The world of cold case investigations lost a steadfast figure this summer when Thomas “Tom” Haney Jr., the veteran Denver homicide detective instrumental in probing the unsolved 1996 murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, died suddenly at age 77. Haney passed away on August 19, 2025, during a casual golf outing with friends in Colorado, a fittingly serene end for a man whose career was defined by meticulous pursuit of truth amid one of America’s most haunting mysteries. His death, confirmed by family and former colleagues, comes nearly 29 years after JonBenét’s tragic killing—a case that gripped the nation and still eludes closure, now further complicated by the passing of yet another key player in its labyrinthine history.

Haney, a Boulder native who joined the Denver Police Department in 1968 as a patrol officer, rose through the ranks over three decades, becoming a homicide detective in 1975 and eventually division chief before retiring in 1997. His no-nonsense approach and unyielding integrity made him a go-to for high-profile probes, from gang-related shootings to white-collar frauds. But it was his 1998 assignment to the Ramsey case—two years after JonBenét’s body was discovered in her family’s basement on December 26, 1996—that etched his name into true crime lore. Brought in by the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office to assist the overwhelmed local force, Haney spent nearly 13 hours interrogating Patsy Ramsey, JonBenét’s mother, in a Boulder police station on April 23, 1998. The session, one of the longest in Colorado law enforcement history, yielded no confession but provided a window into the family’s anguish and the probe’s early focus on them as suspects.

The interrogation, later dissected in documentaries and books, was a masterclass in psychological tension. Haney, paired with retired detective Lou Smit for John Ramsey’s parallel questioning, pressed Patsy on inconsistencies in the ransom note and the chaotic Christmas night timeline. “I was hoping to learn the truth—whatever it was,” Haney reflected in a 2016 Dateline NBC interview, his gravelly voice steady as he recounted Patsy’s tearful denials and pleas for focus on an intruder. Critics at the time accused Boulder PD of tunnel vision on the parents, but Haney maintained neutrality, later praising Patsy’s composure while noting “red flags” like the untouched pineapple in the kitchen—a detail tying back to JonBenét’s last meal. In a 2023 Dateline revisit, he lamented the case’s stalled progress: “We had leads, but DNA tech wasn’t there yet. It’s frustrating—justice delayed is justice denied.” His measured insights contrasted the media frenzy that painted the Ramseys as villains, a narrative officially debunked in 2008 when Boulder DA Mary Lacy exonerated them based on touch DNA from an unknown male on JonBenét’s clothing.

Post-retirement, Haney didn’t fade into obscurity. He consulted for the DA’s office until 2005, lending expertise to cold cases and mentoring rookies. His Ramsey involvement kept him in the spotlight: In 2000, he testified before a grand jury that declined to indict the parents, and he contributed to CBS’s 2016 docuseries The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey, where he defended the investigation’s rigor against accusations of bungling. “We weren’t perfect, but we cared,” he told producers, acknowledging early scene contamination—like friends traipsing through the home before it was secured. Haney’s candor earned respect from both sides: John Ramsey, now 81 and advocating for genetic genealogy to ID the killer, called him “a man of integrity who wouldn’t bend to pressure” in a September 2025 statement to the Globe. Even as witnesses dwindled—Patsy succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2006, Smit to heart disease in 2010, and family friend Bill McReynolds in 2002—Haney remained a bridge to the case’s raw beginnings.

The circumstances of Haney’s death added a poignant irony. Out on a sun-drenched Colorado course with buddies—a ritual he’d cherished since his patrol days—he collapsed mid-swing, felled by an apparent heart attack. Paramedics pronounced him at the scene; no foul play suspected, per Arapahoe County coroner reports. His family, including wife of 52 years, Mary, and three children, requested privacy but shared a tribute on Facebook: “Dad lived for justice, family, and a good fairway. He solved puzzles we couldn’t—now he’s at peace.” A memorial service drew 200 mourners in late September at Denver’s St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where colleagues swapped stories of his dry wit and tireless nights poring over files. Boulder PD Chief Steve Redfearn attended, lauding Haney as “a legend whose work echoes in every unsolved file we touch.”

Haney’s passing underscores the Ramsey case’s enduring grip—and its eroding timeline. JonBenét’s murder, a garrote strangulation amid signs of sexual assault, remains unsolved despite 21,000 tips and interviews across 19 states. The infamous ransom note, penned on Ramsey family paper, and the broken basement window fueled intruder theories, bolstered by unidentified male DNA on her long johns. Boulder PD’s 2023 cold case review, aided by FBI tech, recommended further genealogy probes, but progress crawls. John Ramsey, in a September Yahoo interview, pegged forensic genealogy as “the best hope,” donating to Lou Smit’s family fund for DNA sweeps. “Tom’s death hurts—another voice gone,” he said. “But we owe it to JonBenét to keep pushing.”

The case’s cultural shadow looms large. From 1997 tabloid frenzies to Netflix’s 2024 Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét?, it’s spawned miniseries, books like Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, and endless podcasts. Haney featured in many, his Ramsey interrogation tapes a staple—Patsy’s breakdown over the “impossible” evidence link still chills. Yet, he shunned fame, golfing anonymously and fishing with grandkids. “He hated the circus,” a former partner told us. “Just wanted answers for that little girl.”

Tributes poured in online. X lit up with #RIPTomHaney, fans posting clips from his Dateline spots: “The detective who grilled Patsy without malice—real class,” one read. Reddit’s r/JonBenetRamsey mourned: “Another thread unravels. Who’s left to testify?” A Change.org petition for renewed funding hit 10,000 signatures, urging Gov. Jared Polis to fast-track DNA tech. Boulder PD, in its annual update, reaffirmed commitment: “Haney’s legacy drives us—tips welcome at 303-441-1974.”

Beyond Ramsey, Haney’s ledger shines. He cracked the 1985 “Babysitter Killer” case, nabbing a serial abductor, and led probes into Denver’s 1990s crack epidemic, earning the Purple Heart after a 1979 shootout. Retirees recall his mentorship: “Tom taught us evidence over ego,” said ex-partner Linda Arndt, the Boulder detective on scene that fateful morning. His family foundation, now handling his estate, plans a scholarship for aspiring investigators—fitting for a man who bridged generations.

As autumn leaves turn in Colorado, Haney’s absence stings the Ramsey faithful. With John Ramsey in his 80s and DNA tantalizingly close, his death is a gut punch. Yet, it fuels resolve: Justice, like a well-struck drive, requires steady hands. Haney swung true—may his fairways be forever green.