Where Is JonBenét Ramsey’s Brother Now? His Life After Being Accused of Her Murder
The tragic murder of JonBenét Ramsey in December 1996 didn’t just captivate the nation—it forever changed the lives of her family members, particularly her older brother Burke, who was just 9 years old at the time. With the release of a new Netflix docuseries, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, many viewers want to know: where is JonBenét Ramsey’s brother now?
On December 26, 1996, the body of 6-year-old JonBenét, a child beauty queen, was discovered in the basement of the family’s Boulder, Colorado home. The gruesome discovery came hours after her parents found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for her safe return. The case shocked the nation not only for its brutality but also because it remained unsolved, leading to decades of speculation and media coverage.
In the aftermath, JonBenét’s older brother Burke found himself at the center of intense public scrutiny, with tabloids reporting he was under investigation by a grand jury. However, in May 1999, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office officially stated that Burke was not and had never been a suspect in the crime. While the case remains unsolved to this day, Burke has worked to build a life away from the shadow of that terrible Christmas night. For everything we know about where Burke is now, keep on reading ahead.
What happened to JonBenét Ramsey’s brother Burke after her death?
Following JonBenét’s death, the Ramsey family made the difficult decision to leave Boulder, Colorado. According to People magazine, John and Patsy Ramsey relocated to Charlevoix, Michigan, where they had a summer house, choosing this location for Burke to complete his high school years away from the intense media scrutiny that had followed the family. Sadly, Burke’s mother Patsy passed away from ovarian cancer in 2006, leaving just Burke and his father as JonBenét’s remaining immediate family members.
“We tried very hard to keep Burke’s life normal,” John Ramsey revealed during a 2016 appearance on The Dr. Phil Show. This desire for normalcy seems to have paid off—Burke went on to graduate from Purdue University in 2010, per Us Weekly.
Where is JonBenét Ramsey’s brother Burke now?
Today, Burke has carved out a successful career in the STEM field. People magazine reported in 2012 that he was thriving professionally and had found personal happiness in a serious relationship. His father proudly noted at the time, “He’s certainly matured. He’s got a 401(k) plan and an IRA, and he did it all on his own.”
Dr. Phil McGraw, who interviewed Burke in 2016, offered insight into his current life in an interview with Entertainment Tonight: “He’s a very private individual, but he has a great career and has a good relationship with his father.” Those who know Burke also describe him as naturally reserved. During his rare public appearances, such as his interview on Dr. Phil, some viewers commented on his demeanor—particularly his nervous smile while discussing his sister’s murder. Dr. Phil explained to Entertainment Tonight, “People have commented on his smile, which is purely from anxiety. He’s kind of a loner. He’s socially uncomfortable.”
Despite being cleared by DNA evidence in 2008 along with his parents, according to ABC News, Burke has continued to actively protect his reputation in the years following his sister’s death. In 2016, following the release of CBS’s docuseries The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey, he took legal action against both the network and forensic pathologist Werner Spitz for their allegations about his involvement in his sister’s death.
According to the Daily Mail, Spitz once said in an interview with CBS Detroit, “It’s the boy who did it, whether he was jealous or mentally unfit or something. I don’t know the why, I’m not a psychiatrist, but what I am sure about is what I know about him.” This led Burke to file a $150 million defamation lawsuit against Spitz, followed by an additional $750 million suit against CBS, as reported by People.
The legal battles concluded in early 2019, with what Burke’s attorney Lin Wood described to Reuters as an amicable resolution “to the satisfaction of all parties.”
Despite the continued public interest in his sister’s case, Burke has managed to maintain his privacy while building a successful professional life—perhaps the most normal outcome possible for someone whose childhood was marked by such an unthinkable tragedy.
