John Ramsey, the father of murdered child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey, has hit out at “cruel” internet users who falsely linked his daughter to the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. The 82-year-old told TMZ the wild claims sweeping social media are completely baseless and likely created using artificial intelligence, marking yet another painful chapter in a nearly 30-year quest for justice.

The frenzy began hours after the U.S. Justice Department released more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images from Epstein’s collection on Friday, January 31, 2026. Among the disturbing material was a heavily redacted photograph showing an unidentified young girl sitting on Epstein’s shoulders. Conspiracy theorists immediately declared the child was JonBenét, who was brutally killed at age six in 1996. Within minutes, the image was shared thousands of times alongside captions such as “The JonBenét case just got darker” and “Epstein connection confirmed?”

A separate doctored video quickly followed, claiming to show Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice, attending JonBenét’s sixth birthday party. The clip, complete with ominous music and slow-motion zooms, racked up millions of views on TikTok and X before fact-checkers stepped in. Users flooded comment sections with shock and speculation, with many insisting the decades-old murder now tied directly to Epstein’s elite pedophile ring.

Speaking out for the first time since the rumors exploded, John Ramsey expressed both frustration and resignation. “Absolutely no truth to it,” he said firmly. “I haven’t even seen the photo, but with AI anything is possible these days. I figured one of these days I’d be accused of being an Epstein pal myself. It hasn’t happened yet. Internet people can be very cruel.” His words reveal the deep weariness of a father who has spent almost three decades shielding his daughter’s memory from false narratives.

The false Epstein link has reopened old wounds for a family already scarred by one of America’s most infamous unsolved crimes. On December 26, 1996, the day after Christmas, Patsy Ramsey discovered a bizarre three-page ransom note on the staircase of their Boulder, Colorado home. The letter demanded $118,000—exactly the amount of John Ramsey’s recent work bonus—and threatened to behead JonBenét if police were contacted. Patsy immediately called 911 in hysterics.

Police arrived to find the Ramsey home turned into a chaotic scene. Friends and neighbors gathered, contaminating potential evidence. Hours later, John Ramsey, directed by detectives to search the house, made the horrific discovery in the basement wine cellar: his little girl lay dead beneath a blanket. JonBenét had been strangled with a garrote made from a broken paintbrush handle and cord. Duct tape sealed her mouth, her wrists were loosely tied, and an autopsy later revealed she suffered sexual assault and an eight-inch skull fracture from a violent blow to the head.

The case detonated into a media firestorm. JonBenét’s pageant videos—showing the six-year-old in heavy makeup, sequined costumes, and adult-like poses—played on loop across every network. Tabloids branded the Ramseys “the most hated family in America.” Suspicion fell heavily on the parents. The ransom note was written on paper from a notepad in their own kitchen. Handwriting analysts debated whether Patsy’s script matched the looping letters. Theories swirled: a botched kidnapping, an accidental death covered up, even involvement by JonBenét’s older brother Burke, then nine, in a sibling dispute gone tragically wrong.

John and Patsy maintained their innocence through endless interrogations, submitting to private polygraph tests and DNA samples. The couple appeared on CNN pleading for the real killer to be found. They sued multiple media outlets for defamation, winning substantial settlements that highlighted the reckless reporting. Patsy, already battling ovarian cancer, died in 2006 at age 49 without seeing justice for her daughter. John has carried the torch alone ever since, remarrying and quietly advocating for fresh investigation.

A major turning point came in 2008 when advanced touch DNA testing on JonBenét’s clothing revealed genetic material from an unknown male—ruling out every family member. Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacy publicly cleared the Ramseys, apologizing for the years of suspicion. Yet the exoneration barely dented public perception for many who had already made up their minds.

The investigation has chased numerous suspects over the years, each adding fresh heartbreak and dead ends. In 2006, John Mark Karr, a disturbed former teacher living in Thailand, confessed in graphic detail, claiming he drugged and accidentally killed JonBenét during a sexual encounter. His arrest made global headlines—until DNA proved he was nowhere near Boulder, and his ex-wife provided an ironclad alibi. Karr later admitted to an obsession with the case.

