THIS time of year is always crushingly hard for John Ramsey.
Thursday will mark 28 years since his six-year-old daughter JonBenét was found dead in the basement of the family home in Boulder, Colorado, beaten and sexually abused.
There have never been any arrests, just a deluge of leads, suspects, and links that have failed to result in someone being charged with the most heinous crimes.
John was very critical of the Boulder Police Department when he spoke to The U.S Sun at CrimeCon in Nashville earlier this year, claiming some of the cops "wanted him dead" so the case could be swept under the carpet once and for all.
However, with new chief Steve Redfearn in charge and able to bring in help from the FBI, there is fresh hope for the case in 2025.
For 12 years, John and his late wife, Patsy, were the primary suspects in JonBenét's murder.
However, in 2008, they were exonerated after DNA evidence found on JonBenét's clothing and under her nails was linked to a male, though no matches have been made yet.
A recent Netflix documentary sparked renewed interest, and John is hopeful DNA evidence could finally find the killer, especially now that the authorities have widened their pool of investigators and detectives.
"We are encouraged that the police will finally use the FBI's skills and resources to help solve our case," John told The U.S. Sun, clearly boosted by the new direction Redfearn can take the investigation.
John and his family have been urging the authorities to incorporate cutting-edge DNA analysis in the desperate race to clear a "cloud" hanging over them all.
Moving forward, he wants any child murder to instantly become a federal offense, with the legislation then allowing the FBI to investigate.
"It's staggering that the FBI doesn't have the jurisdiction to take over the case," John said in June.
"But this is the country we are living in. It's nuts."
Thankfully, that situation has changed for John, who heads into the new year with renewed optimism.
Many crime scene items could have crucial DNA but have never been tested, including the ransom note, a broom handle, a suitcase full of JonBenet's clothes and books, and a flashlight.
Lou Smit, the former Colorado detective who led the charge to find JonBenet's killer, had always assured the Ramsey family that DNA would solve the case.
"We have been asking and praying for this over the past 28 years," John said.
The BPD have previously expressed concerns about testing the DNA, fearing it could be compromised but are now pushing forward with the investigation.
The advancement of cutting-edge DNA labs certainly offers effective, fresh hope.
Forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) was used to capture Joseph James DeAngelo, dubbed the Golden State Killer, in 2018. Specialist labs, like Othram in Texas, have been solving cold cases with increasing regularity using advanced genetic genealogy.
"Suppose they now use cutting-edge DNA labs to develop a DNA profile in the proper format for familial genealogy research," John continued. "In that case, we have pretty good odds of finding the killer's identity."
JonBenét was found brutally beaten on December 26, 1996, hours after her mother, Patsy Ramsey, reported her missing.
Patsy, who died of cancer in 2006, had discovered a handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 for JonBenét's safe return. Still, her father, John Ramsey, later found her lifeless body while searching the house.
An autopsy determined that the little beauty queen died of suffocation and was sexually assaulted and tortured.
Over the years, investigators have explored various suspects, including her parents and older brother, Burke, but no arrests have been made.
The case has never been far from the headlines over the last 28 years. Yet, following the release of Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, new tips for Boulder law enforcement were provided.
One alleged lead -- a letter claiming the sender's ex-husband was the killer -- proved inconclusive when attempts to contact the tipster failed.
Director Joe Berlinger tempered expectations and told The U.S. Sun that the lead was "overblown," while Boulder police confirmed they used modern forensic techniques to review the case.
With new Boulder PD chief Steven Redfearn in place and ever-mounting public pressure, investigators are optimistic heading into the new year.
"It feels within reach," a cop source told The New York Post earlier this month, indicating justice for JonBenet could be forthcoming.
John agrees and is praying that 2025 will be the year the nightmare that has hung over his family for so long will finally end.
"Life's not fair," he conceded. "You've just got to accept that. Remember Monty Python's movie Life of Brian when the guy meets the knight at the bridge?
"You stand there, both arms cut off. You have to keep fighting! That's an image that I keep remembering during all of this."