FBI Asks for Public’s Help in Search for Ridgeway Kidnapping Suspect
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — The FBI said late Thursday afternoon it needs the public’s help in finding the suspect who kidnapped 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway almost one week ago.
According to KDVR-TV in Denver, police in Westminster say that on Wednesday afternoon, maintenance workers picking up trash found a body in an open space in nearby Arvada, but they have yet to say if the body is that of Ridgeway.
Ridgeway’s father is a native of Independence, Missouri.
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Investigators believe someone in the community knows the kidnapper, and they assume the suspect is male.
“It could be your boss, it could be your friend and ultimately it could be your family member,” says FBI media coordinator Dave Joly. “So we’re asking people to bring this information to law enforcement, and let us (bring) that to a close.”
Investigators are asking members of the community to be alert for any change in behavior of the people around them. Small variations in their behavior, their demeanor, their physical appearance, schedule and habits, should be reported to police. Police described some of the behavior they want to know about:
– Immediately following the incident, he may miss work. The absence will be sudden and unplanned. He may either be a “no show” or he may offer a plausible excuse such as illness, death in the family, car trouble, etc.
– He may miss scheduled appointments/commitments and be unaccounted for during this period. These appointments/commitments may include such things as medical appointments, meetings with a probation officer, prior commitment to a friend or family member, drug test, etc.
– He may suddenly leave town, either with no explanation or with some plausible reason.
– This individual may express an intense interest in the status of this investigation and pay close attention to the media. However, some offenders may quickly turn off media accounts or try to redirect conversations concerning the victims or their families.
– There may be changes in the usual consumption of alcohol and/or drugs.
– He may make a change in his appearance or alter something to prevent identification, such as changing the look of his vehicle, clean or discard his vehicle.
“We have hundreds of leads coming in and great resources here to act on those leads, but we need the public’s help,” said Joly.
If you have any information regarding the investigation, Westminster police are asking you to call the tip line at 303-658-4336, or email PDamberalert@cityofwestminster.us.
