JonBenet Ramsey’s father calls for child murders to be investigated as federal offenses

FIRST ON FOX: LAS VEGAS – John Ramsey, the father of murdered JonBenet Ramsey, said Saturday that child killings should be investigated as federal offenses.

“We have 1,800 police jurisdictions in this country. Each one is a little kingdom. They have full authority of the crimes committed in their territory, other than bank robberies and a few other things,” Ramsey told Fox News DIgital at the CrimeCon 2022 convention in Las Vegas on Saturday. “But, why don’t we make the murder of a child a criminal offense at all levels of society and bring all our resources to bear on it is beyond me. We have one the highest child murder rates in any industrial country. We should be ashamed. “

Ramsey, and Paula Woodward, an investigative journalist and author of “We Have Your Daughter”, spoke Saturday afternoon at the conference that featured thousands of speakers and guests. These included crime victims as well as high-profile scientists and law enforcement officials.

John Ramsey speaks to Paula Woodward at CrimeCon 2022.
(Fox News)

Investigations into federal crimes are led by federal law enforcement and prosecutors.

JonBenet’s mother reported her missing to police when she was 6 years old on the morning Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado. She had discovered a lengthy ransom note demanding more than $118,000 in exchange for JonBenet. John Ramsey found her body in her basement that day.

An autopsy revealed that JonBenet died from strangulation and a head injury. According to the Boulder City Medical Examiner, her skull was fractured by 8 1/2 inches. The case has not been solved by the authorities.

Page one of the JonBenet ransomnote
(John Ramsey)

Ramsey criticized BPD for its “arrogance,” “pride,” “ego” and inexperience at the time his daughter was killed during his discussion at the convention.

JONBENET RAMSEY, 6, FOUND DEAD 25 YEARS AGO; TRAGIC MURDER CASE REMAINS UNSOLVED

“We can’t let the murder of a child be left up to local police. They are just big enough to think they know everything. A case like his daughter’s murder might be handled differently if it becomes a federal offense.

JonBenet Ramsey
(John Ramsey)

BPD said in a December 2021 statement marking the 25-year anniversary of JonBenet’s homicide that they have processed more than 1,500 pieces of evidence and “reviewed or investigated more than 21,016 tips, letters and emails. “

BPD also said in its statement that due to advances in DNA technology, “multiple suspects have been run through the system to check for matches” and that investigators have updated more than “750 reference samples with the latest DNA technology. “

JonBenet Ramsey
(John Ramsey)

“As the Department continues to use new technology to enhance the investigation, it is actively reviewing genetic DNA testing processes to see if those can be applied to this case moving forward,” BPD said at the time.

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Ramsey also announced the start of a new petition, which garnered more than 1,400 signatures as of Sunday morning, asking Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will use his “power” to intervene in this case and allow for independent DNA analysis.

“You have power,” the petition states. “Given the inaction of Boulder Police, we petitioners ask that you move DNA decisions in this matter away from the BPD and to an independent agency to ensure JonBenet gets the justice she deserves. “

Boulder Police and the office of Gov. Fox News’ request for comment was not immediately answered by Polis.