Boulder Police have released their annual update on the JonBenét Ramsey case, announcing that investigators have collected new evidence and conducted fresh interviews in the murder investigation that has captivated the nation for nearly 29 years. The 6-year-old beauty queen was found dead in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado, home on Dec. 26, 1996, in a case that remains unsolved.

Police Chief Stephen Redfearn revealed that detectives have conducted several new interviews and re-interviewed individuals based on tips received over the past year. The department has also collected new evidence and tested and re-tested other pieces of evidence to generate new leads, though officials did not disclose specific details about what was tested or who was interviewed.

“It is never too late for people with knowledge of this terrible crime to come forward, and I urge those responsible for this murder to contact us,” Redfearn stated in his Dec. 12 video update.

The case dates back to the morning after Christmas in 1996, when JonBenét’s mother, Patsy Ramsey, reported finding a ransom note on the stairs of their home demanding $118,000 and warning the family not to contact authorities. The handwritten note would later become a key piece of evidence, with investigators determining it was believed to have been written inside the house.

Hours after the initial report, JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, discovered his daughter’s body in a basement spare room of their home. She had duct tape on her mouth and neck, and her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation. The investigation revealed that unknown DNA was found under her fingernails and in her underwear, evidence that has been central to the ongoing investigation.

The investigation has been extensive, spanning nearly three decades and covering significant ground. According to Boulder police records, investigators have followed up on more than 21,000 tips, traveled to 19 states, and interviewed over 1,000 individuals with connections to the case. The department has worked with federal, state and local partners, as well as DNA experts from around the country.

Redfearn emphasized that the case remains a top priority for his department and noted that DNA technology continues to advance, offering renewed hope for a resolution. He met with the Ramsey family and told them that police share the same goal: to find and bring JonBenét’s murderer to justice.

The Ramsey family faced years of intense scrutiny and speculation following JonBenét’s death. A handwriting test eliminated John Ramsey as the writer of the ransom note but did not clear Patsy. JonBenét’s older brother Burke, who was 9 years old at the time of her death, was also questioned by authorities. The family moved back to Atlanta following the murder.

In 2008, the Ramsey family was cleared as suspects in the case. Patsy Ramsey never saw that exoneration, having died in 2006. Three days after JonBenét’s death, her body was flown to Atlanta and buried at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, with her older half-sister who died in a car accident in 1992.

The case has generated countless documentaries, true crime podcasts and conspiracy theories over the years, keeping public interest alive while investigators continued their work. The department has regularly addressed speculation and media coverage throughout the investigation, maintaining that careful police work rather than prejudging would be key to solving the case.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty acknowledged the tragedy and its impact, noting that his office has successfully prosecuted other cold case homicides. The combination of advancing forensic technology, particularly in DNA testing, and the department’s commitment to following every lead has kept hope alive that the case may eventually be resolved.

Police are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward. Tips can be submitted to BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov or by calling the police tip line at 303-441-1974. The department continues to emphasize that no piece of information is too small and that advances in technology may make previously insignificant details suddenly relevant.

John Andrew Ramsey, JonBenét’s older brother, indicated in recent months that unspecified items are being retested, along with clues from the basement crime scene that have never undergone forensic testing. The family has filed numerous lawsuits over the years against media outlets for coverage they felt painted them as responsible for JonBenét’s death.

As the 29th anniversary of JonBenét’s death approaches, investigators remain committed to pursuing justice. The annual updates from Boulder Police serve as a reminder that despite the passage of time, the case remains active and the search for answers continues.