JonBenét Ramsey’s Dad Responds to Claim She’s in Epstein Files

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John Ramsey is weighing in on speculation that his daughter knew Jeffrey Epstein.

John Ramsey, the father of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey who was found murdered in her Colorado home in 1996, has responded to TikTok claims suggesting his daughter appeared in a photo with the deceased sex offender linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

John denied the claims in a statement to TMZ on January 27th, saying, “It’s completely false.” He added that while he hadn’t seen the content in question, advancements in artificial intelligence mean anything could be fabricated.

The 82-year-old said he’d always expected people to claim he was connected to Jeffrey Epstein, but it hadn’t happened yet. He also noted that people online can be quite harsh.

The photo circulating online, originally from documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and obtained by TopMob News from the Department of Justice, shows Epstein with a young girl whose face has been blurred. Some people online believe the girl might be JonBenét Ramsey.

Online, some people claimed that Ghislaine Maxwell—who received a 20-year prison sentence in 2022 for multiple sex trafficking crimes, including involving a minor—attended JonBenét’s sixth birthday party. John Ramsey has denied this claim.

TopMob News has reached out to John Ramsey for comment and has not yet heard back. 

Since JonBenét’s body was found in 1996, no one has been charged with her murder. Although the public widely suspected her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey (Patsy died from ovarian cancer in 2006), no formal charges were ever filed against them.

In the 2024 Netflix documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, John explained that even if the killer were caught, convicted, and imprisoned, a significant portion of the public—between 5 and 10 percent—would likely still believe they did it wrong.

Despite this, the investigation is still ongoing. In December, the Boulder Police Department stated they had recently completed a number of new interviews.

Police Chief Stephen Redfearn recently told NewsNation that investigators have gathered new evidence and re-examined existing evidence in hopes of finding new clues.

Read on for all the revelations from Netflix’s Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey. 

When Patsy Ramsey called 911 at 5:52 a.m. on December 26, 1996, to report her daughter JonBenét missing, she and her husband, John Ramsey, also contacted friends for help, and those friends quickly came to their home to offer support.

Throughout the day, before John Ramsey discovered JonBenét’s body in the basement around 1:30 p.m., the area around their 5,000-square-foot home was filled with police officers and other people coming and going.

In the Netflix documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, retired Boulder Police Detective Bob Whitson admitted he should have secured the area better. He explained, ‘It was a mistake to not remove everyone from the scene.’ However, he added that at the time, the situation appeared to be a genuine kidnapping, so he allowed family and friends—the Ramseys’ support system—to remain.

John explained in the show that when he discovered her, he didn’t realize she was already deceased. He initially attempted to untie the cords around her hands, but they were secured too tightly. He did manage to remove a piece of duct tape from her mouth and threw it onto the blanket she was lying on.

He carried her upstairs, and investigators believe this compromised the evidence collected from her body – things like her pajamas and any tape found – because it was disturbed.

Honestly, as a longtime follower of this case, it’s frustrating to hear that there could have been crucial clues on the duct tape – if only it hadn’t been taken off. It’s just… what could have been, you know? Whitson mentioned it in the documentary, and it really stuck with me.

After receiving Patsy Ramsey’s 911 call, police searched the entire house, including the three floors above ground and the basement. However, it wasn’t until almost eight hours later, when a detective suggested another look, that her body was discovered in a former coal storage area of the basement.

According to Carol McKinley, a Fox News reporter who covered the JonBenét Ramsey case, one of the first officers on the scene didn’t properly open the door where JonBenét was found. She believes this was a significant error that continues to affect him.

As someone who’s spent years observing investigations, I’ve noticed a really consistent pattern. It’s rare – almost unheard of, really – to see anyone but law enforcement personnel actually conducting a search. It’s just how these things typically work, as former Boulder PD Commander John San Agustin pointed out.

However, when John looked in the coal room, he said, “Her body was right there in front of me.”

Before the show Toddlers & Tiaras became popular, the media was shocked by JonBenét’s involvement in child beauty pageants, and most reports questioned why her mother would allow her to participate.

JonBenét had been performing and competing in local events since the age of four, resulting in many photos and videos. These images became a source of speculation for those critical of the Ramsey family, who searched for any indication of abuse or trauma hidden beneath the child’s remarkably mature demeanor.

Several people publicly claimed to diagnose JonBenét with troubling issues, and these claims were even aired on television. The Netflix series included a clip from the Geraldo show where a woman, presented as a child abuse expert, shockingly described one of JonBenét’s performances as sexually suggestive. During a mock trial on his show, host Geraldo Rivera had a six-person jury find Patsy Ramsey responsible for her daughter’s death. Patsy later said in the 1998 documentary The Ramseys vs. The Media that she was deeply humiliated and spent about two days in bed after seeing it.

