Suspect arrested in Jessica Ridgeway murder case

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Suspect arrested in Jessica Ridgeway murder case

Police have arrested Austin Reed Sigg in connection with the murder of Jessica Ridgeway.(Photo: Westminster Police)

 Police in Colorado have arrested a 17-year-old community college student in connection with the killing of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, who disappeared on her way to school Oct. 5.

Jessica's body, which was described by police as "not intact," was found five days later in a field in an area of abandoned mines in Arvada, Colo.

The suspect was identified as Austin Reed Sigg, a student at Arapaho Community College. He will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as kidnapping charges. His first court appearance will be Thursday at 8 a.m. MT (10 a.m. ET).

Reed also will be charged with the attempted abduction of a woman who was jogging in the Ketner Lake Open Space on May 28.

"I would like to thank the community for the thousands of tips they have provided us ... for the tremendous outpouring of support," said Westminister Police Chief Lee Birk at a news conference in the Denver suburb. "We hope and pray that this arrest brings them some measure of closure in dealing with this enormous loss that they've suffered."

In a news release, police said they received a call late Tuesday that led them to Reed's home, near Ketner Lake Open Space.

Police said they notified the Ridgeway family of the arrest Wednesday morning.

Police said Sigg was arrested at his home Tuesday evening. The house, which was undergoing a police search on Wednesday, is 1.4 miles from Jessica's home in Westminister.

The Associated Press reported that Sigg's mother said the boy turned himself in.

"I made the phone call, he turned himself in. That's all I have to say." the AP quoted her as saying.

Police said there is a direct link between an attempted abduction of the jogger at Ketner Lake on Memorial Day and the killing of Jessica. The unidentified runner told police she fought off a man who attacked her from behind and tried to subdue her using a chemical-soaked rag.

Police officially linked the two cases on Monday, KUSA-TV reports.

After the arrest, police released Sigg's photograph and called on the public to come forward with any additional information they might have on the Ridgeway case or other possible crimes.

Source : USA TODAY - http://www.usatoday.com