Jury Selection Starts In Death Of Jessica Ridgeway

GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) - Jury selection is underway for a teenager charged with killing and dismembering a 10-year-old Colorado schoolgirl.

Potential jurors filled out forms Friday for the trial of 18-year-old Austin Sigg. They will return to court for questioning on Tuesday.

Sigg is accused of kidnapping and killing Jessica Ridgeway in October. She disappeared shortly after leaving her home in the Denver suburb of Westminster to walk to school.

Sigg is charged with murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery and other charges. Detectives say he has confessed to killing Jessica but denied sexually assaulting her.

If convicted, he would face life in prison but could be paroled after 40 years. He can't get the death penalty because he was 17 at the time of the slaying.

Opening statements are scheduled for Oct. 3.

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