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

[Cubby]

Arvada Police are investigating two reports of child enticement where a child was approached by a stranger offering candy and asking them to get into the stranger’s car . These incidents took place on Sunday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 12.

The suspect is described as a white male, 20 - 40 years of age, brown hair with no facial hair or glasses. The vehicle used in these incidents is a royal blue 4-door sedan.

http://arvada.org/pages/arvada-poli...arning-parents-about-recent-child-enticements

This was brought up last night. One parent actually linked the letter she received, it's upstream somewhere if anyone cares to look back.

How far is Arvada from Westminster? And is the Arvada case the same one mentioned by a poster here whose daughter and grandchildren live in the same neighborhood as Jessica, which allegedly (according to this poster) had two attempted child abductions in Jessica's neighborhood in about the last week?

Not sure if this is the same case the WS'rs with family in Jessica's neighborhood meant.

 

[LarkBunting]

This is awful. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. We can't let our kids out of our sight for a second these days.
I agree that it was probably someone who had watched her, observed her daily patterns/schedule. That seems statistically more likely than someone out trolling randomly for kids, who just happened upon her at the precise time she was alone...though, that is certainly possible, too.
I don't see this ending well. Sending out prayers to this little one and her family.

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

I feel so awful for this poor Mom!!!!!

No doubt. I can't imagine their torment and heartache.

 

[Wild@Heart]

Notice received from another Jefferson County School in Colorado:
September 14, 2012


Dear Stott parents/guardians,

This is an updated letter to make you aware of recent incidents involving “stranger danger” in the Arvada area. This is an updated letter includes a description of the male suspect.

Arvada Police received a report that a child was approached by a stranger offering candy, asking them to get into the stranger’s car in the Quaker Acres Park area. A police report has been filed and they are investigating. There is an additional report of a child being approached by a stranger at Fitzmorris Elementary in Arvada after school. Once again, police are investigating that incident.

According to police, the suspect in both incidents is described as a white male, 20-40 years of age, brown hair, with no facial hair or glasses. The vehicle used in the incidents is a royal blue four-door sedan.

We want you to know that student safety is always our top priority and this event reminds us of the importance of talking with your child about stranger danger.

Reinforce safe behaviors with your child and tell them to always be aware of their surroundings.

If a stranger approaches your child, whether it is at school or outside of school, be sure that your child knows what to do: yell or shout, run away and immediately tell an adult. Stress to your child the importance of going straight to school and coming home immediately after dismissal, or leaving the bus stop.

Remind your child that if he/she sees anything suspicious around the neighborhood or school, they need to immediately contact the police department and notify the school.

I know that together, we can help protect the safety of our children. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call me at 303-982-2638

Sincerely,

Patti Katsampes

Principal

 

[Knox]

I believe it's the same attempt that others are talking about Cubby. The Arvada area is said to be 15 minutes from where Jessica disappeared. All from memory, I could be wrong.

 

[Kaliste]

General question......
WHY do parents allow children to walk 3 blocks to school alone? WhY?
This little girls reminds me of one of my bff's daughters (who lives in another state.)
I pray she is found safe.
imo

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...issing-colo-girl10-dozens-search-neighborhood

Because no parent expects someone to snatch their child up in broad daylight, in the comfort of their own neighborhood. I suspect this particular mom felt comfortable that she had taken necessary precautions and prepared her child to her best ability or she wouldn't have sent her out this way each morning.

MOO

 

[hollyblue]

Hoping any residents with surveillance systems will call LE and let them view them.

Wondering if her little friend that she meets at the park had a cell phone with her and tried to call her house..or the mother's cell when she didn't show up? I know she's only 10, but do 10 yr olds normally go into chats online, or have much computer presence, etc? Had she mentioned to anyone about a new friend she just met in the past few weeks or so? Maybe an older teen? Like....going to the public pool over the summer and new friends she may have met there....or older friends who she rode bikes with in the neighborhood? Need to see how close the HS is to her home or elem school.

