Prosecutors Say Evidence Is Overwhelming Against Sigg
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - Prosecutors in court on Thursday morning told the judge the evidence against the teenager charged in the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Ridgeway is overwhelming.
The judge ordered Austin Sigg, 17, held without bond. Prosecutors said Sigg confessed to the crime and that there is also DNA evidence. It's expected Sigg will be tried as an adult.
Sigg's mother and two other women along with a young boy were in the juvenile courtroom and crying at times.
Also, seven of Ridgeway's family members were there dressed in purple, the 10-year-old Westminster girl's favorite color.
Ridgeway's mom was calm during the hearing. She sat right behind Sigg and spent a lot of time looking at him.
Sigg appeared in the courtroom in shackles and looked disheveled but other than that had no expression, speaking only once when he didn't understand something the judge said.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said they will formally file charges against Sigg on Tuesday and likely as an adult.
"Based on my experience and what I think the appropriate thing to do is to charge him as an adult," said Storey. "I don't know what those charges will be because we have to staff this and that determination is pending."
Sigg remains in jail at the Mount View Youth Services Center, but prosecutors say they plan to request a transfer to a different facility.
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 arrested Austin Reed Sigg, 17, at his home in the 10600 block of 102nd Avenue on Oct. 23. According to the police report, Sigg confessed to police and waived his rights when taken into custody.
