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Murder of JonBenét Ramsey

Also known as: JonBenét Ramsey

Active

1996–1996

Region

Boulder, Colorado, USA

State

CO

Kind

Single

Status

Unsolved

Victims

1

JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old kindergartner, was reported missing from her family's home in Boulder, Colorado, early on December 26, 1996; a handwritten ransom note was found in the house. She was found dead in the home's basement later that day, and the coroner ruled her death a homicide. Early mistakes in securing the scene and handling evidence hampered the investigation, which drew enormous national attention. DNA from her clothing yielded the profile of an unidentified male, which has been compared against databases as the technology has advanced. The case remains open with the Boulder Police Department, which says it has followed up on more than 21,000 tips and continues to test evidence.

Have information? This case is unsolved. Boulder Police Department tip line (303-441-1974)

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Victims

We remember the people whose lives were taken.

• JonBenét Patricia Ramsey, 6 · December 26, 1996

  Born in Atlanta in 1990, she was in kindergarten in Boulder.

Timeline of locations

1. December 26, 1996
   Ramsey family home, Boulder (Crime scene, approximate area)

   JonBenét was reported missing from the family's home early on December 26, 1996, and was found in the basement that afternoon.

2. December 26, 1996
   Boulder Police Department (Other, approximate area)

   Boulder police have led the investigation for most of its history, apart from 2002 to 2009 when the District Attorney's office ran it. They review tips and work with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI on DNA comparisons.

Watch, listen, read

Sources

• Killing of JonBenét Ramsey (Wikipedia)
• Ramsey Homicide Investigation Statement (City of Boulder, May 2022)
• New evidence gathered in JonBenét Ramsey case, police say (KKTV / KUSA, December 2025)

Each location also lists its own sources in the data file.