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John Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey, has emphatically denied viral claims connecting his late daughter to Jeffrey Epstein. The speculation, which has spread rapidly across social media platforms in recent days, alleges that JonBenét appears in redacted photographs released as part of federal files related to Epstein’s case.
“Absolutely no truth to it,” Ramsey told TMZ on Tuesday. “I haven’t seen this, but with A.I. anything is possible.” He added with evident frustration, “I figured one of these days I would be accused of being an Epstein pal. Hasn’t happened yet. Internet people can be very cruel.”
The baseless rumor centers on a specific photograph showing Epstein with an unidentified young girl sitting on his shoulders. The image, part of evidence collected from Epstein’s properties, features complete redaction of the child’s face, offering no means of identification. Despite this, social media users, particularly on TikTok, began circulating the unfounded theory that the child could be JonBenét.
A second false claim circulating alongside this allegation suggests that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021, attended JonBenét’s sixth birthday party. Ramsey has categorically rejected this assertion as well.
JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado home on December 26, 1996, hours after being reported missing. She was just six years old. According to her autopsy, the cause of death was “asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma.” The case shocked the nation, becoming one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders.
Nearly three decades later, no arrests have been made in the Ramsey case, which has been plagued by investigative missteps, media speculation, and false leads. Throughout the years, John and his late wife Patsy Ramsey, who died of ovarian cancer in 2006, faced intense public scrutiny and suspicion, despite never being charged.
The Boulder Police Department confirmed last month that the investigation remains active and prioritized. “This past year, our detectives have conducted several new interviews as well as re-interviewed individuals based on tips we’ve received,” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn stated. “We have also collected new evidence and tested and re-tested other pieces of evidence to generate new leads.”
The false connection to Epstein represents the latest in a long series of unsubstantiated theories that have surrounded the Ramsey case. Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, has become the center of numerous conspiracy theories. The recent release of court documents related to his case has sparked a new wave of speculation, much of it unfounded.
Media experts note that high-profile unsolved cases like JonBenét’s often become magnets for conspiracy theories, particularly in today’s social media landscape where unverified claims can spread rapidly. The intersection of two sensationalized cases—the Ramsey murder and the Epstein trafficking ring—creates fertile ground for such rumors.
John Ramsey, now in his late 70s, has continued to advocate for justice in his daughter’s case, pushing for advanced DNA testing and criticizing how the investigation was handled. In recent years, he has campaigned for changes in how child murder investigations are conducted, citing failures in his daughter’s case as examples of what to avoid.
Law enforcement officials continue to request that anyone with legitimate information about the Ramsey case contact the Boulder Police Department directly rather than spreading theories online.
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7 Comments
While the Epstein case raised many disturbing questions, connecting it to the Ramsey family without evidence is irresponsible. I’m glad John Ramsey has addressed this rumor directly. We should be cautious about amplifying unsubstantiated theories, especially on sensitive topics.
Agreed. Responsible journalism and fact-checking are so important to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation, especially around tragic events.
I appreciate John Ramsey speaking out to refute these claims. Conspiracy theories around high-profile tragedies can be very damaging. Fact-checking and responsible reporting are crucial to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Absolutely. Spreading false information, especially about a child’s death, is unethical and disrespectful to the family.
Allegations like these, without any credible evidence, are irresponsible and harmful. The Epstein case is tragic enough without attaching false narratives to it. I hope these rumors are quickly debunked and put to rest.
It’s disappointing to see social media users perpetuating unsubstantiated theories, especially around the tragic death of JonBenét Ramsey. We should be more careful about verifying information before spreading it, especially in sensitive cases like this.
This is a disturbing and unfounded rumor. I’m glad John Ramsey has firmly denied these baseless claims. Spreading misinformation about a child’s death is truly cruel and disrespectful to the Ramsey family.