MICHAEL RUIZ: JonBenet Ramsey's father challenges DA after report says family shouldn't have been cleared

John Ramsey issued a fiery response to a report that Colorado prosecutor Michael Dougherty would not have ruled the family out as suspects if he'd been in charge when his predecessor did so in 2008. The family shared that investigators gave them an optimistic update on the case earlier this year.

After 30 years of investigation, Ramsey demanded that prosecutors either file charges or stop suggesting the family's involvement. "After 30 years if they still think I am guilty then please file charges and we will settle this in court based on facts and evidence," Ramsey told Fox News Digital.

DA's Position

Dougherty declined an interview with Fox News Digital but his office said he planned to post video from his local interview online amid concerns his remarks were taken out of context. "I've never ruled out people in a case that's unsolved," he told local reporters. "Doing right by the victim demands that I remain open-minded and committed to following the evidence wherever it leads."

This is a routine investigatory position, according to retired FBI agent Jason Pack, who has followed the case for decades. "If new evidence challenges an assumption made years ago, they need to take another look," he said. "That doesn't mean accusing somebody all over again. It means being willing to let the evidence change the direction of the investigation."

DNA Evidence

The 6-year-old died of strangulation and head trauma in December 1996. Her family reported her missing only to find her dead in their basement the next day. Investigators have examined more than 20,000 tips and hundreds of pieces of evidence, checking previously recovered DNA against more than 750 "reference samples."

Ramsey criticized what he called selective use of evidence. "They can't selectively apply the unknown male DNA both ways," he said. "They have cleared a number of interesting suspects based on their DNA not matching unidentified male No. 1 DNA recovered from JonBenet's person."

Recent Developments

JonBenét's half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, said the family received hopeful updates from Boulder police earlier this year. "We met with them in February 2026, and they had this new message of hope and optimism," he said. "We took that to mean they were close to sending something off for SNP testing."

The family believes recent DNA testing could be key to solving the case. John Andrew Ramsey predicted no major updates would come before the 30-year mark in December, estimating it could take six to 12 months optimally, or two to five years. "I think if they were super close, they would not be talking to the press," he said.