Student, 17, arrested in Jessica Ridgeway killing
Austin Reed Sigg, 17, was arrested this morning.
October 24th, 2012
06:50 PM ET

Student, 17, arrested in Jessica Ridgeway killing

Editor's note: A 17-year-old student was arrested Tuesday evening in this month's killing of 10-year-old Denver-area girl Jessica Ridgeway, according to police in Westminster, Colorado.

Austin R. Sigg, who lived not far from Ridgeway, will be charged as an adult in her death and in a separate, attempted abduction in May, authorities say.

[Updated at 6:50 p.m. ET] One of Ridgeway's great-grandmothers, Donna Moss of Independence, Missouri, told CNN affiliate KSHB that she wouldn't be able to look in the suspect's face "and not be judgmental."

"It's all I've got within me to not want to just burn him. And I mean burn him," Moss told KSHB on Wednesday.

"For me, my steps have to be one step at a time to forgiveness," Moss said. "Because yes, I am really angry."

[Updated at 6:15 p.m. ET] The student arrested in Ridgeway's death, 17-year-old Austin R. Sigg, will be tried as an adult, Jefferson County District Attorney Pam Russell said Wednesday.

Charges probably will be filed on Monday, Russell said. Authorities said earlier that Sigg, who was arrested Tuesday night, will face murder and kidnapping charges in death of Ridgeway, who is from Westminster in the Denver area. Sigg also will be charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted murder charges regarding allegations that he tried to abduct someone else on May 28 at Ketner Lake in Westminster.

Sigg and Ridgeway lived about one mile apart, on opposite sides of Ketner Lake, CNN affiliate KMGH reported.

Ridgeway, also from Westminster, was last seen alive by her mother as the girl left for school October 5. A body was found days later at a park just five miles from Westminster, and police identified it as Ridgeway's on October 12.

Hundreds of volunteers had searched fields and streets, posted fliers and canvassed neighborhoods since news broke of the girl's disappearance. Hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement officers also worked the case.

Earlier Wednesday, police had said Sigg was arrested on Wednesday. They later corrected themselves, saying he'd actually been apprehended Tuesday evening.

[Updated at 2:44 p.m. ET] We can now report that the 17-year-old suspect is Austin Reed Sigg.

While CNN does not normally show the booking photo or name suspects who are juveniles, police mentioned Sigg's name and released his photograph in hopes the public could provide information related to the case.

Jessica Ridgeway, 10, was last seen by her mother.

[Updated at 2:14 p.m. ET] Jessica Ridgeway's family was told this morning that an arrest was made in the 10-year-old's death, police said.

"We hope and pray that this arrest gives them some measure of closure in dealing with this horrible loss and tragedy they have suffered,"  Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk told reporters.

Charges will officially be filed in the next couple of days, officials said.

The 17-year-old suspect was arrested on preliminary charges including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping in the Ridgeway case. He also faces a charge of attempted murder and attempted abduction related to a May 28 kidnapping attempt near Ketner Lake.

A warrant is currently being served on the suspect's home.

The  suspect will have his first court appearance Thursday at 8 a.m.

[Updated at 1:50 p.m. ET] A 17-year-old student has been arrested in the murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, according to a Westminster, Colorado, police report.

The report says the student is charged with first degree murder and second degree kidnapping.

CNN is not naming the suspect or showing his mugshot until we can determine whether he is being charged as an adult or a juvenile.

[Posted at 1:32 p.m. ET] Police in Westminster, Colorado, arrested someone today in connection with the Jessica Ridgeway murder case.

Jessica, 10, was last seen by her mother as she left for school October 5. Her body was found last week at a park in Arvada, a Denver suburb five miles from Westminster.

"Late Tuesday evening police received a call that led them to a home near the Ketner Lake Open Space," police said in a press release.

That visit allowed police to make an arrest in the Ridgeway case, as well as another case, an attempted abduction near Ketner Lake.

That's all we know right now. Police will have a news conference at 2 p.m. ET. We'll be sure to update you as soon as we have more information.

soundoff (530 Responses)
  1. AM

    Welcome to hell little boy! Bubba got himself a new girlfriend! Just waiting for you to turn 18... Everytime you have to bend over for your new boyfriend, I hope you think about what you did you POS. And after 10 years or so, hopefully, much earlier, they can strap onto the table and further cleanse the gene pool...

    October 25, 2012 at 11:05 am | Report abuse |
  2. Chimo

    WE as parents have got to watch our kids, thereis no way in hell I will let me daugher walk to and from school on her own or even if she has a friend with her. It's so sad that these kids are being preyed upon by cowards who go after only the weak and vulnerable. I don't care if this sicko is only 17, as far as I'm concerned, he has given up his right to life

    October 25, 2012 at 12:37 pm | Report abuse |
  3. V.P.

    Eye for an eye! Whatever he did to the young girl should be done to him!

    October 25, 2012 at 4:34 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Jessica Ridgeway

    im not dead yet my soul forever to keep dont worry youll b ded soooooonnnnnnnn

    October 25, 2012 at 5:27 pm | Report abuse |
  5. SnapinTurtle

    I am not a criminologist, but it sounds like this guy was on his was destined to be a Ted Bundy. I am so sorry he could not be stopped sooner for the sake of this child, but I think the area itself is fortunate he was stopped before other girls started disappearing.

    October 26, 2012 at 8:57 am | Report abuse |
  6. TheGander2

    As a parent my heart goes out to the young girls family. To the monster that did this, "Death Penalty".
    To those who say don't , every one in Prison is innocent. When the State carrys out the orders of "Death",
    everyone finds God. There's a "Special" place for monster, and it's not Heaven.

    October 26, 2012 at 3:33 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mike

    Its like you read my thoughts! You appear to grasp a lot about this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply can do with a few p.c. to force the message house a bit, however other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I'll definitely be back.

    October 29, 2012 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
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