JonBenét Ramsey's Dad Slams Viral Epstein Conspiracy Theory as "Cruel"

John Ramsey says the video alleging a link between Jeffrey Epstein and his daughter's 1996 murder is "obviously made up" and "scary" that people believe it.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 2:47pm

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John Ramsey, the father of JonBenét Ramsey who was murdered in 1996 at age 6, has strongly condemned a viral video that alleges a link between his daughter's death and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Ramsey called the video "cruel" and "scary" that people believe the "obviously made up" conspiracy theory. He says he is focused on an upcoming meeting with Boulder police about the cold case and hopes they will consider using genetic genealogy to help solve it.

Why it matters

The unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey has been the subject of intense public fascination and numerous conspiracy theories over the years. This latest allegation linking the case to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, is the latest attempt to draw connections where there may be none, further complicating the investigation and adding to the Ramsey family's grief.

The details

The viral video reportedly suggests that a framed picture found on Epstein's wall is of JonBenét sitting on the shoulders of Epstein, according to TMZ. However, John Ramsey strongly denies any truth to this claim, calling it "cruel" and "scary" that people believe it. He says he is focused on an upcoming meeting with Boulder police about the case and hopes they will consider using genetic genealogy, which has helped solve other cold cases, to try to crack the 26-year-old mystery.

  • JonBenét Ramsey was 6 years old when she was found dead inside her family's Boulder, Colorado home on December 26, 1996.
  • John Ramsey says he is meeting with Boulder police about the case in a few weeks.

The players

JonBenét Ramsey

A 6-year-old girl who was found dead inside her family's home in Boulder, Colorado in 1996. Her unsolved murder has been the subject of intense public fascination and numerous conspiracy theories.

John Ramsey

The father of JonBenét Ramsey who has strongly condemned a viral video alleging a link between his daughter's death and Jeffrey Epstein as "cruel" and "scary" that people believe it.

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A viral video has alleged a connection between Epstein and the murder of JonBenét Ramsey, which John Ramsey says is "obviously made up".

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What they’re saying

“People are sick and cruel. The internet will destroy us as a country if we don't get it under control because that's obviously made up. It's just scary. There's no truth to that at all, but the fact that people believe it is quite scary, actually.”

— John Ramsey (PEOPLE)

“I keep waiting for somebody to accuse me of being an Epstein customer.”

— John Ramsey (PEOPLE)

What’s next

John Ramsey says he is meeting with Boulder police about the case in a few weeks and hopes they will consider using genetic genealogy to help solve the 26-year-old cold case.

The takeaway

This latest conspiracy theory linking the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey to Jeffrey Epstein demonstrates the ongoing public fascination with the case and the willingness of some to draw connections where there may be none, further complicating the investigation and adding to the Ramsey family's grief over their daughter's tragic death.