JonBenet suspect confesses to killing the beauty pageant princess in leaked letters

A paedophile has confessed to killing beauty pageant star JonBenet Ramsey. Photo / File

It's the unsolved murder that has gripped the world for 22 years. Who killed JonBenet Ramsey?

Now we may be one step closer to finding out, after a longtime suspect in the case has reportedly confessed to killing the six-year-old beauty pageant princess, who was found dead in her basement on December 26, 1996.

Letters written by convicted paedophile Gary Oliva in jail have been obtained by the Daily Mail, and they reportedly claim the 54-year-old is taking full responsibility for the crime, saying he killed her by accident.

Gary Howard Oliva is in prison over child porn offences and confessed to killing JonBenet. Photo / Supplied

"I never loved anyone like I did JonBenet and yet I let her slip and her head bashed in half and I watched her die," he allegedly wrote. "It was an accident. Please believe me...."

The child sex offender, who is serving time in a Colorado prison for child porn charges, reportedly goes on to explain how much she "changed" him in a second letter — revealing her death induced remorse in him.

"JonBenet completely changed me and removed all evil from me," Oliva claimed. "Just one look at her beautiful face, her glowing beautiful skin, and her divine God-body, I realised I was wrong to kill other kids. Yet by accident she died and it was my fault."

JonBenet Ramsey with her mother Patricia. Photo / File

The sensational letters were sent to music publicist Michael Vail, a former school mate of Oliva's, who has reportedly suspected his involvement in the crime for years.

The shock admission is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the now infamous case, which has stumped detectives for years.

"My suspicions began when Gary called me late at night on December 26, 1996. He was sobbing and said, 'I hurt a little girl'," the 55-year-old told the publication.

The next day he saw a newspaper headline about a 'slain girl' in Boulder, Colorado, sparking his long held suspicions around his former friend.

John and Patsy Ramsey, the parents of JonBenet Ramsey, in 1997. Photo / Getty Images

During the many twists and turns in this investigation, police prosecutors cleared JonBenet's parents Patsy and John, along with her brother Burke, in 2008 after assessing DNA evidence.

But the district attorney overseeing the case said it was premature to exonerate the Ramseys and ordered additional tests using new DNA testing technology that authorities hope will further the investigation.

Police collected and studied thousands of pieces of evidence, with the case remains open.

However in 2013, ABC News reported a grand jury believed there was enough evidence in 1999 to indict John and Patsy Ramsey on charges relating to the unsolved killing of the young beauty queen.

People light candles at the murder site of 6-year-old Jonbenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, December 1997. Photo / Getty Images

In 2016, a documentary called The Case of JonBenet Ramsey aired ahead of the 20th anniversary of JonBenet's death, which ultimately accused Burke — who was nine at the time — of bludgeoning his sister to death.

As a result, Burke launched a US$750 million ($1.105 billion) defamation lawsuit against American TV network CBS which was settled at the start of this year, according to the New York Post.

The site where Jonbenet Ramsey was killed in Boulder, Colorado, 1996. Photo / Getty Images

It was the second lawsuit the 31-year-old filed against the TV network.

Not long after the damning doco aired, Burke went on US talk show Dr Phil to deny any involvement in her death.

"Did you do anything to harm your sister JonBenet," Dr Phil McGraw asked, point blank.

"No," Mr Ramsey responded.

"Did you murder your sister JonBenet," he pushed.

"No," her brother answered.

During the three-part show, which aired in September 2016, Burke revealed who he suspected of brutally murdering his little sister, who was strangled and left with a lengthy ransom note.

"I kinda always thought it was a paedophile who saw her in one of the pageants and snuck in (to our house), who knows," he told Dr Phil.

His suspicions are eerily close to the alleged written confession of Oliva, who the Daily Mail reports are now aware of the development in the case.

In a statement issued to the publication they said they had passed the additional information provided to them onto the relevant investigators.

The statement in full reads: "The Boulder Police Department is aware of and has investigated Mr Oliva's potential involvement in this case.

"We have passed the additional information provided onto investigators. We will not comment on any actions or the status of this investigation."

To date, no one has ever been charged with JonBenet's death since she was discovered dead by her father on Boxing Day in the family home.