Almost three decades after the tragic death of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, her father, John Ramsey, is speaking out with a bold new theory that could reignite one of America’s most infamous unsolved cases.

In an interview with People magazine, John revealed he believes his daughter’s 1996 murder may be connected to a similar attack that took place just nine months later—also in Boulder, Colorado. That case involved a 12-year-old girl who, like JonBenét, was assaulted in her home by a masked intruder.

“To me, it could easily have been the same person,” Ramsey said, expressing frustration that police dismissed the potential link at the time.

His claim marks a significant shift in the case’s narrative and highlights what he views as major investigative failures. He’s now urging law enforcement to revisit the evidence using modern DNA testing. “We have tools now that didn’t exist back then,” he said. “There’s no excuse not to look again.”

JonBenét, a child beauty pageant contestant, was found dead in her family’s basement on December 26, 1996. She had been beaten and strangled, and a mysterious ransom note left at the scene added to the confusion. The case quickly gained national attention and became a media sensation.

Suspicion initially focused on the Ramsey family. The lack of forced entry, the unusual tone of the note, and JonBenét’s pageant background fueled public speculation. Despite maintaining their innocence, John, his wife Patsy (who passed away in 2006), and their son Burke were caught in a whirlwind of conspiracy theories and media scrutiny. No arrests were ever made.

John’s new theory points to a different potential suspect—someone who may have also been responsible for a home invasion attack on a 12-year-old girl less than a year later, just blocks away. Disturbingly, both girls attended the same dance studio and ran in similar social circles.

“This wasn’t some random coincidence,” John said. “These girls had overlapping lives. The attacks were disturbingly alike. Why wasn’t this investigated further?”

He believes authorities failed to consider the possibility of a serial predator operating in the area, and that dismissing the connection may have allowed a dangerous individual to slip through the cracks. “They blew it off,” he said.

Now, nearly 30 years later, Ramsey is calling on police to reopen both cases and apply today’s advanced forensic techniques. He’s also advocating for greater transparency, urging the Boulder Police Department to release evidence so independent experts can assist in the investigation. Several cold case specialists and forensic analysts have already expressed interest, but legal hurdles have delayed progress.

The JonBenét case has captivated the public for years, inspiring countless documentaries, books, and podcasts. But John Ramsey hopes this new lead will shift focus from speculation to action.

“With the advances in DNA science, there’s still a chance—however small—that we can identify who did this,” he said. “JonBenét deserves justice. And so does every child taken from this world without answers.”