Cold Case: Wer ermordete JonBenét Ramsey?

I remember when this case was unavoidable in the news and a national obsession, people passionately "believed" the parents were guilty based on weak circumstantial evidence, opinions about child beauty pageants, and police supposition.

Ignore the other reviewers who say it's a documentary series made by/for the Ramseys. The actual facts of the case are that the police jumped to conclusions, ignored and kept secret the DNA evidence that exonerated the family, but the police just "believed" the parents were guilty. Everything flowed from there. It was sickening media and police malpractice. The hell this family was put through reveals a lot more about the public's relationship to sensational "news" that was really just entertainment and clickbait.

Like many, I had my suspicions that someone in the immediate family was guilty of Jonbenet's murder. However in viewing this documentary, I realize that's exactly what the Boulder PD wanted us all to think with the lies and misinformation they fed to the media. I am shocked that reviewers here are still clinging to the idea that the family was involved when the series showed a deposition of a police detective ADMITTING that there was ZERO evidence implicating the family. The same detective also admitted that the Boulder PD planted false information in the media and WITHHELD the exonerating DNA evidence, probably to cover up their absolute bungling of this case/crime scene. These poor people were put through the wringer and while I didn't learn who murdered this poor child, I did learn once and for all that it was no one in the family. I am so sorry that they had to go through this in addition to the horror of losing their daughter.

I was surprised and disappointed by the fact, that the participation of John E. Douglas was not mentioned in the documentation. He was invited by the Ramseys' lawyers as an objective reviewer. He made an excellent analysis, including the behavioural aspect, especially of the ransom note and based on all this he believes that the parents are not the killers or that they cover up their son. It doesn't add up.

If you are interested in this part of the case, I recommend his book "The cases that hunt us", in which the Ramsey case is one of five or six cases analyzed, and the only one, Douglas participated in. (Jack the Ripper, Lizzy Borden, Black Dahlia Murder, JonBenet Ramsey, Zodiac Killer).

Important miss IMHO.

And an investigation.

Our so-called media just loves to paint people into corners, especially when the people are wealthy, famous, and/or can be perceived as 'controversial'. The Ramsey family were certainly wealthy, and some viewed the pageant circuit as controversial. It could also be argued that the family was somewhat famous, at least in the immediate area, so check, check and check.

Given Joel Berlingers diving into other cases, I went in hoping for a documentary that explored all aspects, and not just the popular narrative driven by legacy media. I was not disappointed.

Given the perspective of The West Memphis Three, and how his and one other doc managed to overturn the insanity of 'Satanic Panic' and ultimately free three completely innocent young men, I'm hopeful that we may someday be able to say that Jon Benet wasn't harmed by Patsy, by Jon, or (the worst accusation I've heard) her brother, Burke.

The ultimate failure ultimate goes to the ridiculous handling of the crime scene and that of the police. I've never seen such a mismanaged cluster by so many, who jumped to immediate conclusions, yet made absolutely zero effort to explore all options, and not just one.

OF COURSE any investigation should and usually does center on the small inner circle, HOWEVER, you must simultaneously and methodically gather as much evidence as humanly possible, retain the integrity of the scene (remove all family immediately) and perform extensive and thorough forensic searches AND NOT TELL THE FAMILY TO DO SO, and CERTAINLY not alone. It's nothing short of a miracle that none of the family were charged- but they've certainly endured an ugly cloud of suspicion and ludicrous accusations since that day, and due to the complete and utter ineptitude of numerous law enforcement representatives, nothing of any substance was ever found.

One hopes that, much the same as the Memphis Three case, if no one is arrested, maybe innocent people are able to prove their innocence. Which is directly contrary to how our justice system is structured to work- INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY- not the other way around.

John and Patsy Ramsey are panic stricken one night when they discover that their six year old daughter JonBenét has vanished, their world is shattered when they discover her dead body in the house, a flawed Police investigation follows.

The first thing I'll note, this is not a series for the sensitive to watch, some of the content, particularly in the second episode is very harrowing, truly shocking.

It's a very revealing, in-depth look at what happened to that poor child, I'm sure we'll all have our views and opinions as to who was guilty, and what happened, one thing is clear, John and Patsy were truly failed by The Authorities.

It's incredibly well made, with some very powerful interviews, it's just a shame that The Boulder Police didn't offer up their point of view.

The Police carried out a truly shambolic investigation into the crime, why on Earth wasn't an experienced Detective called in to hunt for the killer?

The Media also deserve a heap of criticism, their behaviour was truly reprehensible.

9/10.