Gary Oliva, a convicted pedophile living near the Ramseys at the time, wrote prison letters to a friend confessing he killed JonBenét “accidentally” when “her head bashed in.” He attended her candlelight vigil carrying her photo and was found with child pornography. Arrested again in 2016, Oliva was cleared by DNA and released from prison in January 2024 after serving less than eight years.

Michael Helgoth, an electrician who owned Hi-Tec boots matching a print at the crime scene, died by suicide shortly after authorities announced they were closing in on a suspect. His family claimed he owned a stun gun similar to marks on JonBenét’s body and even had a videotaped confession. Again, DNA did not match.

Other leads—a Boulder teacher who falsely confessed, a man named John Brewer Eustace with clippings of the case—fizzled out. The Boulder Police Department has been widely criticized for botching the initial response: failing to seal the crime scene, clashing with FBI profilers, and fixating on the family. A 1999 grand jury voted to indict John and Patsy on child abuse charges, but the district attorney refused to prosecute.

Recent developments have offered glimmers of hope. In a December 2025 video message marking the 29th anniversary of JonBenét’s death, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn declared the case active and priority. He revealed new tips have triggered fresh interviews, and the department is working closely with the FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation on genetic genealogy—the technique that cracked the Golden State Killer case. Advanced testing continues on evidence collected decades ago.

Against this backdrop of cautious optimism, the Epstein rumors landed like a fresh betrayal. The redacted photo of the girl on Epstein’s shoulders, taken at an unknown location, shows nothing identifiable. Yet side-by-side comparisons with JonBenét’s pageant shots spread rapidly. The fake birthday party video went further, splicing unrelated footage and fabricating Maxwell’s presence. Digital forensics experts quickly identified AI manipulation: inconsistent shadows, unnatural facial blending, and missing metadata.

John Ramsey’s pain is palpable. He has watched his daughter’s image exploited for decades—from supermarket tabloids to Netflix documentaries. Now, artificial intelligence has weaponized that exploitation in ways unimaginable even a few years ago. Deepfake tools available to anyone with a laptop can resurrect the dead, twist reality, and inflict new trauma on grieving families. Social media algorithms reward outrage and conspiracy, pushing the lies to millions before truth has a chance.

The broader implications are chilling. In an era where AI can fabricate evidence and viral misinformation outpaces fact-checking, how do victims’ families protect their loved ones’ legacies? JonBenét’s case already suffers from decades of false narratives; this latest hoax threatens to muddy legitimate investigative progress. Every minute spent debunking Epstein fantasies is a minute not spent chasing real leads.

Community response has been mixed but largely supportive of the Ramseys. On X and Reddit, many users condemned the rumors, calling them “disgusting” and “heartless.” Others defended the speculation as “just asking questions.” True crime podcasts rushed to clarify the falsehoods, while fact-checking sites like Snopes issued swift debunkings. Still, the damage lingers—search “JonBenét Epstein” and thousands of posts remain, feeding the myth.

John Ramsey continues to hope. He has long believed the killer left DNA at the scene and that modern science will eventually identify them. Genetic genealogy databases grow daily; one distant cousin’s submission could crack the case wide open. Until then, he endures, speaking out when necessary and quietly honoring his daughter’s memory.

The Epstein file release was meant to bring transparency to a different monster’s crimes. Instead, it briefly dragged an innocent child’s tragedy into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. JonBenét Ramsey deserved justice in life and peace in death. Nearly thirty years later, her father fights on—against a killer still at large and against a digital world that too often chooses cruelty over compassion.

As Boulder police follow new leads and technology advances, one truth remains unshaken: JonBenét was a vibrant little girl stolen far too soon. Her story should inspire vigilance against real predators, not fuel baseless conspiracies. John Ramsey’s dignified response amid fresh pain reminds us all of the human cost behind the headlines. Justice for JonBenét is long overdue—and distractions like these only delay it further.