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

[SuziQ]

I don't think so. They just started with the last seen area, and will begin widening the search radius. MOO-

Someone who searched today said no more searches? Did I misunderstand?

 

[JenWilkersonseeker]

No plans for an organized search tomorrow...that can't be good

(https://twitter.com/ToddWalker9NEWS/status/254758533478903808/photo/1)

It might not be bad news- LE was talking about volunteer searches throwing off the dogs, and not wanting people to search randomly.

 

[SmoothOperator]

Trying to stay caught up when im able to drop in..could someone clarify for me that we are working off the assumption that Jessica is last seen by mom as she left the home to walk to the park where she meets other classmates and from there they all walk in to school together?..and she left approx 8:30am her home and was enroute to the park which is only approx 450yds from her home?..and we know she never made it to that destination of the park..in going off of those details being correct that leaves a mere sliver of time and distance within which she was abducted..somewhere within 450yds she was taken..

And at this time neither the classmates or any other people saw her or saw anyone suspicious?..which leads me to believe that she was abducted likely very soon thereafter leaving her home than latter as she neared the park..jmo..I speculate that due to the extremely short distance to the park and imo if she had been abducted closer to the park rather than closer to her home it seems quite likely atleast one of the classmates could have quite possibly even had a visual of jessica as she was nearing the park..but just speculating..

I guess most importantly I wanted to clarify that at this time with what is known that its believed to have occurred within that 450yd stretch btwn home and the park?..am i assuming correctly?

 

[Marie]

Someone who searched today said no more searches? Did I misunderstand?

Yes, that is what we were told. No more Volunteer searches. All areas have been searched.

 

[OwlMom]

I live just south of her neighborhood and joined the search for a few hours this afternoon today. Our group searched a park/open space area in my neighborhood, about 2 miles south (as the crow flies) of where she disappeared.

FWIW, she does not have a 1.3-mile walk to school. Like any of the kids around here, I'm sure she took the straightest path, which would be across the open space to the back end of the school and then to wherever her classroom is. That's typical for all the schools in the area. The news reports seem to assume that she stays on the road the entire way, but if she did, there's no way she'd make it to school on time (she reportedly left at 8:30 and school starts at 8:50. The average person walks about 1 mile in 20 minutes, kids tend to be slower). Many kids walk to school in this area.

Regarding the attempted abductions in the area: those both took place miles south, around 58th Ave and maybe a little further north. Last fall a man tried to lure kids into his car a couple of times too, though not near a school, and none of them were north of 80th Ave. All of these attempts were several miles south. Obviously, that doesn't stop someone from coming further north, but all other attempts had been concentrated in a very different area that's at least a 15-20 minute drive with traffic and stoplights and all.

What is more concerning is that on Memorial Day, a man grabbed a woman jogging and put a cloth smelling like some sort of chemicals over her mouth and nose. She fought her way free. There was a similar attempt in 2010. Reports that say Labor Day are incorrect, and I know this because I'd just run that same trail at Ketner Reservoir the evening before. IIRC, the attempt took place on the west or northwest part of the reservoir; Witt Elementary is directly north of the reservoir, just across the street.

This is typical suburbia. There are no homeless people hanging out in our parks, much less sleeping there overnight. Unfortunately, that makes it much more likely that it was someone she knew, probably living very close to her house, or someone who had been watching the school kids for a few days.

 

[Liz]

From Twitter about an hour ago:
Volunteer searches for #jessicaridgeway called off for. @WestminsterPD says sharing her pic is the most helpful now. http://twitter.com/ToddWalker9NEWS/status/254758533478903808/photo/1

 

[JenWilkersonseeker]

Or a teachers aide?......

Nope- not a chance. They background check people to death here. I can't work as a teacher because my 17 year old yelled at my 10 year old in front of a social worker. They called it neglect that I was unable to predict or prevent it. They are ridiculous. Ruined my career.

 

[Knox]

@WestminsterPD confirms items found during searches today, still determining if any have connection to #JessicaRidgeway #AdamsCo #Denver

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

For people so sure that it's unusual for the abduction to have occurred in such a short amount of time/distance.

