JonBenét Ramsey's Father Supports Petition Asking Polis To Move Case

BOULDER, CO — JonBenét Ramsey's father has expressed support for a Change.org petition asking Gov. Jared Polis to move the cold case to an independent agency and use the latest DNA technology to find her killer.

"Somehow we’ve got to force the police, or take it away from them, the ability to go ahead and test some of the crime scene evidence that was never tested for DNA,” John Ramsey said to KUSA-TV on Sunday. "Why that’s never been done and will never be done by the police baffles me."

JonBenét Ramsey was found dead in her home in Boulder on Dec. 26, 1996. Though her death was ruled a homicide, her killer was never found. She was six years old.

The petition, which cites the advancement in DNA testing technology with even severely degraded samples, criticizes the lack of progress Boulder police have made over the past 25 years, saying that it is time for "new perspectives and ideas."

"Justice for JonBenét has seemingly given way to politics and the massaging of egos. She deserves better," the petition says. "Everyone, from the police to the family, should have a vested interest in finding the truth. The fact that those with the ability to do that are not doing it should tell us everything we need to know.

"Given the lack of progress by the Boulder Police, we the undersigned petitioners ask you to move DNA decisions in this case away from the BPD to an independent agency so that JonBenét has a last chance at the justice she deserves."

The petition had nearly 5,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

"The State will review the petition and look into how the state can assist in using new technology to further investigate this cold case and to identify JonBenet Ramsey’s killer," Polis' office said in a statement that did not address the involvement of Boulder police.

Boulder police released a statement on Sunday acknowledging the petition, saying that the case has been under constant review over the past 25 years and that the department has worked with the FBI, Colorado’s Department of Public Safety and Colorado’s Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to further their progress. The detectives have also followed up on the more than 21,016 tips, letters and emails they have received, and have spoken with more than 1,000 individuals across 19 states in connection to the crime.

"We have a shared goal to bring justice — and hopefully some peace — to JonBenet’s family and everyone who was impacted by her loss," Police Chief Maris Herold said. "Our investigation with federal, state and local partners has never stopped. That includes new ways to use DNA technology."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.