Sorry to ask, but have the teachers, janitors, cooks, etc be accounted for on Friday...? Does the father have relatives still in Colorado? Is there any chance any of them might partake in abducting her? His mother, father, etc.?

jmo

 

[Footwarrior]

How far is Arvada from Westminster? And is the Arvada case the same one mentioned by a poster here whose daughter and grandchildren live in the same neighborhood as Jessica, which allegedly (according to this poster) had two attempted child abductions in Jessica's neighborhood in about the last week?

Arvada and Westminster are adjacent suburbs, but both cover a large area. Jessica's neighborhood is on the far north end of Westminster. Arvada is to the south of Westminster. If I recall correctly the earlier incidents happend toward the south end of Arvada.

ETA: looking at the maps, it's about 5 miles as the crow flies.

 

[Cubby]

This is awful. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. We can't let our kids out of our sight for a second these days.
I agree that it was probably someone who had watched her, observed her daily patterns/schedule. That seems statistically more likely than someone out trolling randomly for kids, who just happened upon her at the precise time she was alone...though, that is certainly possible, too.
I don't see this ending well. Sending out prayers to this little one and her family.

BBM. Or someone who had gained her trust.... similiarly to what happened to that little girl who was abducted by a recent apartment complex worker. Sorry, her name is escaping me at the moment.


When my family mentions stranger danger, I have to constantly remind them statistically it is more likely someone the child knows, not a complete stranger, who will harm them.

I'm still unsure what might be the case here. I just don't know and too many possible scenario's....

Still praying she beats the odds and is found safely soon. raying:

 

[Knox]

The vehicle used in these incidents is described as a royal blue – similar to the blue worn by the University of Kentucky – 4-door sedan, possibly from the mid 90s. It may have dents on the passenger side rear door and may have half of the rear wheels covered with a "skirt" similar to those seen on a 1996 Cadillac Deville.


http://arvadapd.org/pages/child-enticement-suspect-sketch-released

 

[Portabella]

Arvada and Westminster are quite close actually. If the perp was mobile, its a good chance could be the same one. However, in following Colorado news on a daily basis over the past month there have been several attempts as of late within the city and burbs of Denver. I have dreaded this, I really have, felt it looming for some time now. I sure hope I am wrong, I cannot tell you how much I hope this gorgeous child turns up okay....

 

[Kaliste]

I don't think it's at all cool to be second-guessing this poor woman for letting a 10 year walk three blocks to school. Some folks obviously feel differently, but is this really the time or place? This was not remotely negligent on her part, so common decency, it seems to me, is to show sympathy, whatever you may be thinking.

I agree. While its a valid topic for discussion (i have my own strong opinions on the subject) I don't feel that this is the time or place for it. Jessica is missing. She's out there somewhere and our focus needs to be on bringing this child home safely ASAP. MOO

Has LE determined the last person to see her? In an above article somewhere I see her mom said she watched Jessica walk towards the park until she was "out of sight". How far would that "out of sight" point be? What is the distance from that point to where she meets her friends at the park? That's a very very short distance to disappear.

 

[Wild@Heart]

How far is Arvada from Westminster? And is the Arvada case the same one mentioned by a poster here whose daughter and grandchildren live in the same neighborhood as Jessica, which allegedly (according to this poster) had two attempted child abductions in Jessica's neighborhood in about the last week?

Not sure if this is the same case the WS'rs with family in Jessica's neighborhood meant.

I am in the area that the attempted incident happened. I am 9 miles from Jessica's home.

 

[Footwarrior]

I agree. While its a valid topic for discussion (i have my own strong opinions on the subject) I don't feel that this is the time or place for it. Jessica is missing. She's out there somewhere and our focus needs to be on bringing this child home safely ASAP. MOO

Has LE determined the last person to see her? In an above article somewhere I see her mom said she watched Jessica walk towards the park until she was "out of sight". How far would that "out of sight" point be? What is the distance from that point to where she meets her friends at the park? That's a very very short distance to disappear.