In 2006, reporter Rivera told the Chicago Tribune that the Ramsey case was all anyone talked about. He said everyone – from his nanny to neighbors and even the koi pond caretaker – was fascinated by it. He explained that even his own mother was eager for details, and that when a case captures that level of widespread attention, it clearly has a near-universal appeal.

Investigative reporter Paula Woodward, who has followed the case since it began for KUSA Denver, remembers that the commentary surrounding the pageant described the Ramseys as neglectful parents.

The journalist spoke with JonBenét’s doctor, who firmly stated she had never been sexually abused. He emphasized the seriousness of such a claim, saying he would have lost his medical license if he hadn’t been truthful.

During a 1997 interview, the doctor stated that there was no indication of any kind of abuse – not sexual, emotional, or physical. He described the child as very loved and well-cared for.

The series highlighted how tabloids heavily speculated about possible abuse, even without any real proof that it actually happened.

Speaking directly to reporters on May 1, 1997, John stated, “I did not kill my daughter, JonBenét.” He also addressed rumors that she had been sexually abused, saying those suggestions were incredibly painful and completely untrue. He emphasized that he and JonBenét had a very close bond and that he would grieve her loss forever.

Patsy stated she was shocked anyone would suspect her or John of being involved in such a terrible crime. She firmly denied any involvement in JonBenét’s death, emphasizing her deep love for the child.

JonBenét was buried in Atlanta on December 31, 1996, next to her half-sister, Beth Ramsey. Beth, one of John Ramsey’s three adult children from a previous marriage, had died in a car accident in 1992.

By then, the family had a spokesperson releasing statements to the media and had hired a lawyer.

In the documentary series, Fox News’ McKinley recalled that it had a slightly unusual odor at the time, and they wondered what was causing it.

Throughout the series, John explained that their lawyers had cautioned them to be careful with their words and actions. He emphasized their full cooperation with the police, stating, “We provided everything they requested – blood samples, DNA, all our financial records, anything at all.”

Meanwhile, he added, “I would’ve been happy to die, quite frankly, to relieve the pain.”

Because the media was speculating about the case while the Ramseys stayed quiet, friends in Boulder urged them to give an interview as soon as possible, John remembered. They decided to do so, sitting down with CNN on January 1, 1997.

As Patsy famously stated back then, a dangerous person is still at large. She admitted she didn’t know the killer’s identity or even their gender, but warned Boulder residents to protect their children, emphasizing that ‘someone out there’ posed a threat.

After the Ramseys spoke to the media, Boulder Mayor Leslie Durgin stated on television that there were no signs anyone had broken into the house. Police investigating the location where JonBenét’s body was found believed the perpetrator likely knew the Ramsey family and the layout of their home, suggesting it wasn’t a random act of violence by a stranger.

In the Netflix series, KMGH Denver investigative reporter Julie Hayden remembered that Durgin seemed to have police information that made her confident in what she said. Hayden explained that the authorities’ actions at the time also fueled the growing suspicion surrounding John and Patsy, suggesting the involvement of someone close to the family.

Journalist McKinley remembered observing the Ramseys at a memorial service for their daughter on January 5, 1997, in Boulder, and felt their behavior seemed overly staged. She didn’t find it genuine, describing it as almost a performance. She specifically recalled Patsy Ramsey wearing large black sunglasses and a completely black outfit, which stood out to her.

John said he could hardly recall that day “because we were all in shock,” but he firmly denied any suggestion that parts of it were fabricated.

Several journalists observed that local news outlets were frequently receiving information from the police, sometimes attributing it to a single, unnamed source when that was all they had. However, not all of this information proved to be accurate.

Charlie Brennan, a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, confessed he made a mistake when he wrote that John, a pilot, had transported JonBenét’s coffin to Atlanta using his personal plane.

He admitted in the Netflix series that the information he’d shared was incorrect. He explained it came from a source he’d previously found reliable, and who had given him accurate information before. He acknowledged both the information and the source were wrong in this instance, and he took responsibility for the error.

On January 15, 1997, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation received results showing that DNA found on JonBenét’s underwear and under her fingernails didn’t belong to her father or her brother, Burke Ramsey, who was ten years old at the time. However, police withheld these findings, not even sharing them with the prosecutors involved in the case.

In the documentary, John explained that police learned about this in January. He said they intentionally kept it quiet from both the press and the District Attorney for several months.

As a lifestyle expert, I find it fascinating – and honestly, a little unsettling – that, as Bob Woodward pointed out, this information didn’t find its way to the press. It’s unusual when something like this stays completely under wraps, and it really adds another layer to the story.

It’s common for DNA evidence to become public in murder investigations, but when results come back proving someone’s innocence – or showing their DNA wasn’t involved – that information rarely gets leaked.

