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 docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey bringing renewed attention to the investigation, many are wondering 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 Her Murder
The nightmare began the day after Christmas 1996, when Boulder, Colorado police were called to the Ramsey family’s 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 that often cast suspicion on the family themselves.
But after years of much public scrutiny, personal tragedy, and frustrating dead ends, JonBenét’s father is still around—and he’s remained determined to uncover the truth about his daughter’s murder. From his ongoing push for new DNA testing to his recent advocacy for outside help with 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.
Documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger, director of the 2024 Netflix series Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, told Today, “This is the most brutalized man, I think, in American history. Imagine losing your child in the way that that child was lost and being blamed by the media, in large part because the police fed false stories or incomplete stories to the press, and it was just a wildfire of wrongful accusation.”
The pressure forced the Ramsey family to relocate to Michigan in 1997, seeking privacy and a fresh start. The years following JonBenét’s death brought more heartbreak for John when he lost his wife Patsy to ovarian cancer in 2006 at age 49. The couple had stayed together through the investigation and maintained their innocence throughout.
Where is JonBenét Ramsey’s dad now?
At the time of the Netflix documentary’s 2024 release, John Ramsey was 80 years old and continuing 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. Though offered the opportunity to preview the documentary about his daughter’s case, Ramsey chose not to watch it.
“I’m doing this for the sake of my children and my grandchildren. This cloud over our family’s name needs to be lifted,” Ramsey told Today in November 2024. “They need to be able to go on and close this chapter and go on with their lives. It’s hard on them.”
These days, Ramsey remains focused on pushing for new investigations 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 flaw for 25 years.” His perspective is supported by Berlinger, who noted there are items from the crime scene that still need to be tested for DNA for the first time, while other pieces should be re-tested.
The Boulder Police Department, under new chief Steve Redfearn, issued a statement to NBC News saying they are “continuing 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 chief of police seems like a good guy, (an) open communicator. All he’s got to do is open the door and let all this help in that’s standing there waiting to help.”
When asked why he continues his search after nearly three decades, Ramsey shared, “You don’t get over it. One 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’re different going forward. What we realized early on was we needed to be stronger now than ever, for our other children who are still living, this was a horrible tragedy for them, and for us, too.”
While acknowledging that finding the killer won’t 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 would like to close this chapter so we can be more rest and at peace,” he said. “I won’t give up pressing the authorities to do their job until I see that they do their job, and that’s been the frustration for 25 years.”
