Netflix’s latest docuseries about the JonBenet Ramsey case offers little answers and only raises further questions.
Beyond the obviou$ one, there is little reason forNetflixsCold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramseyto exist.
Its only natural then that streaming titan Netflix would want to break into that conversatoin.
Hell, it has done so already with 2017 documentaryCasting JonBenet.Whats one more docuseries on top of that?
This is not to say John Ramseys story is unimportant.
But his perspective is just that: a perspective.
Longtime followers of the JonBenet Ramsey case have more than enough testimony to wade through.
What theyre in the market for is more evidence.
This three-episode Netflix series, directed byMaking a Murderers Joe Berlinger, is unable to provide that.
The JonBenet story has stood the test of time for a reason.
In fact, there are some crucial details about the case missing from this doc.
), it also omits or doesnt fully touch upon some others.
The most prominent bit of evidence thatCold Casedoesnt dive into concerns the autopsy reports.
The docuseries notes that there was evidence of sexual trauma in JonBenets initial post-mortem investigation.
Meyer enlisted child abuse specialist Dr. Andrew Sirotnak for a second opinion, who ultimately concurred.
Another detail from autopsy reports thatCold Casedoesnt dwell on isthe pineapple that JonBenet ingested shortly before her death.
Why is this detail important?
Truth be told it might not be.
Children eat pineapple all the time.
Smit is a fascinating figure in this case.
Part of that skepticism is due to a perceived bias Smit prayed with the then-suspects Ramseysshortly after meeting them.
But of course, no such stun gun has ever been recovered.
Stun guns, or TASERS, use pointed projectiles that embed themselves in the targets skin.
JonBenets bruises dont feature any of the telltale puncture wounds that would accompany these pointed probes.
Similarly, Smits other purported bits of evidence supporting the intruder theory dont hold up particularly well.
He concurs with John Ramsey that the suitcase placed under the basement window represented the intruders escape plan.
Additionally, why would an intruder arrange a suitcase vertically to elevate themselves upward?
Surely a horizontal orientation is more stable and wouldnt trigger the risk of toppling over?
John Brewer Eustacewas similarly ruled out in 1997with a reliable alibi.
And then theres John Mark Karr…oh John Mark Karr.
Unfortunately,Karrs confession quickly fell apart under closer scrutiny.
His claim of drugging and slowly strangling Jonbenet Ramsey doesnt correspond to the physical evidence presented by her body.
InCold Case, Tracey purports that Karr knew John Ramseys nickname for his mother-in-law Nedra was Neddy.
Are those data points interesting?
But its hard to conclude that any coincidences or claims match up against the DNA evidence.
Theres a popular perception that DNA provides the definitive smoking gun in every crime.
Unfortunately, the JonBenet case is lacking on both of these fronts.
And the profiles generated from those artifacts are often frustratingly incomplete.
None of that is to even mention the contaminated nature of the initial crime scene.
Of course, DNA science is always advancing and some are hopeful that new technologies could provide further clarity.
It might not be quite that simple here.
Youve got to have a pretty good amount of DNA, he said.
The real villain here, however, is Christmas.
As such, all of the best potential evidence was lost and/or contaminated within hours of polices arrival.
At best,Cold Caseis looking to exploit an old story for new clicks.
At worst, its running cover for one of the suspects involved.
All three episodes of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey are available to stream on Netflix now.
