CO - Jessica Ridgeway, 10, Westminster, 5 Oct 2012 - #1

[LietKynes]

At ten years of age I'd like to think if a stranger drove up to Jessica, she'd have taken off running. Still pretty young if you're threatened with a weapon, though.
IMO, if any girl or woman is threatened with a weapon by a person driving by...run for your life. If the perp is going to kill you, he/she is going to kill you, just don't let them take you to where they can take their time !
I was hoping this was a custodial case because then there's more of a chance Jessica would be alive.

 

[bdawk20]

Yeah. For some reason I don't think she ever left that three-block area.

I don't either. I keep thinking of Somer Thompson.

 

[TxLady2]

http://www.9news.com/news/article/293151/339/Police-search-Ketner-Reservoir-for-missing-girl


On Saturday, a dive team went into Ketner Reservoir in order to rule the area out in the search.

Jessica usually walks three blocks from Morris Street to Chelsea Park where she would meet up with a large group of friends before walking 1.3 miles to school. In that three block radius, she disappeared.F



This is heartbreaking. It is freezing here, with light flurries. IMO someone in the family or close to the family is involved or someone close to the neighborhood is involved. In order for her to go missing within the 3 blocks from the house to the park it had to be someone close that knows her routine. With the FBI involved I'm sure they are checking all of Mom's, grandma's and Aunt's friends and aquaintances. Praying Jessica will be found safe and sound and soon!

I hear that the weather up there is terrible. Texas got a little cold front that moved in last night, I would not want to be out in it after dark! It's trying to drizzle too, which makes it seem colder.
Just praying she will be found soon.

 

[MoonFlwr]

At ten years of age I'd like to think if a stranger drove up to Jessica, she'd have taken off running. Still pretty young if you're threatened with a weapon, though.
IMO, if any girl or woman is threatened with a weapon by a person driving by...run for your life. If the perp is going to kill you, he/she is going to kill you, just don't let them take you to where they can take their time !
I was hoping this was a custodial case because then there's more of a chance Jessica would be alive.

Yes, I teach 10/11 year olds and they are pretty well-informed! The kids I teach would not readily go towards a stranger voluntarily - but, if it weren't a stranger - they would probably be polite and be easily lead!

Having said that, though, did any posters see that tv show on Dateline I think it was, where kids this age and a little below, were secretly filmed in the scenario where a stranger came up to them, pretending they were looking for kids to be on tv and the kids, after a few minutes of resistance, gave all their personal details to the stranger, as their parents looked on through hidden camera?

 

[scorekeeper]

Yes, I teach 10/11 year olds and they are pretty well-informed! The kids I teach would not readily go towards a stranger voluntarily - but, if it weren't a stranger - they would probably be polite and be easily lead!

what grade would they be in?

TIA

 

[MoonFlwr]

what grade would they be in?

TIA

5th Grade.

 

[TGIRecovered]

and you would think that someone would have seen her at that time of morning with everyone on their way to take kids to school

This makes me suspect that she fell victim to someone who would blend right in to the neighborhood. A neighbor or someone who regularly drives down that street, maybe a delivery person , or even someone who visits a friend or relative near-by. I wonder if someone close to her home has a temporary houseguest...maybe a grown child who is in between jobs?

 

[bdawk20]

This makes me suspect that she fell victim to someone who would blend right in to the neighborhood. A neighbor or someone who regularly drives down that street, maybe a delivery person , or even someone who visits a friend or relative near-by. I wonder if someone close to her home has a temporary houseguest...maybe a grown child who is in between jobs?

I agree with you. This reminds me of Somer Thompson, and I think this is someone close by that probably lives close to her or is at least staying with someone close to her. It may be someone she's interacted with in some way - maybe they sit outside in the mornings and say hello to her as she passes by. Someone that knows what goes on around there and that they could take her and go unnoticed.

 

[SuziQ]

Simply.. some parents don't have a choice

My kids no longer walk since Lyric and Elizabeth went missing, for me I had a choice though and my kids needed the exercise, which is why i used to let them walk, thinking they would be safe in a group.

Here in my town if you live more than a mile from the school the bus is free. If you live less than a mile the bus costs $30 a month per child. Some families don't have that money and lack a vehicle to get the kids to and from. For others they lack the money and have to be at work before the kids leave for school.
It is what it is sadly. Some kids have to walk to and from and some kids have to be latch key.

And many districts don't provide bus service at all to those who live within three miles from school.

 

[Knox]

Matt Flener ‏@mattflener Our Kansas City sister station just tracked down #jessicaridgeway 's FATHER at work. They report he wants no contact with media.

 

[SuziQ]

Since someone posted that it was really cold that morning, I wonder if a car pulled up and offered to "give her a ride to school" and she accepted because she didn't want to walk in the cold.

Just trying to think of possible scenarios.

I wonder about this as well. It could very well be a person she knew and trusted. Those are the ones you have to worry about the most.

 

[JodyMT]

And many districts don't provide bus service at all to those who live within three miles from school.

Oh I know. I have seen many stories on school districts here in Texas that are doing this. I just cannot imagine allowing a child to walk beside a busy highway or for long distances to school. In cases like this, the school is basically telling the parents that getting their child to school is their problem.

So many parents have to go to work before their child leaves for school. I would be vomiting with worry every single day if I had to allow my child to walk to school while I was at work. I pray I never have to do that. I am a worry wart and would have a stroke.

 

[TreeClimbingGirl]

mark meredith ‏@markpmeredith

Search volunteers stopping for the day. #jessicaridgeway - police not asking for more volunteers tonight

 

[GateKeeper]

Did it snow the morning she went missing..yesterday. ?

 

[carbuff]

and you would think that someone would have seen her at that time of morning with everyone on their way to take kids to school

I wonder about this as well. It could very well be a person she knew and trusted. Those are the ones you have to worry about the most.

Another "stranger" kids make exceptions for is authority figures. They've been taught to defer to adults and do as they're told without complaining, so a person who comes on as a teacher, police officer, etc. can bully a child into compliance.

 

[SuziQ]

It appears from reading and catching up on posts that the critical area is three blocks from Jessica's home?

I hate to type this, but does anyone know what day trash day is in that area? TIA.

 

[SuziQ]

Another "stranger" kids make exceptions for is authority figures. They've been taught to defer to adults and do as they're told without complaining, so a person who comes on as a teacher, police officer, etc. can bully a child into compliance.

Very true. And a pretend cop, anyone wearing an official looking uniform. Security, utility co.....etc.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

I wonder about this as well. It could very well be a person she knew and trusted. Those are the ones you have to worry about the most.

Yes... Possibly someone who had groomed her?

 

[Marie]

mark meredith ‏@markpmeredith

Search volunteers stopping for the day. #jessicaridgeway - police not asking for more volunteers tonight

We just got back from searching and were told there will be no more ground searches. Every place to be searched has been searched.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Another "stranger" kids make exceptions for is authority figures. They've been taught to defer to adults and do as they're told without complaining, so a person who comes on as a teacher, police officer, etc. can bully a child into compliance.

Or a teachers aide?......