As someone who has spent countless hours watching documentaries and dramatic retellings about the JonBenét Ramsey case, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of frustration and sadness when I think about this unsolved mystery. The latest addition to the list, Netflix’s “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”, while informative and well-made, only serves to remind us that justice has not yet been served for this innocent child.
Over the past 28 years, the enigma surrounding the tragic death of JonBenét Ramsey has captivated audiences worldwide, inspiring numerous documentaries and dramatic reinterpretations. The most recent addition to this intriguing saga is Netflix’s “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey” – a gripping three-part documentary series that delves into the haunting tale of the 6-year-old beauty queen who was brutally taken from us on December 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado. As a movie reviewer, I can’t help but feel drawn to this chilling narrative, eager to unravel the mysteries that have eluded investigators for nearly three decades.
On the day following Christmas in 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey, JonBenét’s parents, found a ransom note in their kitchen. Later on that very day, John Ramsey stumbled upon his daughter’s body hidden in the basement, suggesting that she had not been kidnapped but rather brutally assaulted and murdered within her own home. This grim discovery sparked an intense focus of suspicion towards the Ramsey family by the Boulder police, who were relatively inexperienced in homicide investigations. The media soon caught wind of this, fueling a frenzy that portrayed JonBenét’s parents as the main suspects in her tragic demise.
Under the guidance of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger, “Cold Case: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey” delves into the mismanagement of the case by both law enforcement and media outlets. Berlinger sheds light on how Boulder police spread misleading information to the press, resulting in biased reporting that fueled a widespread fascination with the case. To this day, after nearly three decades, neither John nor Patsy Ramsey, nor anyone else for that matter, has been officially indicted for JonBenét’s murder.
In creating the documentary, Berlinger interviewed John Ramsey, now 80, along with lawyers, journalists who followed the case, and other key figures. Notably, it includes recordings made by Lou Smit, a Colorado Springs homicide detective who passed away, but came out of retirement to assist the Boulder DA’s office following JonBenét’s murder. The documentary also showcases Smit’s work, as he joined the investigation, but left 18 months later due to his disappointment that the Boulder Police were unwilling to seriously consider the possibility of an intruder being responsible for JonBenét’s death.
Berlinger expresses that Lou Smit, whom he considers a groundbreaking figure in this field, has not received enough attention from others. His documentary series strongly argues that the Ramseys were wrongly accused and suggests that the police and media mistreated them severely.
Despite numerous documentaries produced regarding JonBenét’s murder, Berlinger remained steadfast in his commitment to create “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey.
He expresses his intention to speak up when he has something valuable to share, and it seems to him that he has quite a bit to share in this case. Above all, he is convinced that the mystery at hand can indeed be unraveled.
Although past documents concerning the crime don’t faze him, Berlinger did confess that the forthcoming Paramount+ miniseries about the case, featuring Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen, leaves him feeling uneasy.
Berlinger expresses his worry over a production spreading misinformation. He’s uncertain about their methods, but it surprised him when John Ramsey mentioned that they hadn’t contacted him. He doesn’t mean to criticize other filmmakers, but Ryan Murphy also didn’t want to discuss the Menendez brothers for ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’, as he learned from news reports. If you’re going to portray someone’s life without speaking to them, how can you grasp the intricacies of so many different situations?
Prior to the release of “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey” on Netflix, EbMaster had a conversation with Berlinger.
What needs to be done in this case to move the needle forward?
The first is that there were a bunch of crime scene objects that were sent to the crime lab in 1996 but were never tested. We need to do that testing. Also some things were tested, but the technology was primitive at the time. Those things need to be retested. But the most important DNA test that I think would provide a really good opportunity to solve the crime is the existing DNA in the case that involves a mixed sample of JonBenét’s blood and the unidentified male DNA — not linked to any family member — mixed in with her blood. If JonBenét’s DNA is separated from the perpetrator’s DNA, then the perpetrator’s DNA can then be expanded and put into genealogical DNA, like 23andMe. That is a new technology that has been used very successfully and has recently become a major tool for solving cold cases.
Could I ask if a significant factor in creating this docuseries was your aim to motivate Colorado authorities into taking the appropriate steps to identify and prosecute the person responsible for JonBenét Ramsey’s murder?
For nearly three decades, the Ramsey family has endured unimaginable brutality. A unique aspect of my series is the extent to which the Boulder Police Department, who from the start harbored a belief that John Ramsey was the murderer, fostered this suspicion. They were unable to shake it off.
Did you approach John Ramsey about making this docuseries, or did he approach you?
I initiated contact with him, but let me clarify that this isn’t about endorsing his views. Instead, I found the idea intriguing and thought it would make for an interesting project. So, I extended the invitation to him, informing him of my standard terms – I retain full creative control, there’s no payment involved, and you won’t have any editorial input. Remarkably, he agreed to these conditions.
Given your extensive work on true crime documentaries like the “Paradise Lost” trilogy and “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes”, I’m curious about your thoughts on amateur detectives who attempt to solve murder mysteries independently.
This [series] served as a means for me to express concerns about the risks associated with amateur detectives and individuals immersed in online investigations similar to Reddit forums. The purpose of this series was to emphasize the importance of remembering that there’s a victim at the heart of every true crime story. To me, those who persistently speculate about the guilt of families, propagate conspiracy theories, and perpetuate half-baked ideas without regard for ethical considerations are acting inappropriately, given the sensitivity of the subject matter.
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2024-11-25 01:47