JonBenét Ramsey's murder case is one of the most well-known cold cases in America. On Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado, 6-year-old JonBenét was found murdered in her basement. 30 years later, the case remains unsolved, with Boulder police continuing to investigate in hopes of bringing justice to the young girl.
JonBenét was found the morning after Christmas Day. Her autopsy reported that she passed away from suffocation and blunt force trauma to her head. Before her body was found, her parents found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for the little girl's life. As soon as they entered the crime scene, the police made multiple unprofessional mistakes, worsening the chances of solving the case.
To this day, the case remains unsolved. There have been multiple suspects in the investigation, including JonBenét’s family members. Despite the case being cold, the main suspects continue to be the young girl's parents. The police investigated them heavily; however, the couple was cleared years later due to DNA testing.
On Dec. 10, Netflix is releasing “The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey," a limited series about the murder. The series is an eight-part dramatized version of the true crime story. The producers angled the show to be told from multiple perspectives. By doing this, they give no definitive theory on what they believe happened to JonBenét*.
The limited series was originally made for Paramount+. However, the streaming service dropped the show after it got new leadership. This is when Netflix picked it up, adding to its variety of true-crime series. This will be the second show streamed about JonBenét’s case, following the 2024 documentary “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey."
The show features the events that happened after JonBenét’s body was found. The series focuses on the aftermath and what both her family and the country went through during the investigations. The producers specifically examine how the unresolved case impacted the national media.
Patsy Ramsey, JonBenét’s mother, is played by American actress Melissa McCarthy. She is a two-time Emmy Award winner. She is best known for her work in "Gilmore Girls” as Sookie, as well as Molly in “Mike & Molly.”
McCarthy has expressed her opinion on the cold case and whether or not she believes the parents are responsible. In an interview, she said that she refuses to believe the family had anything to do with the young girl's death. In order to perform to the best of her ability, she said she “had to pick” a side. With that, she went with her gut and personal feelings when voicing her opinion.
The actress also went into detail about what the series covers. She explains that it is more of a character study rather than a whodunit. The producers focused on those involved with the case rather than focusing on a specific theory. However, McCarthy said the series shows most of the different theories because they are real, working theories.
Clive Owen acts as John Bennett Ramsey, the father of JonBenét. He is best known for his performance in the 2004 film “Closer.” He won a Golden Globe as well as a BAFTA Award for his work in the romantic drama. He’s also popular for the crime drama “Croupier,” where he played a casino dealer.
On Sept. 15, Netflix released a first look photo of McCarthy and Owen as the parents. They are placed in front of a camera, both clearly distraught. The picture features the actors in character, most likely during a scene where the parents are being interviewed. The sneak peek gets viewers excited for the limited series release.
The series allows the cold case to gain more traction with viewers worldwide. The first look photo has attracted more audiences to the soon-to-be-released limited series. Audiences can look forward to viewing the numerous perspectives the show will explore.