However, Woodward pointed out that early in the investigation, there was a significant amount of police information incorrectly suggesting Patsy Ramsey had written the ransom note. This theory received media coverage, but several handwriting experts later confirmed it was false, as retired Detective Whitson explained in the series.

John explained that they hid the DNA results because the findings didn’t support their belief that he and the others were responsible.

In early 1997, Detective Steve Thomas of the Boulder Police Department became the lead investigator in the JonBenét Ramsey case. He quickly focused his attention on her parents, and in his 2000 book, JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation, he explained his belief that Patsy Ramsey killed her daughter in a fit of anger after the six-year-old had an accident. He theorized that Patsy then staged the crime scene in the basement and wrote the ransom note.

He directly confronted Patsy and John Ramsey with these claims during an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live. They strongly disagreed, with Patsy ultimately stating that only God knows the truth and that it would eventually come out. The Ramseys later sued Thomas and his publisher for $80 million, alleging defamation, and the case was settled confidentially.

In the Netflix series, John said that Steve’s theory “didn’t pass the sanity test.”

John explained that Patsy had recently beaten stage 4 ovarian cancer and was simply thankful to be alive. He didn’t think her child having an accident—like wetting the bed—would be a significant problem, considering how happy she was to have more time with her family.

As someone who’s followed this case closely, I remember being really surprised when Steve Thomas stepped down in August of 1998. He publicly stated he couldn’t continue working on the Ramsey case because he felt the district attorney’s office wasn’t handling things properly – it was a pretty strong statement at the time.

In a 2004 interview, Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter described a disagreement between his office and the Boulder Police Department regarding a case. He explained that some police officers believed they knew the perpetrator, while some of his staff were convinced it was an outside intruder.

In 1997, the District Attorney’s office asked retired detective Lou Smit to review the case. Though he passed away in 2010, Smit explained in video and audio recordings—featured in the Netflix series—why he thought the Ramseys weren’t involved.

In a 1998 recording, he stated there was no apparent reason for the crime and the person involved had no history of bad behavior. He repeatedly emphasized that the evidence suggested someone had broken in, but felt like no one was paying attention to this crucial point.

In September 1998, when prosecutors decided to present their case against the Ramseys to a grand jury, Smit resigned from the investigation.

As a professional who’s seen a lot of cases, I can tell you integrity is everything. In the Netflix series, Commander Kurt Pillar, a colleague and someone who really looked up to Smit, explained it perfectly. He said Smit absolutely refused to participate in anything that could wrongly convict that couple – and that speaks volumes about the kind of person and investigator he was. It wasn’t just about the facts for him; it was about doing what was right.

I remember John talking about this on the show, and it really stuck with me. He said they genuinely thought they were going to be charged with something – they were totally prepared for it. He explained it by saying people joked that a grand jury would indict anything, even a ham sandwich, because the process is so biased towards the prosecution. It’s just a one-sided presentation, apparently.

Over a year after the investigation began, District Attorney Hunter stated on October 13, 1999, that his office lacked sufficient evidence to charge anyone—including the Ramseys—with a crime.

He kept the grand jury’s suggestions confidential. In 2004, Hunter stated he felt peaceful and proud that he had acted correctly, guided by the available evidence.

In 2008, Mary Lacy, who took over as District Attorney, officially cleared John, Patsy, and Burke, based on new DNA evidence. According to NBC News, she wrote to John expressing her regret for any role her office may have played in making the public suspect them of the crime, stating, “I am deeply sorry.”

The formal charges weren’t made public until 2013, when it was revealed that John and Patsy were indicted on two counts each of child abuse leading to death. According to the Denver Post, the indictment didn’t directly accuse them of killing their daughter. Instead, it claimed they allowed her to be in a dangerous situation that caused her death, and that they helped someone suspected of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.

A grand jury member told the Boulder Daily Camera in January 2013 that the jury wasn’t sure exactly what happened, but they believed the adults present could have done more to either prevent the incident or help the person involved, and they failed to act.

As a lifestyle and crisis communication expert, I remember when the 1999 indictment came out, and Police Chief Mark Beckner immediately released a statement. Essentially, he was confirming that the Boulder Police Department’s investigation had been completely justified by the facts and evidence they’d gathered at the time. It was a way of reassuring the public that their work wasn’t a wild goose chase, but a logical pursuit of the truth based on what they knew.

The investigation hasn’t turned up any new information, officials said. Although they don’t expect charges to be filed, the Boulder Police Department remains hopeful that enough evidence will eventually emerge to build a strong case for a jury.

In 2013, Lin Wood, the attorney for the Ramsey family, told the Post that the 1999 grand jury reached its conclusion using only partial evidence.

Many people believed criminal charges against the Ramseys were justified, but a thorough review of the evidence clearly proves they are innocent. Pursuing this further would be a grave injustice.

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2026-01-28 02:19