With DNA results anticipated by March 2026, the JonBenét Ramsey homicide case has entered its most active stage in nearly three decades. Newly identified crime scene items that had never been tested before have been sent to a cutting‑edge forensic lab, where analysts are expected to finish their work by March 2026, according to reports from The Cold Cases.
Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn has reaffirmed the department’s dedication to resolving the case, as it marked the 29th anniversary of her death in December 2025. “This case remains a top priority for our department,” Redfearn said in a video message shared by the agency.
Renewed momentum in the investigation comes alongside major developments in forensic science. In 2025, detectives gathered additional evidence and applied new DNA technology to evaluate both fresh and previously collected materials. The department submitted what it calls “multiple physical objects and trace material” to an elite U.S. forensic laboratory, per The Cold Cases. Lab documentation shows that partial genetic profiles have already been extracted from two separate items using Y‑STR and mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Police also conducted new interviews and revisited earlier witnesses based on public tips.
Redfearn noted that forensic tools—especially DNA testing—continue to advance rapidly. However, investigators have not revealed which specific items were tested or who was interviewed, citing the ongoing investigation.
In January 2026, Boulder police assigned detective Kenny Beck to provide new insight into the case. Beck is collaborating with investigator Jason K. Jensen and using AI systems to examine thousands of documents and evidence items across files spanning 17 states and two foreign nations.
Investigators have also located new eyewitness information. Two former neighborhood visitors—children at the time—recently described seeing an unfamiliar adult man near the back of the Ramsey home on the afternoon of December 25, 1996. They reported the man was holding a small duffel bag and appeared to be observing the rear of the property. A forensic artist is creating a new composite sketch that will be released after the DNA findings are made public.
In September 2025, JonBenét’s older brother, John Andrew Ramsey, stated that previously undisclosed evidence is being reassessed, including basement crime‑scene clues that had never undergone forensic analysis.
Hal Haddon, one of the Ramsey family’s former criminal defense attorneys, spoke publicly for the first time during CrimeCon in Aurora in fall 2025. Haddon was direct, telling followers of the JonBenét case that one of the murder weapons—the makeshift garrote used to strangle the child—may still hold overlooked evidence.
JonBenét Ramsey was discovered dead in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado home in 1996. The case began when her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, found a ransom note on their staircase. After reporting her missing, John Ramsey located her body hours later in the basement.
The autopsy determined that JonBenét died from strangulation and had sustained a skull fracture. Unknown DNA was detected under her fingernails and in her underwear—evidence that has remained central to the case.
The case quickly became one of America’s most widely discussed unsolved murders, generating extensive theories and intense media attention. Investigators have received more than 21,000 tips and spoken with over 1,000 individuals potentially connected to the case.
The Ramsey family lived under public scrutiny for years before being formally cleared as suspects in 2008. Patsy Ramsey died in 2006 without seeing the case solved. John Ramsey, now 82, continues advocating for progress, meeting with Boulder police several times—most recently in early 2025—and urging the use of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). In recent interviews, he said he believes there is a 70 percent chance the killer could be identified within months if advanced testing is applied.
Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed he has met with the Ramsey family and assured them the department shares their commitment to finding JonBenét’s killer.
Modern forensic DNA tools have transformed cold case work nationwide, allowing experts to pull genetic profiles from evidence once considered too damaged or limited to analyze. These breakthroughs have helped solve many long‑standing cases and renewed hope for families awaiting answers.
In his video message, Redfearn directly appealed to the public. “It is never too late for people with knowledge of this terrible crime to come forward, and I urge those responsible for this murder to contact us,” he said. Any tips can provide fresh leads or help verify existing theories, potentially bringing the case closer to resolution.
As potential breakthroughs approach, the investigation remains active and ongoing. With advanced forensic methods, continued investigative efforts, and public assistance, authorities believe the long‑standing mystery may finally be solved.
The department continues to operate a dedicated tipline for anyone with information about the case and encourages people to come forward regardless of how much time has passed.