Netflix is unquestionably at its best when true crimes are involved, and so it proved once again. The streaming giants’ latest gripping three-part docuseries ‘Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey’ dives deep into the shocking 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey. Initially, the suspects were her own brother, Burke Ramsey, and their parents, John and Patsy Ramsey.
From the discovery of her body to the messy police investigation and the wild theories that followed, this series lays it all out. Packed with interviews from family, investigators, and experts, the documentary pieces together the chaos and heartbreak of one of the most infamous unsolved cases.
While the doc doesn’t crack the case, it shines a light on the media frenzy and investigative blunders that have haunted this mystery for almost 30 years. And now, viewers are curious to learn further details about the people involved, notably JonBenét’s brother, Burke.
Burke Ramsey Was Nine Years Old When His Sister, JonBenét Ramsey, 6, Died
On December 26, 1996, the lifeless body of six-year-old pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey was tragically uncovered in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home. This devastating event deeply affected her family, especially her older brother, Burke Ramsey, who was nine years old at the time.
JonBenét’s death was a shocking tragedy that included a botched ransom note asking for $118,000. Her dad, John Ramsey, found her body a few hours later. The case blew up in the media since the death was incredibly brutal and there was no immediate resolution. JonBenét died from strangulation and a head injury, and her passing was ruled a homicide.
Following the incident, Burke Ramsey’s life, unsurprisingly, received a lot of attention and everyone started speculating about him. But in May 1999, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office made it clear that Burke was never a suspect. Despite this, the media frenzy and public suspicion made things difficult for Burke growing up.
To keep him safe, the Ramsey family, which included parents John and Patsy Ramsey, moved to Charlevoix, Michigan, where Burke finished high school out of the public eye. Even with these precautions, Burke’s childhood was pretty isolated and he didn’t get to experience many social interactions, according to family insiders.
In 2006, tragedy struck the Ramsey family once again as Burke’s mother Patsy succumbed to ovarian cancer at the age of 49, and she was subsequently buried in Marietta, Georgia, next to her late daughter JonBenét, leaving only John and Burke as the immediate family members.
Burke later went to Purdue University and got his computer science degree in 2010. His dad, John Ramsey, often mentions in interviews how independent and successful Burke is. He leaves no shortage of effort to talk about Burke’s impressive financial habits and his steady career in the STEM field.
Even though Burke Ramsey keeps a low profile, his public appearances often get a lot of attention. In his 2016 interview on The Dr. Phil Show, viewers noticed his nervous smile. Dr. Phil explained that Burke’s behavior was because of anxiety from his childhood trauma.
The Defamation Battle That Changed Everything for Burke Ramsey
The Ramsey family has dealt with lots of accusations and legal battles over the years. In 2008, DNA evidence showed an unknown male’s DNA on JonBenét’s body, clearing Burke and his parents. Despite this, people did not stop speculating. In 2016, a CBS docuseries called ‘The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey’ hinted that Burke might have been involved in his sister’s death.
Burke then sued CBS and forensic pathologist Werner Spitz for defamation for $750 million and $150 million, respectively. These lawsuits were settled out of court in 2019, and while the amount was never disclosed, it was enough for him to “start a quiet, private life” per a family member, which was evident with Burke buying a home in Michigan for $265,000 in the same year.
These days, Burke Ramsey keeps a low profile in Michigan. He works as a software engineer and likes to stay out of the public eye. He has a good relationship with his dad and, according to family members, he’s happy and doing well. Despite the ongoing interest in his sister’s case, he’s managed to find some normalcy in his life.
Burke mostly keeps quiet about JonBenét and everything that transpired, insisting it’s too painful and triggering to talk about. He’s very private, even about his personal life, and his family has mentioned he has struggled with trust issues and prefers to keep to himself.
JonBenét’s murder case is still open, and the Boulder Police are actively looking into leads and rechecking evidence. Her dad, John Ramsey, is hopeful that new forensic tech will finally help catch and convict her killer. Her half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, also believes the case can be solved with persistent effort and modern investigative techniques.