Not knowing exactly where Jessica lived, it's hard to say. The streets really wind around in her neighborhood, so out of sight could be just a couple of houses away.

Here is a Google Map centered on Chelsea Park. Her school is directly south.

 

[nursebeeme]

http://goo.gl/maps/eYU8A

case map I threw together yesterday

 

[Cubby]

With a vehicle description in the Arvada attempted abduction, I'm sure the perp is mobile. I hope those along Jessica's usual route are thinking back to any vehicles that didn't belong not just the morning she disappeared, but also the weeks prior to her disappearance.

I also wish we'd hear confirmation Jessica hadn't had a disagreement with a classmate which might have caused her to take a different route than usual?

Just thinking of all possibilities here.

And on kind of an OT note - does anyone besides me think it is odd that in this day and age someone would use candy to try and lure a child into a car? I often think something less conspicuous such as asking for directions or finding a pet- which might be more of a temptation to gain a childs trust....

anyhoo, my point being the whole use of trying to lure a child with candy makes me wonder if it is just someone trying to scare the child? Especially since every child is told not to take candy from strangers type thing. I always wonder if it is a group of teens or younger adults getting a kick out of really frightening children when I hear about the use of candy in an alleged abduction attempt. Not trying to minimize it, I just think it is a weird approach.

 

[Knox]

Missing Page-

https://www.facebook.com/MissingJessicaRidgeway?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

[Cubby]

http://goo.gl/maps/eYU8A

case map I threw together yesterday

I'm a litte confused on the general area of Jessica's home. From the map it looks like 107th and Moore at one point are the same street? And it looks like they intersect at various area's because the streets are circular.

Has it been confirmed or do we know if the direction in which she walked to meet the friend was enroute to the school or in the opposite direction of the school?

 

[Knox]

Maybe the friends all came from different areas of the neighborhood. Chelsea Park is the central meeting point and they walk to school together from there.

It looks like there is a crosswalk and a footpath, off West 106th which leads directly to the school.

http://goo.gl/maps/HQDi3

 

[hollyblue]

Walking map of the home, Chelsea Park, Witt Elementary....and the nearest high school. (F), there are three others, but farther away. Don't know why they have two with the name Westminster HS? Maybe one is a JR and the other a SR HS? ETA: It's .7 of a mile and a 13 min walk from home to school.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=10753+Moore+Street,+Westminster,+CO+80021&daddr=Chelsea+Park,+Westminster,+CO+to:Witt+Elementary+School,+Westminster,+CO+to:Hidden+Lake+High+School,+Lowell+Boulevard,+Westminster,+CO+to:Westminster+High+School,+Westminster,+CO+to:Standley+Lake+High+School,+Westminster,+CO+to:Westminister+High+School,+Westminster,+CO&hl=en&ll=39.891234,-105.109634&spn=0.024959,0.040169&sll=39.890509,-105.115557&sspn=0.024959,0.040169&geocode=FRurYAIdjiK8-SlzZ4VZ5ItrhzFHNyV_qv0exg%3BFXmsYAIdbRu8-SFfMuQ_9cGuICnRMojg5ItrhzFfMuQ_9cGuIA%3BFfSaYAIdYh28-SEP0sbVvAewHylPnUP94otrhzEP0sbVvAewHw%3BFSK_XwId_lG9-SEQ0T4kQeOxKClrJlYFHohrhzEQ0T4kQeOxKA%3BFT-gXwIdKCq9-SFJDRX9oMq8xykrouXWGohrhzFJDRX9oMq8xw%3BFZyWYAIdyUi8-SHRTSG7nzgHgimXXNYsYIlrhzHRTSG7nzgHgg%3BFWOhXwIdaja9-SG6LcnJLuhalSkXmqbNBIhrhzG6LcnJLuhalQ&oq=10753+Mooreestminster,+CO+80021&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ls&z=14