Where is JonBenét Ramsey’s father now? He ‘won’t give up’ until her killer is found

On November 26, 2024By Littum

For nearly three decades, the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey has lingered in America’s consciousness as one of the most mysterious cold cases in history. Now with Netflix’s new documentary series Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey renewed attention to the investigation, many wonder about the man who has never stopped searching for answers: her father, John Ramsey.

Related: Where Is JonBenét Ramsey’s Brother Now? His life after being accused of his murder

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The nightmare began the day after Christmas 1996, when Boulder, Colorado police were called to the Ramsey family home. Earlier that morning, JonBenét’s mother Patsy Ramsey had discovered a lengthy ransom note demanding $118,000 for their daughter. Hours of frantic searching ended in tragedy when JonBenét’s body was found in the basement. The 6-year-old beauty pageant star had been strangled to death, leaving a community shaken and spawning decades of theories, accusations and media speculation, often casting suspicion on the family itself.

But after years of much public scrutiny, personal tragedy and frustrating dead ends, JonBenét’s father is still around – and he remains determined to uncover the truth about his daughter’s murder. From his ongoing push for new DNA testing to his latest advocacy for outside help in the investigation, here’s what we know about where John Ramsey is now and his commitment to finding justice for JonBenét.

What happened to JonBenét Ramsey’s father after her death?

In the immediate aftermath of JonBenét’s murder, John Ramsey’s life was understandably changed forever. As president of Access Graphics, a successful computer services company, he had built a comfortable life in Boulder. However, the family soon found themselves at the center of a media storm.

Documentarian Joe Berlinger, director of the Netflix series from 2024 Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramseytold Today“This is the most brutalized man, I think, in American history. Imagine losing your child the way that child was lost and being blamed by the media, largely because the police gave the press false stories or incomplete stories , and it was just a wildfire of wrongful accusation.”

The pressure forced the Ramsey family to move to Michigan in 1997 to seek privacy and a fresh start. The years after JonBenét’s death brought more heartache for John when he lost his wife Patsy to ovarian cancer in 2006 at the age of 49. The couple had stayed together through the inquest and maintained their innocence throughout.

Where is JonBenét Ramsey’s father now?

At the time of the Netflix documentary’s release in 2024, John Ramsey was 80 years old and continued his decades-long quest for justice for his daughter. He lives in Charlevoix, Michigan with his new wife Jan Rousseaux, a fashion designer whom he married in 2011. Although Ramsey offered the opportunity to preview the documentary about his daughter’s case, Ramsey chose not to watch it.

“I am doing this for the sake of my children and my grandchildren. This cloud over our family’s name must be lifted,” Ramsey shared Today in November 2024. “They must be able to continue and close this chapter and continue with their lives. It is hard for them.”

These days, Ramsey remains focused on pushing for new studies and advanced testing methods. “I believe it can be solved if the police accept help from outside their system,” he said. “That’s been the mistake for 25 years.” His perspective is supported by Berlinger, who noted that there are items from the crime scene that still need to be tested for DNA for the first time, while other pieces should be retested.

The Boulder Police Department, under new Chief Steve Redfearn, issued a statement to NBC News saying they “continue to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved.” Ramsey expressed cautious optimism about the new leadership, noting, “The new police chief seems like a good guy, (an) open communicator. All he has to do is open the door and let all this help come in that’s standing there and waiting to help.”

When asked why he continues his quest after nearly three decades, Ramsey said: “You don’t get over it. A mother described the loss of her child as a hole in her heart that won’t heal, and that’s a good description .” He went on to tell Today: “You are different going forward. What we realized early on was that we needed to be stronger now than ever, for our other children who are still alive, this was a terrible tragedy for them, and for us too.”

Although he recognizes that finding the killer will not change his personal loss, Ramsey remains committed to clearing his family’s name. “Finding the killer is not going to change my life. I’ve lost JonBenét and it’s not going to bring JonBenét back. I want to close this chapter so we can be more at rest and at peace,” he said. “I don’t want give up pushing the authorities to do their job before I see them doing their job, and that’s been the frustration for 25 years.”

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