26, 1996 in the basement of the family home in Boulder. The mystery of who strangled the child has remained unsolved ever since.

Ramsey has long accused Boulder police of not accepting help from outside law enforcement agencies. But the father said he is met with newly appointed Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn and is confident the department will be open to any assistance outside of Boulder.

“The killing of JonBenet was an unspeakable crime, and this tragedy has never left our hearts,” Redfearn said in a statement to NBC News.

“We are committed to following up on all leads and we continue 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. “

John Ramsey, whose wife Patsy died of ovarian cancer in 2006, said members of his family have been falsely accused for nearly three decades.

“I am doing this for the sake of my children and my grandchildren. This cloud over our family’s name must be lifted,” he said. “They need to be able to move on and close this chapter and move on with their lives.”