Teenager Accused Of Kidnapping And Murdering Jessica Ridgeway Also Sexually Assaulted Her
Austin Sigg, the 17-year-old who is accused of murdering young Colorado resident Jessica Ridgeway, is also suspected of sexually assaulting the 10-year-old.
Appearing in Jefferson County court this morning, Sigg was charged as an adult. He was indicted on 11 counts relating to Jessica’s death as well as six counts relating to the attempted kidnapping of a 22-year-old woman in Ketner Lake on May 28.
The charges in the Ridgeway case include four counts of murder in the first degree, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault on a child.
Sigg was arrested late Tuesday night after police received a tip about the case. The suspect’s DNA was reportedly found on Jessica’s backpack.
Jessica disappeared three weeks ago after she left her home in a Denver suburb and walked to school. Her badly mutilated and dismembered body was found on October 11, 2012 about 10 miles from her home.
Jessica’s great-grandmother Donna Moss told reporters, “I think it’s all I’ve got within me to not want to just burn him, and I mean burn him.”
During the investigation, police received more than 1,500 tips from the general public, searched about 500 homes, and inspected almost 1,000 vehicles in pursuit of clues.
Jessica Ridgeway’s family was notified of the arrest on Wednesday morning, bringing great relief to the local community. Many parents were too afraid to even let their children leave the house and go outside to play while a killer was on the prowl.