Remember that Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped right in front of her stepfather, as he supervised her waiting for her bus. It happened so quickly he didn't even have time to react. There may have been that split second in time with no traffic going by and enough opportunity to snatch her and casually drive away. They may have been parked on the side of the street waiting. Also remember that video in Philly of the girl's attempted abduction caught on tape? That happened SO quickly. If that perp had been successful he could have carried that girl to his car in 20 seconds.

Just thinking outloud--had they been parked on the street, lured Jessica with a fake story and she willingly hopped into a car, it could have occurred in a matter of seconds.

 

[Seek&Find]

I'm in Denver metro and Jessica's alert ran across our screens pretty late last night. We prayed right away, and have continued to. It's hard to know what to hope for beyond her just being safe somewhere.

That said, I can't shake that there's some niggling something here, other than abduction. Not sure what, just a subjective sense that could be wrong. It could just be that the delay remind me of Kyron. (Yes, I'm following local news so I know mom works graveyards and didn't get the calls.)

I wonder if aunt & grandma work, were they home that morning or anytime during the day, etc?

The school day starts at Witt at 8:50 am per their newsletter.. The media or LE could've rounded the time, but it's been reported she left her house at 8:30 to walk 1.3 miles to school. Per these stats, it takes the average young woman ~ 15 minutes to walk one mile, walking as quickly as possible. Per this study, the average child takes 20 minutes to walk 1 mile. So, that timeframe's pretty tight for a child to leave the house, greet friends, not meander, and get to school and in class on time. Could be the timeframe and/or the mileage of the route the kids used was reported wrong. (My map app points to a shorter, faster route.)

Also, as linked here previously, there happened to be a custody hearing about Jessica in Missouri the very day she went missing.

Officials contacted the child's father, who lives in Missouri. Materasso said the family in Missouri there attended a child custody hearing there concerning Jessica Friday. He said he does not know the outcome of the hearing, but "At this time we don't have any indication he is involved in any way," Spottke said.

link

Strange coincidence on the timing?

I've been through a difficult custody case with an ex. Why wasn't Jessica's mom at that hearing?

I wonder what time the hearing was and if there was any word back to CO that it didn't appear to go well, someone had safety concerns and panicked...?

Maybe the best hope here is that Jessica has been tucked away somewhere irt custody concerns, that'll be uncovered soon, and she's found safe and warm.

Still praying, still hoping she's found soon.

Moo

 

[JenWilkersonseeker]

The shortcut route that she took was posted on one of the news stories- the friend (J) told LE or Media. (Sorry, can't remember where I read it.) But it was shorter, cutting through a field. I hope you are right about the strange coincidence with dad and custody battle- gives me hope.

 

[Seek&Find]

Still, I'm so glad LE's throwing all resources at this and people are out in force volunteering to search. Thanks to everyone here that helped! She could've been taken, so they need to work every angle ASAP.

 

[scorekeeper]

Does Jessica's grandma work during the day?

What time does school release? What time should have Jessica been home?

 

[scorekeeper]

we have 40 visitors; please join us. we would love to have your take on the situation. please help us find Jessica!!

 

[JodyMT]

She is so close to the age of my own daughter who is 12, this is absolutely tearing me up.

 

[Knox]

http://www.9news.com/video/9newsonline.aspx

Live news at link

 

[shefner]

Police are searching Ketner Reservoir? Is this something we already knew?

 

[JenWilkersonseeker]

Police are searching Ketner Reservoir? Is this something we already knew?

Yes, It was on the news most of the day.

 

[GateKeeper]

Yes- and I think most of us weren't expecting it until Friday overnight. The snow was a surprise to me.

Thanks for the answer..

Do we know how the snow fall would effect the SAR dogs?
Hmmmm wheres SARX?

 

[scorekeeper]

Todd Walker‏@ToddWalker9NEWS

Volunteer searches for #jessicaridgeway called off for. @WestminsterPD says sharing her pic is the most helpful now