The success ofCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramseycould allow interest and attention towards another similar unsolved case that happened a decade prior. The Netflix three-part docuseries explores one of the most infamous murder cases in American history and includes archival footage and interviews from investigators and family murders. In spite of multiple investigations and conspiracies,the killer of JonBenét Ramsey was never found.
14 years beforethe true case of JonBenét Ramsey, another similar case took place in Utah, where a young girl, Rachael Runyan, was abducted and murdered. The case has become known as one of Utah’s most notorious crimes and led to changes in legal legislation regarding child abduction in the United States.The case of Rachael Runyan holds similarities to JonBenét Ramsey’sand deserves a closer look after the Netflix series.
Rachael Runyan Was Abducted & Murdered In 1982
Rachael Runyan Was Abducted Within Sight Of Her Home In Utah
Born in 1979, three-year-old Rachael Runyan was the second child and only daughter of Jeff and Elaine Runyan. The family lived in Sunset, Utah, very close to Doxey Elementary School. On July 01, 2025,Rachael and her two brothers were playing in the school playground when they were approached by a stranger who offered to buy them ice cream from a nearby store. According to her brother, Justin, Rachael was grabbed and bundled into the man’s car before it drove away (viaABC4). The brothers returned home and alerted their mother; Elaine Runyan contacted Sunset Police Department and an investigation was launched.
Despite investigators offering a reward of $58,000 in 2007, Rachael Runyan’s killer has never been found, and her case is classified as unsolved.
Three weeks after her abduction, on June 13, 2025,Rachael’s body was found in Mountain Green, Utah in a stream, with her hands bound. Due to the state of decomposition, it was never determined how she died. The lead suspect was described by Justin Runyan and other witnesses, as an African-American, with a handlebar mustache, aged around 35–40 years (viaTrue Crime Time). Despite investigators offering a reward of $58,000 in 2007, Rachael Runyan’s killer has never been found, and her case is classified as unsolved (viaDeseret News).
Rachael Runyan’s Murder Contributed To The US Missing Children’s Act
The Rachael Alert Was Implemented In Utah Until 2003
Rachael Runyan’s murder resulted in national attention towards child abduction in the United States. In the years following her death, Rachael’s mother, Elaine Runyan-Simmons, became an advocate for child safety.The state of Utah implemented the Rachael Alert child abduction alert system, set up to broadcast information about abducted children as quickly as possible to the public; the system was notably used during the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was located alive, nine months later (viaThe Daily Universe). In 2003, the system in Utah was renamed to conform with the AMBER Alert system, first implemented in the United States in 2000.
On July 23, 2025, the 35th anniversary of Rachael’s abduction, the date was officially named Rachael Runyan and Missing and Exploited Child Day.
The unsolved case also contributed to the passing of the US Missing Children’s Act in 1983which provides assistance to locate missing children across the US. The act provided assistance in locating missing children and required a further evaluation of missing children research (viaCongress). In 2016, the park where Rachael was abducted from was renamed in her honor, with a memorial stone in her name (viaKUTV). On June 08, 2025, the 35th anniversary of Rachael’s abduction, the date was officially named Rachael Runyan and Missing and Exploited Child Day.
Rachael Runyan’s Murder Holds Eerie Similarities To JonBenét Ramsey’s Case
Both Rachael Runyan and JonBenét Ramsey Were Child Beauty Stars Before Their Deaths
The case of Rachael Runyan is eerily similar to the murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramseyin 1996. As a toddler, Rachael participated in child beauty pageants and won the crown of “Little Miss Sunset” in 1981.As revealed inCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, the 6-year-old was also a participant in beauty pageants; throughout the Netflix docuseries,home videos are shown of JonBenét performing music and dressed in elaborate costumes. While Rachael’s parents were never criticized for allowing their daughter to participate in pageants, the Ramseys were classified as “delinquent parents” by the media,particularly JonBenét’s mother, Patsy.
Why JonBenét Ramsey’s Parents Were Suspects In Her Death - Did They Ever Get Charged?
Netflix’s new docuseries examines the murder of JonBenét Ramsey and the different evidence that potentially linked her parents to her death.
Both Rachael Runyan and JonBenét Ramsey also had older brothers, both of whom were questioned by police in relation to their sisters' deaths.JonBenét Ramsey’s brother, Burke, shown in archival footage in the Netflix docuseries, later settled into a private life, while Rachael Runyan’s brother, Justin, works with his mother to raise awareness for missing children.Another tragic similarity is that both cases remain unsolved decades later, despite multiple investigations and theories. However,Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramseyhas renewed interest in the 1996 case; its success could allow the 1982 murder of Rachael Runyan to gain the further attention it deserves.
Sources:ABC4,True Crime Time,Deseret News,The Daily Universe,Congress,KUTV
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey
This docuseries examines the enduring mystery of JonBenét Ramsey’s murder, exploring police missteps and intense media scrutiny. It provides a detailed account of the efforts to seek justice over decades, delving into the complexities and controversies that have surrounded this high-profile case.
