Jessica Ridgeway's Neighborhood On Alert
WESTMINTER, Colo. (CBS4)- Those living in Jessica Ridgeway's neighborhood are trying to stay positive after the grim news that a body had been found miles from where she went missing.
Around the neighborhood signs and posters of Jessica, along with purple ribbons to symbolize her favorite color, are still posted. Some signs read, "Bring Jessica Home."
Neighbors are trying to keep a positive attitude.
"Scared, worried. But also trying to keep hope because we don't know anything for sure and you can still have hope that everything is going to be okay," said one neighbor.
"Since the kidnapping everyone around here has been pretty quiet. Nothing happened too much," said another neighbor.
That teenage boy was also carrying a large stick he said for protection.
The FBI and bloodhounds have been canvassing the neighborhood and an adjacent neighborhood, along with surrounding areas on Thursday.
Ridgeway is listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children list. The following is known about her disappearance:
- Jessica Ridgeway, 10, disappeared on her way to school on the morning of Oct. 5. After leaving home on foot, she never met up with friends she normally walks to school with at Chelsea Park. The park is about three blocks from her home and about a mile from the school.
- When she didn't arrive at Witt Elementary School in Westminster, Jefferson County Schools officials tried to contact her mother. They made a call at 10 a.m. but were only able to leave a voicemail. Ridgeway's mother, who works an overnight shift and sleeps during the day, didn't get the message until 4:30 p.m. and immediately contacted Westminster police.
- It took about five hours before the protocols were met in the case for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to call an Amber Alert.
- Ridgeway's backpack was found on the sidewalk near Alpha Court and Andrew Drive in the Rock Creek neighborhood in Superior. That's 6.4 miles away from her home. It's unknown so far at what point the backpack wound up there.
- The CBI analyzed the backpack for DNA evidence and collected evidence from Ridgeway's home for comparison.
- Searches were taking place around Jessica's home and her school, as well as in open space areas in Westminster. Another area that underwent an extensive search was Rock Creek and open space areas near there.
- A day after their tearful televised plea for help and thanks to the community, police on Oct. 10 ruled out Ridgeway's parents as being involved in her disappearance. Police said Ridgeway may have been abducted by an unknown suspect.
- Late in the day on Oct. 11 a body is found in Arvada near Highway 93, about seven miles from Ridgeway's home.
Westminster Police Ridgeway Case Tip Line: (303) 658-4336 or pdamberalert@cityofwestminster.us
