JonBenét Ramsey Timeline: A Chronological Overview of the Young Pageant Star's Death and the Ongoing Investigation.
JonBenét Ramsey's life was cut short in a heartbreaking tragedy when she was murdered at only 6 years old. Her body was found in the afternoon of December 26, 1996, just hours after her family reported her missing on Christmas Day.
With the release of Netflix’s docuseries Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? released on November 25, 2024, interest in her tragic story is reigniting. Lawyer Monthly magazine have re-examined the case to bring you one of the most comprehensive and detailed timelines that provides a chronological overview of the young pageant star's death, the ongoing investigation, police work, lawsuits and recent developments.
The glamorous world of child pageantry was forever marred by a shocking crime that took place in an unexpected setting, involving a sweet six-year-old girl. The nation was left reeling when JonBenét Ramsey’s lifeless body was discovered in the basement of her family’s expansive 7,000-square-foot home in Boulder, Colorado, on the morning following Christmas in 1996.
However, it was the subsequent events that truly puzzled many, leaving lingering questions about what transpired on that fateful winter night over twenty years ago. While the sequence of events leading up to the grim discovery remains murky, the aftermath provides the only clues we have regarding JonBenét’s tragic fate.
December 23, 1996: A 911 call is placed from the Ramsey residence
Just three days prior to the discovery of her body, a 911 call was made from the Ramsey home. However, on January 10, reports suggested that it may have been a mistake made by an intoxicated guest, according to CNN.
December 25, 1996: The Ramseys celebrate Christmas at a family friend's home
JonBenét received a bicycle as a Christmas gift. After enjoying a festive gathering at the home of family friend Fleet White, the Ramseys returned home, and JonBenét went to bed. Some theories propose that she may have sneaked back downstairs and had a confrontation with her brother over a late-night snack of pineapple, as undigested pieces of the fruit were later found in her stomach.
December 23, 1993: A 911 call is placed from the Ramsey residence.
Just three days prior to the discovery of the body, a call was made from their home. However, on January 10, reports from CNN suggest that this call may have been a mistake made by a drunken guest at a party.
December 25, 1996: The Ramseys celebrate Christmas at a family friend's gathering.
JonBenét receives a bicycle as a Christmas gift. After enjoying the festivities at Fleet White's home, the Ramseys return, and JonBenét heads off to bed. Some speculate that she may have sneaked back downstairs and had a disagreement with her brother over a late-night snack of pineapple, which was found undigested in her stomach.
December 26, 1996: JonBenét is reported missing.
At 5:30 a.m., while preparing coffee, Patsy discovers a two-and-a-half-page handwritten ransom note on the back stairs leading to the kitchen, claiming her daughter has been kidnapped, as reported by the Denver Post. The note demands that $118,000 be withdrawn from their account, specifying that $100,000 should be in $100 bills and the remaining $18,000 in $20 bills.
Interestingly, this amount matched John’s Christmas bonus. The note instructed them not to contact the police, but Patsy calls 911 anyway. By 6 a.m., Officer Rick French arrives and conducts a search, stopping by the door behind which JonBenét would later be found but not opening it, according to Newsweek. In the early afternoon, Detective Linda Arndt, the first investigator on the scene, advises John and Fleet White, who had come to support the family, to conduct a thorough search of the house. During this search, John opens the door to the basement's spare room—where Christmas gifts had been hidden—and discovers JonBenét’s body.
Latest: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?
It appeared that she had been strangled, with duct tape covering her mouth and neck. He lifted the body and rushed upstairs, screaming. Later, Arndt moved the body closer to the Christmas tree upstairs. By bringing her up and leaving the basement door ajar, much of the evidence was compromised. 10:45 p.m. The coroner's team from Boulder County took the young girl's body out of the house.
December 28, 1996: The Ramseys work with the authorities
The family visits the Boulder police station, where they willingly provide hair, blood, and handwriting samples. The police later confirm that John’s adult children, John Andrew and Melinda, were away when the murder took place, so they are not considered suspects.
December 29, 1996: The family travels to Atlanta
Just a few days after the tragedy, the Ramseys return to their former hometown of Atlanta. December 31, 1996: JonBenét’s funeral takes place The six-year-old is laid to rest in Marietta, Georgia, beside her older half-sister Elizabeth, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 1992. Approximately 200 family members and friends gather for a ceremony at the family’s former church.
