Suspect's Home Not Far From Jessica's Home, School
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4)- The suspect arrested for the murder of Jessica Ridgeway didn't live far from his alleged victim's home.
Police believe 10-year-old Jessica was abducted Oct. 5 while walking from her home near 106th Ave. and Moore Street to meet friends at Chelsea Park. The group would then make their way to nearby Witt Elementary School.
Austin Sigg was arrested at his home in the 10600 block of 102nd Avenue on Tuesday night after confessing to police.
Sigg, 17, lives about a mile and a half away from Jessica's home. He also attended Witt Elementary School several years ago.
Sigg's home is also near Ketner Lake Open Space Park, where he has been charged in the attempted abduction from May 28.
Sigg is being held on two counts of investigation of murder, kidnapping and criminal attempt at the Mount View Services Center.
Sigg was enrolled in Jefferson County Schools from fifth to eleventh grade. After Witt Elementary, he attended Wayne Carle Middle School and Standley Lake High School.
Sigg attended Warren Tech at the same time as Standley Lake High School. Sigg did not receive a diploma from Jefferson County Schools however he did complete the GED program and received a certificate.
Sigg was enrolled in the forensic science program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton. Classmates told CBS4 he wanted to be a mortician.
Jessica Ridgeway Murder Timeline
- 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 Ridgeway's body was found in Arvada on Highway near Pattridge Park Open Space and Highway 93, about seven miles from Ridgeway's home.
- Police arrest Austin Reed Sigg, 17, at his home in the 10600 block of 102nd Avenue on Oct. 23. According to the police report, Sigg cooperated with police and waived his rights when taken into custody.
Westminster Police Ridgeway Case Tip Line: (303) 658-4336 or pdamberalert@cityofwestminster.us
