Geraldo Rivera Apologizes to John Ramsey for 1997 Mock Trial of JonBenét Ramsey Case on His Talk Show

by

As a long-time gamer who has spent countless hours solving virtual mysteries and uncovering hidden truths, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for John Ramsey as he continues his quest for justice in the cold case of his daughter JonBenét. The recent conversation between Geraldo Rivera and John Ramsey, facilitated by Chris Cuomo, was a poignant reminder of the complexities and heartache that surround this tragic story.

Geraldo Rivera acknowledges a share of responsibility for contributing to the belief among the public that John and Patsy Ramsey might have been involved in the 1996 killing of their 6-year-old daughter, JonBenét, due to his coverage of the case.

On Monday evening, John and Rivera jointly appeared on NewsNation, hosted by Chris Cuomo, following the November 25th release of Joe Berlinger’s Netflix docuseries “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”. The second episode of this series revisited a significant event from 1997 – a mock trial on Geraldo Rivera’s show, where he asked a jury to decide the likelihood that John and Patsy were involved in their daughter’s murder. Testimonies suggested that certain photos and videos of JonBenét were sexually suggestive, which was used as evidence that she had been abused. This led to a mock verdict finding Patsy responsible for her death.

During a scene in the documentary, Rivera expressed to the camera, “We believe any scenario could be true under the sun. At this point, based on our current understanding, there seems to be no substantial proof suggesting anyone other than John and/or Patsy Ramsey in relation to this case.

27 years after being questioned about it by Cuomo, Rivera, now a correspondent-at-large for the cable news network, admitted that he regretted contributing to the harmful portrayal of the Ramsey family and their alleged role in their daughter’s murder.

Rivera started off by saying, Chris, that mock trials and moot courts aren’t exactly unheard of. They’re not extraordinary events, and I want to express my sincere apologies to John Ramsey for what you and your family have endured. The tragic loss of your wife due to cancer, the terrible car accident that claimed one of your children, and the heartbreaking case of JonBenét, who would now be 34 years old if she were still alive – it’s hard to believe how long this case has remained a prominent issue in American consciousness.

Rivera explained, “When I express regret, it’s not about my reporting. I think a significant number of reporters and people in general share this doubt, as well as more than half the Boulder Police Department – those who have left due to this case – seem to hold similar opinions. However, I don’t know the truth. What I want you to understand is that I regret any pain I may have caused you. Nobody should have to experience what you went through. That’s my main point.

As a gamer, I appreciated Rivera’s apology and simply said “thanks.” But what really matters to me is seeing justice served for JonBenét, the very reason Berlinger wanted to revisit this case in the Netflix documentary series.

For nearly three decades, John Bennett (who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006) has voiced his disapproval towards the police for refusing assistance. In his viewpoint, if the police hadn’t immediately zeroed in on him and his wife, this case might have been resolved much sooner.

Later on, John conveyed to Rivera that he had forgiven his apology, as he detailed the strategies he and his family were promoting to finally resolve the JonBenét case.

John mentioned that he wants both types of evidence – those that have been tested before and those that haven’t, as he suspects there are some untested ones. However, he admits there’s uncertainty about that. He also emphasized the need for these potential new evidences to be analyzed by top-notch labs specializing in DNA testing due to recent advancements in this field. Furthermore, John highlighted the importance of utilizing familial genealogy research methodology to identify the suspect behind the crime.

In a Tuesday email to The Hollywood Reporter, Boulder Police Department’s Public Information Officer Dionne Waugh refuted the claim, stating emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the suggestion that they are ignoring viable evidence or leads, nor are they neglecting DNA testing.

Waugh also shared a message attributed to Steve Redfearn, the Boulder Police Chief, which read, “We’re dedicated to pursuing every clue and we’re collaborating with DNA specialists and our law enforcement allies across the nation until this unfortunate case is resolved. This investigation remains top priority for the Boulder Police Department.

In a subsequent interview with THR, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey director and producer Berlinger urged the police department to engage in direct conversations with the Ramsey family regarding the ongoing investigation. He criticized them for not offering any substantial updates thus far.

As a gamer, I’d like to echo the sentiments of the team behind the Netflix documentary about the Ramsey case: We kindly urge everyone who’s been following along with us on this two-year journey, to join us in pushing for more transparency. After nearly three decades since this crime occurred, we’re eager to know what concrete actions are being taken by the relevant authorities to finally solve it. The Ramsey family has already been cleared as suspects and formally apologized to, so let’s make sure our voices reach them directly, expressing our collective desire for justice in this case.

In 1997, an unknown male’s DNA from a foreign source was found, intermingled with JonBenét’s DNA. This mixture makes the DNA sample compromised. Berlinger suggested to the Boulder Police Department that recent advancements in technology could now separate this unidentified male DNA from JonBenét’s DNA, thereby creating a more pristine profile. This improved profile could then be utilized with modern investigative genetic genealogy techniques, similar to those that have proven successful in resolving cold cases like the Golden State Killer and the Green River Killer.

He added that the team that has spent nearly two years researching and creating the Netflix documentary on this case “begs you to please communicate with [the Ramsey family] more directly about what steps you are taking to solve this crime after almost three decades.”

Read More

2024-12-04 00:25