In December 1996, six-year-old child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey went missing before her parents ultimately found her murdered in their home in Boulder, Colorado. Ahead of the twentieth anniversary of her death, multiple networks are slated to release content pertaining to Ramsey's death and the subsequent investigation. Before Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her family's house, her parents — John and Patsy Ramsey — reportedly found a ransom note in their home. The full text of the JonBenét Ramsey ransom note is still available to the public, in case you want to read it before diving into the upcoming documentaries that explore the still-unsolved murder case.
On Sept. 5, A&E is set to release a two-hour documentary special: The Killing of JonBenét: The Truth Uncovered. This documentary will reportedly feature details about the case that have not previously been released, according to The Hollywood Reporter, including a 1998 interview with Ramsey's brother, Burke, in which he gives his own account of his sister's death. A&E has also announced that this documentary will include what the network is calling the first interview with Ramsey's father.
A couple of weeks later, on Sept. 18, CBS will launch a docuseries produced by Tom Forman. The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey will follow the original investigators on the case as they use new technology to re-examine important evidence to take a closer look at Ramsey's murder, CNN reported. Other Ramsey-related projects in the works include Investigation Discovery's JonBenét: An American Murder Mystery — a three-part special that will be released on Sept. 12 — and Lifetime's Who Killed JonBenét?, a TV movie with no set release date. Before these projects are launched, take a look at the original ransom note for yourself below, and see what you make of it.
Mr. Ramsey: Listen Carefully! We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction. We respect your business, but not the country it serves.
At this time, we have your daughter in our possession. She is safe and unharmed and if you want her to see 1997, you must follow our instructions to the letter.
You will withdraw $118,000 from your account. $100,000 will be in $100 bills and the remaining $18,000 in $20 bills. Make sure that you bring an adequate size attache to the bank.
When you get home, you will put the money in a brown paper bag. I will call you between 8 and 10 a.m. tomorrow to instruct you on delivery. The delivery will be exhausting so I advise you to be rested. If we monitor you getting the money early we might call you early to arrange an earlier delivery of the money and hence and earlier pickup of your daughter.
Any deviation of my instructions will result in the immediate execution of your daughter. You will also be denied her remains for a proper burial. The two gentlemen watching over your daughter do not particularly like you so I advise you not to provoke them.
Speaking to anyone about your situation, such as police or F.B.I. will result in your daughter being beheaded. If we catch you talking to a stray dog, she dies. If you alert bank authorities, she dies. If the money is in way marked or tampered with, she dies. You can try to deceive us, but be warned we are familiar with law enforcement countermeasures and tactics.
You stand a 99% chance of killing your daughter if you try to outsmart us. Follow our instructions and you stand a 100% of getting her back. You and your family are under constant scrutiny, as well as the authorities.
Don't try to grow a brain John. You are not the only fat cat around so don't think that killing will be difficult. Don't underestimate us, John. Use that good, Southern common sense of yours. It's up to you now John! Victory! S.B.T.C.
People recently took a closer look at this ransom note and noted that although the note's author was never definitively identified, it contained a number of personal details that raise questions about who killed Ramsey. People also drew attention to the length of the note, which the FBI reportedly said was much longer than other ransom notes on record for kidnappings.
That the ransom note was found in the same location as Ramsey, and that it was written using a Sharpie and paper that allegedly belonged to her family, has made the case even more confusing. Perhaps the upcoming documentaries and projects — particularly the CBS docuseries — will reveal new evidence as they claim, and officials will finally be able to make more sense of what happened to Ramsey.