January 1, 1997: John and Patsy participate in a New Year’s Day interview
JonBenét’s parents sit down for a challenging 45-minute interview with CNN in Atlanta, where they were staying with relatives. While Boulder police assured the public that there was no active threat, Patsy expressed her concerns on air, stating, “There is a killer on the loose… if I lived in Boulder, I would advise my friends to keep their children close, as there’s someone out there.” She further remarked, “America is suffering because we have lost faith in the American family,” referencing the ongoing mystery surrounding O.J. Simpson. “We are a Christian, God-fearing family. We cherish our children and would do anything for them.”
January 2, 1997: Investigators track the family to Georgia
A group of five detectives from Boulder travels to Atlanta, as reported by CNN. The investigators were taken aback that the Ramseys agreed to the television interview, given their previous claims of being too distraught to speak with the police.
January 3, 1997: Detectives disclose that the ransom note was composed inside the home
Authorities reveal that the ransom note was written on a pad found within the house, suggesting it was likely penned after the murder. John and Patsy make their way back to Boulder. Boulder police also head to Charlevoix, Michigan, to search the Ramsey family's summer residence.
January 6, 1997: Classes resume at JonBenét’s school
Following the Christmas and New Year break, students return to JonBenét’s former school. Teachers and counselors assist the young students in processing the events, even as the situation remains unclear.
January 8, 1997: Reports emerge of a "practice" ransom note
There are claims that the individual who wrote the ransom note may have first drafted it on a separate piece of paper. February 27, 1997: JonBenét’s half-brother is interviewed The alibi of John Andrew is revisited, despite him reportedly being out of town at the time of the incident.
March 7, 1997: Handwriting analysis clears John, but not Patsy
Experts confirm that John did not pen the ransom note, but indicate that there remains a possibility that Patsy might have. March 8, 1997: Police conduct another search of the Ramsey's Michigan home Authorities return to the Ramsey residence, reportedly in search of “unrehearsed” handwriting samples to determine if Patsy authored the ransom note.
April 3, 1997: DNA testing is performed
Following an initial DNA test by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a second test is conducted by Cellmark laboratories in Maryland, as reported by the Denver Post. April 19, 1997: JonBenét’s parents are named prime suspects According to CNN, John and Patsy are identified as the main suspects in the investigation. Boulder’s District Attorney, Alex Hunter, states, “Clearly, the focus is on these individuals.”
April 30, 1997: Patsy is interrogated for six-and-a-half hours
“Formal interviews” are held, with John being questioned for two hours and Patsy for six-and-a-half hours. These new accounts replace their initial statements made shortly after the murder.
May 2, 1997: John and Patsy address local media
The parents of the victim speak to local news outlets, including 9News. John fumbles when mentioning his daughter’s name and responds to rumors regarding possible sexual abuse, labeling them as “most hurtful innuendos.” Patsy asserts, “I’m appalled that anyone would think that John or I would be involved in such a hideous and heinous crime, but let me assure you I did not kill JonBenét.”
May 14, 1997: DNA results prove negative
Sources indicate that the DNA test results reveal “no surprises,” though they do not elaborate on what this entails.
July 12, 1997: JonBenét’s bedroom furniture is relocated to Atlanta
The belongings of the former child beauty queen are transported across the country via a moving truck.
July 14, 1997: Autopsy findings made public
The previously confidential autopsy findings are now available. They reveal “a deep ligature around the victim's neck and another around the right wrist — indicating she was bound and strangled.” Additionally, it states that “blood and abrasions were discovered in the girl's vaginal area — and she suffered a severe head injury that caused bleeding and an 8.5-inch skull fracture,” as reported by CNN.
January 15, 1998: The Ramseys decline to speak with authorities
The Ramseys request to examine evidence before participating in further police interviews. Their request is denied, according to the Denver Post.
January 29, 1998: John and Patsy provide their clothing
Two months after police asked the parents to submit the clothing they wore on the night of the incident, the Ramseys hand over two shirts, a pair of pants, and a sweater.
March 12, 1998: Grand jury investigation initiated
Authorities officially call for a grand jury investigation, noting that 15 months have elapsed since the murder.
June 3, 1998: Ongoing evidence investigations
Mark Beckner, the lead investigator on the case, states that there are “significant results” from the 1,058 pieces of evidence collected from the home, although specific details remain undisclosed.
