Justice 4 JonBenét

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JonBenét Ramsey was just 6 years old when she was found murdered in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado home—December 26th, 1996. Nearly 30 years later, the case remains one of the most tragic, publicized, and perplexing unsolved crimes in American history.

 

In 1999, a Colorado Grand Jury secretly voted to indict John and Patsy Ramsey on charges of child abuse resulting in death. But the District Attorney at the time, Alex Hunter, refused to sign the indictment.

 

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The Indictment

 

In total, the Grand Jury returned four felony counts—two against John Ramsey and two against Patsy Ramsey:

 

• One count of child abuse resulting in death, for “knowingly, recklessly, and feloniously” placing JonBenét in a situation that led to her death.

• One count of accessory to a crime, for “rendering assistance” to someone with the intent to delay or prevent prosecution.

 

The unsealed portion of the indictment states that they:

 

“unlawfully, knowingly, recklessly and feloniously” allowed their daughter to be

“unreasonably placed in a situation which posed a threat of injury to the child’s life or health”

—which “resulted in the death of JonBenét Ramsey.”

 

For years, the public was falsely led to believe the Grand Jury had found nothing—no evidence, no charges, no accountability.

That was not true.

 

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The History

 

In 2013, after a lawsuit filed by reporter Charlie Brennan of the Boulder Daily Camera and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a judge ordered the release of 4 pages—just 4 of 17 from the sealed Grand Jury records. It was the first time the public learned that an indictment had actually been issued.

 

The remaining 13 pages remain sealed to this day.

 

The judge acknowledged that the Grand Jury had voted to indict, but still chose to keep the full records sealed. To this day, the public has never seen the full scope of the Grand Jury’s findings—what was presented, what was redacted, and who was protected.

 

This Grand Jury was convened at public expense, and yet its conclusions remain hidden.

Public trust is at stake—especially when secrecy becomes selective.

 

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Recent Legal Precedent  (see legal page for more detailed information)

 

In 2022, attorney Steve Zansberg and Colorado Public Radio reporter Allison Sherry successfully fought for the release of grand jury-related records in another high-profile case: the death of Elijah McClain.

 

A ruling by Chief Judge Christopher Baumann found that once Grand Jury material is referenced in a public indictment, the justification for complete secrecy is “significantly weakened.”

That decision ultimately resulted in the release of amended autopsy records in the McClain case.

 

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Why This Matters Now

 

This isn’t about one case.

It’s about transparency, accountability—and public trust.

 

How can we assess institutional failure—law enforcement missteps, prosecutorial discretion, or judicial overreach—if we’re not allowed to see the truth?

 

What are they hiding?

Why is it still sealed?

Who are they protecting?

 

Secrecy erodes faith in the justice system—especially when that secrecy is selective.

 

We’re calling on the Boulder District Attorney’s Office, the Colorado Attorney General, and the courts to release the full Grand Jury record in the JonBenét Ramsey case.

 

No redactions.

No secrecy.

No excuses.

 

Because nearly three decades later—justice demands the truth.

 

Justice delayed may not always be justice denied.

But silent secrecy and selective disclosure erode faith in the very system.

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And if nothing else—this effort might at least begin to honor the child at the heart of it all. ❤️