The Boulder Police Department provided its annual update in the murder that has captured curiosity for nearly 30 years. Investigators have “followed up on every lead” in the 1996 death of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey — including more than 21,000 tips, and trips to 19 different states to int erview over 1,000 individuals with connections to the case — according to the Friday press release. “The killing of JonBenét was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has never left our hearts,” Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said. “We are committed to following up on every lead and we are continuing to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved.” Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her home in the 700 block of 15th Street on Dec. 26, 1996. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation. With the 29th anniversary approaching, the case remains open and unsolved. “This investigation will always be a priority for the Boulder Police Department,” Redfearn said. The story has garnered attention throughout the country, with multiple documentaries and internet sleuths taking cracks at the case. The department said it has worked with federal, state and local partners as well as DNA experts from around the country throughout the last 29 years. “The murder of JonBenét Ramsey is a terrible tragedy and sparked years of unanswered questions and theories. Our office has successfully prosecuted other cold case homicides and many murder cases,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. Redfearn added that the department has interviewed new leads and found new evidence over the past year, as well as retesting older evidence, but did not say what exactly has been found. “Techniques and technology constantly evolve. This is especially true with technology related to DNA testing,” he said. In September, JonBenét’s older brother John Andrew Ramsey said that unspecified items are being retested, as well as clues from the basement crime scene which have never undergone forensic testing. “It’s been a slow march, but they’re progressing,” said Ramsey, who met with Redfearn, for a half-hour update on the case in September. One of the Ramsey family’s former criminal defense attorneys broke his silence at CrimeCon in Aurora this fall. Hal Haddon did not hold back, telling JonBenét case followers that one of the murder weapons, a crude garrote that was used to strangle JonBenet, may hold hidden clues. “I have pressed hard for DNA analysis of the knots in this garrote, which our DNA experts say could be promising, because someone had to tie those, and they’re fairly sophisticated.” Former Denver Gazette reporter Carol McKinley contributed to this report. ...read more read less