It was the crime that gripped the nation—a bright, beaming, 6-year old beauty queen is mysteriously murdered in her very own home the day after Christmas in 1996. Investigators navigated false leads, a heavily compromised crime scene and a maze of finger-pointing. But now, 20 years later, Investigation Discovery (ID) in an unprecedented partnership with Weinstein Television, Jupiter Entertainment and American Media, Inc. (AMI)—parent company to RadarOnline and The National ENQUIRER, who have closely followed every lead and every step of the case—sheds new light on the still-unsolved case of who killed JonBenét Ramsey. In a three-night television event beginning Monday, September 12 at 10/9c, ID rips this cold case open with JONBENÉT: AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY (wt), chronologically reexamining the evidence to challenge long-held beliefs at the center of this enduring mystery. The series will also premiere within Discovery Networks International's portfolio of factual and lifestyle channels in more than 220 countries and territories this fall.
"Provocative, investigative programming is what ID does best – and there is no better case for us to take on than the two-decade long, agonizing mystery of what happened to JonBenét Ramsey," said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America. "The fact is, we may never definitively know the answer to that question – but ID will re-explore every angle, every shred of evidence, and every 'whodunit' theory to allow our viewers to draw their own conclusions on the case."
Commented Weinstein Television Executive Vice President, Patrick Reardon: "AMI and Jupiter are the best true crime storytellers in the business and we are thrilled to be partnering with them on this project. Along with Investigation Discovery, we have found the perfect home to tell a whole new side of this 20-year mystery."
Said Dylan Howard, Chief Content Officer, AMI: "JonBenét Ramsey is the most compelling cold case murder of our day, and still haunts millions of people around the world who so desperately want answers. This series is the most authoritative and thorough examination of the investigation to date, and will lead viewers on a fascinating exploration of never-before-seen police evidence, and probe key figures in the crime with provocative questions. Utilizing the world-class reporting of AMI's publications and its investigators, JONBENÉT: AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY provides detailed profiles and reveal chief suspects as we pursue the greatest unanswered question of them all — who killed this innocent beauty queen."
"We are thrilled to be working with ID, Weinstein Company and American Media, Inc. to bring old and new evidence to light," said Allison Wallach, President of Jupiter Entertainment. "Numerous theories and investigations have been launched from this case and we are excited for the chance to showcase them all together in one captivating series."
JONBENÉT: AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY (wt) is an unabridged and comprehensive look at the entire case around JonBenét Ramsey's murder, from top-to-bottom. As headlines and sensational breaking news chronicled the investigation's every move, the country became transfixed by the child behind the pageant star, and the bizarre circumstances of her death. Featuring rarely-shared police interrogation tapes, unsealed documents and more than 500 family photos, JONBENÉT: AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY (wt) is the definitive look at every angle of this tragic and controversial murder investigation.
Exclusive interviewees featured in this three-part series include Gordon Coombes, a former investigator for the Boulder County District Attorney's office, offering unique insight into the inner-workings of the office during critical moments in the case; Diane Dimond, an investigative journalist for Hard Copy who covered the case on the ground in Boulder from the very beginning; Bobby Brown and Steve Pease, both former Colorado Springs Detectives and protégés of Lou Smit's famed Apple Dumpling Gang—a group of retired law enforcement officials famous for solving some of the nation's toughest cold cases.
Other individuals interviewed include Ollie Gray and John San Agustin, private investigators for the Ramsey family and leading voices advocating the "Intruder Theory"; Bob Whitson, former Sergeant in the Boulder Police, who was in the Ramsey house the day JonBenét's body was discovered; and Pamela Griffin, Patsy Ramsey's confidant who handmade all of JonBenét's pageant costumes.
JONBENÉT: AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY (wt) is produced for Investigation Discovery by Weinstein Television, American Media, Inc., and Jupiter Entertainment with Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Patrick Reardon, Stephen Land, Allison Wallach, Matt Sprouse, David Pecker and Dylan Howard as Executive Producers. For Investigation Discovery, Pamela Deutsch is senior executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.
