Jessica Ridgeway’s Killer Pleads Guilty In Brutal Murder Trial

Jessica Ridgeway’s killer has pled guilty in the brutal death of the 10-year-old girl. Colorado teen Austin Sigg, 18, has pled guilty against the advice of his attorneys.

Sigg could now face life in prison for the October 2012 murder of the young girl in Westminster, Colorado.

Following her disappearance thousands of residents were in a state of panic. Ridgeway’s dismembered body was eventually discovered alongside a highway. Some parts of the girls body were not initially recovered.

According to prosecutors Sigg decided to plead guilty after an overwhelming amount of evidence was revealed ahead of Thursday’s trial.

After the hearing Jefferson County District Attorney Peter Weir said the “writing was on the wall.”

Sigg faces a minimum of up to 40 years in prison with the possibility of parole. The young murderers sentencing hearing will begin on November 18.

During his guilty please Sigg also pled guilty to attacking a 22-year-old jogger in the same neighborhood in May 2012.

Prosecutors have asked Judge Stephen Munsinger to impose consecutive sentences to ensure that the young killer remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

Because he was only 17 at the time of the grizzly murder Austin Sigg can not be sentenced to death.

Following his sons guilty declaration Sigg’s father, Rob Sigg, said he was thankful that Jessica Ridgeway’s family would be spared the pain of a murder trial. In his public statement Mr. Sigg said: “We ask the community to continue to support the Ridgeway family and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

When asked if he understood what his guilty plea means Austin told the judge he understood. The young killer did not provide any type of statement before or after his guilty plea.

Jessica’s mom, Sarah Ridgeway, left the courtroom as prosecutors explained how Rigg grabbed Jessica, pulled her into his car, and then tied her hands and feet.

Jessica Ridgeway disappeared on October 5, 2012. The young girls backpack was discovered two days later in Superior, a town six miles from her home. Her dismembers remains were later found in a park.

As police searched for her killer parents were urged to keep their children indoors and escort them to school and other activities.

Police received a tip from a resident on October 19, 2012. The resident told police that Austin Sigg was overly fascinated with death. FBI officials took a DNA sample from Sigg. On October 23, Sigg’s mother, Mindy Sigg, called 911 and said her son was ready to confess to Ridgeway’s murder.

Some of Jessica’s remains were hidden in a crawl space inside the family’s home.

Sigg admitted to strangling Jessica and then dismembering her body in his family’s bathtub.

In April 2013 Austin Sigg pled not guilty to Jessica Ridgeway’s murder and kidnapping.