WARNING: This article contains disturbing matters, including references to child murder.
Netflix’sCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramseyoffers new insight into one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history and shows how her parents were treated as suspects in the crime. This three-part docuseries, which joinsNetflix’s catalog of true-crime documentaries, includes archival footage and interviews with various individuals who were connected to the murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey in December 1996. The case garnered international attention due to the horrific details of the crime and inspired theories as to what exactly happened to the child.
JonBenét Ramsey was the youngest child ofJohn and Patsy Ramsey, who fell under suspicion of the murderearly in the investigation. While they were eventually cleared of any involvement,the Ramseys were heavily scrutinized and scandalized by the media, with many questioning their abilities as parents. Through archival footage seen throughout the docuseries, Patsy Ramsey discusses how she discovered her daughter missing from her bedroom and howJonBenét Ramsey’s unsolved murderimpacted her family.
Patsy Ramsey Died From Cancer In 2006
Patsy Ramsey Was Diagnosed With Cancer In 1993
InCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,reporter Paula Woodward states thatthe Ramseys were heavily judged as “delinquent parents"for allowing JonBenét Ramsey to participate in child beauty pageants; throughout the docuseries,photographs and video footage is shown of the young girl dressed in elaborate costumes in different competitions. Patsy Ramsey, JonBenét’s mother, defended their decision to let JonBenét take part in beauty pageants. In the docuseries,it’s revealed that Patsy Ramsey was also a pageant star, having won Miss West Virginia in 1977;Patsy stated that JonBenét wanted to compete in pageants to be like her mother.
What Happened To JonBenét Ramsey’s Brother, Burke
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey shows how JonBenét’s death impacted her family. This is what happened to her brother Burke, after her murder.
As shown in interviews with Michael Tracey, the Ramseys also allowed JonBenét to compete in pageants so she and Patsy could spend time together.In 1993, Patsy Ramsey was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancerand admitted she worried that “she would not live to see JonBenét do a lot of things” which further influenced her decision about the pageants. At the time of JonBenét’s murder, the cancer was in remission, but returned in 2002. Patsy Ramsey died of cancer on July 11, 2025, aged 49; she was buried next to her daughter at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Georgia.
Were John & Patsy Ever Charged For JonBenét Ramsey’s Death?
The Ramseys Were Set To Be Indicted For Child Abuse & Endangerment In 1999
In one ofseveral shocking revelations from Netflix’s JonBenét Ramsey docuseries, it was claimed that the police fed information to the media in an attempt to pressure the Ramseys to confess to the crime. In 2013, it was revealed thatthe Ramseys were due to be indicted for child abuse and endangerment in 1999; the court indictments stated that John and Patsy had unwittingly placed their daughter, JonBenét, in a threatening situation that led to her murder (viaNBC News). However, the indictments were dismissed as it was determined that there was not enough evidence against them.
John Mark Karr’s “Confession” To Killing JonBenét Ramsey Explained
In Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, investigators reexamine the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey, including one major suspect, John Mark Karr.
Despite being labeled in the media as the key suspects,John and Patsy Ramsey were never formally charged with the murder of their daughter, JonBenét,and in 2008, they were officially cleared of any involvement by the Boulder District Attorney. In 2016, new unidentified DNA was linked to the murder, indicating thatJonBenét Ramsey’s killerwas an intruder (viaDenver 7 ABC). As seen throughoutCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, the murder of her daughter and the heavy media criticism faced by the family deeply impacted Patsy Ramsey for the rest of her life.
