Conspiracists have come up with many outlandish theories over the years, but the latest conspiracy takes the cake, as many people now believe the death of JonBenét Ramsey was all a ruse.
Ignoring all reason, conspiracy theorist Dave Johnson believes the slain beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey, who was murdered at six years old in 1996, wasn’t actually killed and grew up to be pop singer Katy Perry.
Ramsey’s mother, Patsy Ramsey, noticed JonBenét wasn’t in her bed on the morning of Dec. 26. She called police to report her daughter missing after finding a ransom note demanding the peculiarly specific sum of $118,000.
JonBenét was found dead in her basement later that day. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a cord. The cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation and craniocerebral trauma.
The circumstances surrounding the murder are usual. The paper used for the ransom note was taken from a legal pad inside the house, and a possible rough draft of the note was found. JonBenét’s father, John Ramsey, received a yearly bonus that year totalling $118,000 — something few people knew. Police also allowed John and family friends to search the house. It was then the family and friends found JonBenét’s body.
The autopsy discovered JonBenét had eaten pineapple a few hours before her death. A bowl full of pineapple was found in the Ramsey home. She was strangled with a garrote made of a cord and the handle of a paintbrush. Part of the bristled end of the paintbrush was found in the home with Patsy’s art supplies.
While her parents and older brother were suspects, all were cleared in 2008. Her killer was never found, but her murder was one of the most publicized police investigations of the ‘90s.
Even if JonBenét wasn’t dead, Johnson’s claim still would not be within the realm of possibility. There is a considerable age discrepancy between the two. Perry was born in 1984 and JonBenét wasn’t born until 1990.
Johnson posted a seven minute YouTube video in 2014 of his ramblings and deranged beliefs, but the video didn’t receive significant attention until February 2016.

“All of these people are liars,” Johnson said. ”Nobody died. Nobody got hurt. That sacrifice was in name only, and that was to get something — and that something was to become a star. JonBenét Ramsey became Katy Perry. That’s a fact.”
Johnson claims that the two have similar bone structure, eyebrows and hair. He believes because they look similar, that they’re the same person — a ridiculous notion.
“You know, the eyebrows don’t change much on a person. You’re born with your eyebrows,” said YouTube user Jungle Surfer, who supports Johnson’s theory.
While this is an interesting observation, it is in no way convincing, or hard-hitting evidence. Before Perry, Lady Gaga was accused of being an adult JonBenét simply because they had similar looking ears.
Johnson also cites that JonBenét’s parents, Patsy and John, resemble Perry’s parents, Keith and Mary. He completely ignores the fact that Patsy died in 2006 of ovarian cancer.
Not only was Perry’s childhood well-documented, JonBenét’s body was recovered and an autopsy was performed. It’s simply impossible she is JonBenét.
Johnson has dozens of other videos in which he “proves” that one person is actually another. He believes Prince Charles is Sir Richard Branson, Jimi Hendrix is Lionel Richie and Donald Trump is Joe Biden.
It’s not only ridiculous that people are falling prey to this rumor, but even more so that people are disrespecting the life and memory of a child with this distasteful lie.
Allie Cobb is an 18-year-old mass communication sophomore from Shreveport,
Lousiana.