On Dec 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up after a joyful family Christmas to discover their youngest child, six-year-old JonBenét, missing. A chilling ransom note had been left downstairs. Later that day, John Ramsey discovered his daughter's body in the basement, exposing the horrific truth -- JonBenét had not been kidnapped but was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered in her own home.
The Colorado police, inexperienced in handling homicide investigations, quickly turned their suspicion towards the Ramsey family. This fuelled a media frenzy rife with one-sided reporting, transforming the case into a nationwide obsession. Decades later, that obsession remains and the murder of JonBenét is still unsolved.
From Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Joe Berlinger, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is a three-part docuseries that scrutinises the mishandling of the case by both law enforcement and the media. The series is heartbreaking, chilling and infuriating. The final episode, in particular, is jaw-dropping, especially during the segment involving an audio tape confession.
At the time, this tragedy captured global headlines and like many others, I remember the media hype. Without much knowledge, I ignorantly formed opinions. Watching this series as an adult, I realised just how much was overlooked or misconstrued in the initial coverage. However, I also acknowledge that for those who closely followed the case or have extensively read about it, much of the information in this series may not feel new.
JonBenét Ramsey.
JonBenét Ramsey's case is immensely complex and it takes three episodes to comprehensively cover the events from beginning to end. The documentary provides all the essential details needed to inform those unfamiliar with the case, walking viewers through the family's movements leading up to the crime, the tragic events of that night and the investigation as it unfolded. The series strikes a balance between brevity and depth, delivering enough information to ensure viewers can grasp the full scope of the case. This is achieved through a mix of current interviews, archival footage, police audio recordings and public opinion as reflected in the media.
One strength of the series is its focus on how the case eventually turned cold. While it does not reveal which new detectives are currently investigating this case, it thoroughly chronicles the procedural missteps and biases that caused the investigation to stall. The series does not shy away from uncomfortable details and I mean that in every sense. Watching video footage and images of JonBenét in child beauty pageants is deeply unsettling and listening to a detailed account of what happened to her in that basement is even more harrowing.
The second episode, for me, is the most enraging. It exposes how the court of public opinion was deliberately misled by both the police and the media. Some detectives appeared lazy or unwilling to admit failure, concocting baseless theories and engaging in what felt like a Salem-style witch hunt. It was both misogynistic and disgraceful. One particularly maddening interview features a journalist who spread misinformation provided by an unreliable police source. Without corroborating the claims, he published a story perpetuating inaccuracies. These leaks, combined with the police's obsessive focus on the Ramsey family, fed public suspicion and animosity towards them -- despite a lack of factual evidence.
This, I believe, is the core lesson of the series -- opinions are not justice and biases and speculations cannot substitute for evidence. Just because someone wants a particular narrative to be true doesn't make it so. The documentary drives home the idea that justice requires evidence, not assumptions.
The series is competently and beautifully produced. The narrative is cohesive and mostly chronological, with the information clearly laid out. While I appreciated hearing from John Ramsey and the family members who chose to participate, the most eye-opening -- and at times damning -- insights came from recent interviews with police officers and journalists. Some admitted their mistakes, while others stubbornly defended their actions despite evidence to the contrary.
One of the series' weaknesses, however, is its lack of resolution. We're shown recent investigations that uncover disturbing new details, but none result in identifying JonBenét's killer. By the end, viewers will have seen a well-produced, comprehensive account of this heinous crime but be left frustrated by the lack of closure. Watching the injustices unfold -- law enforcement's failures, media sensationalism and the family's suffering -- is a deeply traumatic experience because the villain walks free.
All in all, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey is a gripping and detailed docuseries, combining archival footage with expertly captured present-day interviews. While much of the information may feel like a rehash for those familiar with the case, the series excels in exposing biases and flawed practices of law enforcement and the media. Unfortunately, it doesn't bring us closer to solving the case.
For true crime enthusiasts, this is both captivating and infuriating. But for those less inclined towards the genre, it may only deepen one's cynicism about humanity.
- Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey
- Starring John Ramsey, Carol McKinley, Charlie Brennan
- Directed by Joe Berlinger
- Now streaming on Netflix
