JonBenét Ramsey is again a topic of conversation, but the nature of that conversation has shifted.

The documentary series “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?” premiered on Netflix on November 25, prompting viewers to re-evaluate the tragic murder of the 6-year-old girl from Boulder, Colorado. While it does not conclusively answer the enduring question of who killed JonBenét, it scrutinizes significant flaws in the investigation, particularly how law enforcement focused their energies on her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, without any resolution.

The series also highlights past media narratives that obsessively critiqued JonBenét’s pageant costumes as sexualized and attributed blame to her parents for allowing her participation in these pageants. Have we progressed from this perspective? The answer is complex.

The media landscape of the ’90s presented in this series “illustrates how much has altered while simultaneously revealing how little has changed,” remarks Stefania Marghitu, an assistant professor in film and television at the University of Alabama.

What is undeniably different today is our increased sensitivity to the dangers of victim-blaming, particularly in our approach to discussing children.

“We must progress past the notion of attributing blame to the clothing choices of victims of the rampant, unprovoked violence faced by countless girls and women worldwide,” asserts Melvin Williams, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.

‘Some might continue to blame the parents more easily’

People often feel the need to assign blame, and unfortunately, parents frequently become the prime suspects.

“Blaming a child is difficult, but parents become easy targets as we look for someone to hold accountable for family tragedies,” explains Travis Langley, a psychology professor at Henderson State University. “Some people find it simpler to view the parents as complicit or even responsible rather than showing empathy for the immense grief they experience as parents who have suffered the unimaginable loss of a child.”

Moreover, the intense scrutiny on JonBenét’s involvement in pageants might still be as pronounced today, notes Elizabeth Jeglic, a psychology professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She suspects many would still harshly criticize her participation due to her young age and the well-documented sexualization and objectification of young girls in pageantry, which are linked to a higher risk of sexual violence within our culture.

A particularly shocking moment for viewers is a look back at a 1997 mock trial hosted by Geraldo Rivera, aimed at determining if the Ramseys bore any responsibility for their daughter’s death. Rivera has since expressed regret on NewsNation’s “CUOMO,” addressing John Ramsey directly: “I regret contributing to your suffering. No one should endure what you have experienced. That is my stance.”

During the documentary, there is footage of a so-called child abuse expert who claim that JonBenét had been “sexually stimulated” after watching a video of her performance. The expert describes an instance where JonBenét pretends to play a saxophone as something inappropriate, mischaracterizing the innocent action.

True crime and vulnerability

This documentary is part of a broader trend of recent works questioning traditional gender roles and the discrimination that has persisted over decades. Consider all we have come to understand about Britney Spears and child celebrities from the ’90s and early 2000s.

Today, pop stars like Billie Eilish are asserting control over their public personas and rejecting the notion of being sexualized,” remarks Marghitu. “However, many of those most vulnerable continue to face similar challenges.

Similar to the case of JonBenét Ramsey, there remains a significant level of vulnerability for many involved. At the same time, the series ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ aired from 2009 to 2013.

However, an important question arises: when do these documentaries provide assistance, and when do they cause harm? It seems that they are often driven by the need for views and revenue.

Tanya Horeck, the author of “Justice on Demand: True Crime in the Digital Streaming Era,” emphasizes that these true crime documentaries are part of a larger industry that keeps viewers engaged in a culture of likes, shares, outrage, and binge-watching.

Though the documentary has reignited interest in this high-profile case, the police have chosen not to comment on “specific aspects” of the investigation due to its ongoing nature. They urge anyone with relevant information to get in touch via email at BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov or by calling (303) 441-1974.

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn remarked, “The murder of JonBenét was an unimaginable crime, and this tragedy remains with us. We are committed to pursuing all leads and are collaborating with DNA experts and law enforcement agencies nationwide until we find a resolution for this heartbreaking case.”