Private Investigator Issues Direct Appeal to JonBenét Ramsey’s Killer: “This is the Year”
Jensen Believes It’ll Be Solved This Year
Private Investigator Issues Direct Appeal to JonBenét Ramsey’s Killer: “This is the Year”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Nearly three decades after six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado home, a Utah-based private investigator has issued a stunning direct appeal to her killer, offering a pathway to confession through potential manslaughter charges rather than capital murder.
Jason Jensen, founder of Jensen Private Investigations and the Cold Case Coalition, sent a letter addressed “TO JONBENÉT RAMSEY’S ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPER / KILLER” in which he claims law enforcement is closer than ever to making an arrest in the infamous 1996 cold case.
“The police investigation is getting closer to making an arrest. This is the year,” Jensen wrote in the letter, which bears his firm’s letterhead from Salt Lake City. “You should get ahead of them.”
A Strategic Offer
Jensen’s letter outlines a legal strategy for the perpetrator, suggesting that a confession framing JonBenét’s death as an “accident”—meaning unintentional—could open the door to manslaughter charges rather than first-degree or capital murder. He notes that the statute of limitations for manslaughter in Colorado is three years, potentially offering legal protection not available for murder charges, which carry no statute of limitations.
The letter also references crucial DNA evidence that has long complicated the case: “The world is more interested in knowing the truth rather than securing justice, especially since the UM1 DNA evidence would prevent them from guaranteeing a conviction.”
The “UM1” reference points to the unidentified male DNA profile recovered from JonBenét’s clothing and fingernails that has consistently excluded family members and failed to match any suspects in national databases.
John Ramsey’s Final Quest for Answers
Jensen emphasizes the personal stakes for JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, who has spent nearly 30 years seeking answers. “John Ramsey would probably agree with this. He wants to get answers before he dies and to bring peace to his family,” the letter states.
The appeal comes at a critical time. In December 2025, the Boulder Police Department announced significant new developments in the case, including fresh interviews, new evidence collection, and advanced DNA retesting of existing evidence. Chief Stephen Redfearn confirmed in a video statement that “techniques and technology constantly evolve,” particularly regarding DNA analysis.
John Ramsey has publicly expressed optimism about these developments, telling NewsNation that new leadership at the Boulder Police Department has renewed his hope. “It was not very good for 25 to 26 years,” Ramsey said of the previous investigation. “And now, knowing Chief Redfearn from the outside, I’ve met with him three or four times. I’m impressed with him.”
The “Queen for the Day” Proposal
Jensen offers concrete assistance to any potential confessing party, citing his experience with “Queen for the Day” letters—proffer agreements that provide limited immunity for statements made during police interviews. “I can help you with arranging an interview with Boulder police,” he wrote. “I have helped suspects with ‘Queen for the Day’ letters and immunity for statements in the past.”
This approach suggests Jensen believes he can facilitate a mediated confession that would protect legal rights while providing the Ramsey family with the closure they have sought since December 26, 1996.
Jensen’s Investigation
Jason Jensen has been independently investigating the Ramsey case for several years, focusing particularly on Gary Oliva, a convicted pedophile currently incarcerated in Colorado for child pornography possession. In 2023, Jensen commissioned forensic handwriting analysis comparing Oliva’s letters to the infamous ransom note found in the Ramsey home. Two experts found “compelling similarities” between Oliva’s writing and the three-page note demanding $118,000.
Oliva has written letters claiming he killed JonBenét accidentally—statements that align with Jensen’s current appeal for an “accident” confession. However, Oliva has never been charged in connection with the case, and Boulder Police have not confirmed whether he remains an active suspect.
Jensen has also theorized that the “SBTC” signature at the bottom of the ransom note could connect to the University of Colorado Boulder, located less than half a mile from the Ramsey home. He identified a 1996 physics paper referencing “single-band truncated-crystal” (SBTC) calculations, suggesting the killer may have been a student or had university ties.
The Unsolved Case
JonBenét Ramsey was reported missing on the morning of December 26, 1996, by her mother, Patsy Ramsey, who discovered a lengthy, handwritten ransom note on the back staircase. Hours later, John Ramsey found his daughter’s body hidden in a basement wine cellar. She had been sexually assaulted, struck on the head causing a skull fracture, and strangled with a garrote fashioned from a paintbrush and cord.
The case has spawned thousands of theories, multiple documentaries, and decades of public fascination. The Ramsey family was officially exonerated by former District Attorney Mary Lacy in 2008 based on DNA evidence, though questions remain about the completeness of that exoneration.
A High-Stakes Gamble
Jensen’s letter represents a high-stakes gambit in cold case investigation—directly appealing to a suspect’s conscience and legal self-interest. Whether this approach yields results remains to be seen, but it underscores the desperation and determination that continue to drive independent investigators nearly 30 years after JonBenét’s death.
The Boulder Police Department continues to urge anyone with information to contact their tip line at 303-441-1974 or email BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov.