John Bennett Ramsey’s life has been sort of bittersweet with a mix of heartbreak, persistence, and ultimately crossing paths with love again.
Best known as the father of JonBenét Ramsey, whose tragic death on December 26, 1996, remains one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history, John Ramsey has faced unimaginable losses.
John’s endured the deaths of two daughters and his wife, Patsy. But through it all, he’s managed to find comfort and companionship in his marriage to Jan Rousseaux. Here’s a closer look at John’s journey—how he coped with grief, found love again, and the role Jan has played in his life.
Three Marriages and a Lifetime of Heartache
John Ramsey was married twice before meeting his current wife, Jan Rousseaux. His second marriage was to Patricia “Patsy” Ramsey, a former beauty queen, in 1980. They had two kids together, Burke and JonBenét. Patsy wasn’t just John’s wife but also a source of strength during the tough years of public scrutiny after JonBenét’s death.
Sadly, Patsy passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006 at just 49. Before Patsy, John Ramsey was married to Lucinda Pasch, and they had three kids. Tragically, one of them, Elizabeth Pasch “Beth” Ramsey, a 22-year-old flight attendant for Delta Airlines, died in a car accident in 1992.
On Christmas night in 1996, the Ramsey family’s world absolutely shattered when six-year-old JonBenét was found dead in the basement of their home in Boulder, Colorado.
The case quickly grabbed headlines around the country and beyond, with Patsy and John Ramsey facing intense public scrutiny as suspects. It wasn’t until 2008 that DNA evidence cleared the family of any involvement. Even so, the mystery of JonBenét’s murder remains unsolved, casting a long shadow over John’s life.
John called losing JonBenét an unimaginable tragedy, maintaining “her future was lost” and noting how her memory is frozen at age six. He and Patsy spent their lives searching for answers, even though it often felt like they were fighting an uphill battle against public opinion.
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Hear from John Ramsey, JonBenet’s father, in ‘JonBenet Ramsey: What Really Happened?’ streaming now on @discoveryplus.
John Ramsey’s Love Story With New Wife Jan Rousseaux
In 2009, three years after Patsy passed away, John Ramsey went to a mutual friend’s wedding in Denver, Colorado, where he met Jan Rousseaux. Jan, a fashion designer from Las Vegas, was immediately drawn to John’s warmth and strength. They started out as friends, but by 2010, their friendship had turned romantic. The two connected over their shared faith and values, and before long, they fell deeply in love.
Jan’s story is just as fascinating as John’s. She grew up in East Africa as a missionary kid, where she found her love for design by turning random materials into clothes. That passion turned into a fashion career, working with country music stars and later designing uniforms for the hospitality world.
John and Jan tied the knot on July 21, 2011, in Charlevoix, Michigan—a spot close to John’s heart since it’s where JonBenét won the Little Miss title back in 1994. The wedding was a happy celebration with 70 guests, including members of Patsy’s family, who shared in John’s joy. John mentioned he felt both JonBenét and Patsy would be smiling down on him, and he believed Patsy would’ve been glad to see him find love again.
Jan embraced her new role in John’s life with open arms, offering him companionship and support as they worked through his past together. The two made the move to Moab, Utah, where they now co-own a shop called The Find. Jan also started her own clothing line, ‘River Guide,’ showing off her creative side.
How Does Jan Feel About the Ramsey Case?
Before meeting John Ramsey, Jan Rousseaux had heard about the JonBenét Ramsey case but didn’t let the media’s take on it shape her opinion of him. What really stood out to her was the love and normalcy in John and Patsy’s family photos, which made her dismiss the idea that they could have been involved in their daughter’s death. Jan has openly supported John through all the ongoing speculation, standing by him, believing in his innocence, and empathizing with his grief.
Jan and John blended their families when they got married. Jan brought her two daughters, Juliette and Jessica, and John had three kids from previous relationships: Melinda, John Andrew, and Burke. Now, they all cherish their time together, especially with their grandkids, and they keep some of JonBenét’s favorite things at home to remember her.
John, 80, and Jan, 66, lead a pretty quiet life, but the renewed interest in the JonBenét case, especially with Netflix’s 2024 documentary ‘Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,’ has sometimes brought them back into the public eye. They were featured in the documentary, sharing bits about their lives and reflecting on JonBenét’s legacy.
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John Ramsey, 80, the father of JonBenétRamsey, spoke on #TODAYShow about appearing on the new Netflix docuseries “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” revisiting his daughter’s case. JonBenét Ramsey was a six-year-old girl found murdered in her Boulder, Colorado, home in 1996.
Jan’s constant support for John and her involvement in his healing journey has made a big difference. She frequently shares heartfelt posts about their love on social media. John says Jan is a supportive partner who loves his kids like they were her own.