June 10-12, 1998: Burke, JonBenét’s brother, is interrogated
Burke, JonBenét’s older brother, who was 9 at the time of the incident and the only other person known to be in the house that night, is questioned for the first time at the age of 11.
August 6, 1998: Detective Steve Thomas resigns
Detective Steve Thomas submits an eight-page resignation letter, claiming that Hunter’s office has “crippled” the investigation due to significant compromises, according to the Denver Post. Governor Roy Romer considers intervening and ultimately decides to do so.
August 19, 1998: White requests Hunter's removal
A family friend, White, calls for someone other than Hunter to be assigned to the JonBenét case.
August 20, 1998: Burke's voice allegedly captured on 911 call
Initially, the Ramseys claimed that Burke was asleep when his sister went missing and only woke up after the police arrived. However, an enhanced version of the 911 call reportedly reveals Burke's voice in the background.
September 15, 1998: Grand jury investigation commences
Although the grand jury was selected five months earlier, they officially begin their investigation, as reported by CNN.
September 24, 1998: Another detective steps down
Homicide detective Lou Smit resigns, citing an excessive focus on the Ramsey parents in the investigation. In his resignation letter, he warns that a "very dangerous killer is still out there," which motivates the Ramseys to urge authorities to redirect the investigation.
October 13, 1998: Grand jury reviews forensic evidence
The grand jury starts examining the case and learning about forensic details, including DNA, hair, and fibers found at the scene. They also visit the Ramsey home in Boulder nine days later.
October 20, 1998: John confronts Stephen Miles in court
Following reports in the National Enquirer about an anonymous source claiming John suspected photographer Stephen Miles of killing JonBenét, John returns to Colorado to confront Miles in a civil lawsuit.
December 3, 1998: Additional family DNA samples collected
Nearly two years after the tragedy, DNA samples are requested from five members of the Ramsey family. They are not considered suspects; investigators simply aim to identify the DNA found in the home.
January 28, 1999: A teddy bear becomes a focal point
Investigators reach out to the online community for information regarding a Santa Claus teddy bear allegedly discovered in JonBenét's bedroom. They hope to trace its manufacturer and point of sale to uncover more connections.
March 18, 1999: First detective on the case resigns
In another resignation, detective Arndt steps down due to the ongoing criticism surrounding the investigation.
May 19, 1999: Burke is no longer considered a suspect
At just 12 years old, Burke is questioned in secret by the grand jury and is officially recognized as a witness rather than a suspect.
September 13, 1999: Detective Arndt claims to know the identity of JonBenét's killer
During an interview on Good Morning America, Detective Arndt asserts that she knows who committed the crime but refuses to disclose the name.
September 30, 1999: JonBenét’s half-siblings take the stand
John Andrew and Melinda, who had been cleared of suspicion back in March 1997, testify before the grand jury.
October 13, 1999: The district attorney states there is a lack of “sufficient evidence”
District Attorney Hunter announces that there is not enough evidence to bring charges against anyone in connection with the murder.
March 17, 2000: The Ramseys release a book
John and Patsy Ramsey publish a book titled The Death of Innocence, discussing their daughter's murder and launching a publicity campaign to promote it.
May 24, 2000: John and Patsy hold a press conference
The parents of JonBenét hold a news conference to share that lie detector tests indicate their innocence regarding their daughter's death, although the tests were not conducted by the FBI and are not recognized by investigators.
June 24, 2006: Patsy passes away from cancer
Patsy, JonBenét’s mother and a former pageant queen, dies at the age of 49 from ovarian cancer, having been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 1993, with no answers about her daughter's case at the time.
June 29, 2006: Patsy is laid to rest beside JonBenét
Patsy is buried in Marietta, Georgia, next to her daughter JonBenét. September 12, 2016: Burke speaks out but offers no new information.
December 28, 2016: Lawsuit against CBS
Burke Ramsey filed a $750 million lawsuit against CBS over a documentary that suggested his involvement in his sister's death.
January 4, 2019: Lawsuit settlement
The lawsuit was settled in January 2019.
November 25, 2024: Netflix docuseries
The investigation into JonBenét Ramsey's 1996 murder remains active but unresolved. Recent developments have reignited public interest and scrutiny.
Netflix premiered a three-part docuseries titled Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?. The series revisits the case, exploring various theories and the police's investigative methods.
City of Boulder Original Press Release: Update on Homicide Investigation - December 27, 1996
