CO - Jessica Ridgeway, 10, Westminster, 5 Oct 2012 - #13

[izzyblizzy]

the style of cross is one I myself have worn, although mine was carved from stone, not wood and was a necklace. The cross hung from a leather type string.

I purchased mine at an artisans fair many years back but similar necklaces are sold at concerts, head shops, craft fairs, etc.

Totally could be bought at a fair, etc. It is just that many who do craft fairs also list on Etsy.

 

[cindersoot]

Maybe the perp place the cross with the remains. As a sick way of blessing her death.

 

[carbuff]

Could the cross have come off of a rosary?

I think you're right.

 

[cindersoot]

I have many crosses, and have never seen one with three slashes. I bet he put those slashes there, carved them himself.

 

[absentia]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/105007424/mens-jewelry-rustic-hand-carved-cross

I've never seen a curved/offset cross.

this artist makes many, many with 3 etched lines

when I looks at his shop my stomach tightens and churns.

 

[cindersoot]

Taking a printout of the cross and going to check with some of the Santa Fe artisans here, the Native American, but most likely the Spanish artisans well known for hard carved wooden items.

Most of their artwork is signed ... which *could* be the 3 lines.

Three lines represent the trinity.

 

[PlainJaneDoe]

o/t speaking of precipitation, it's raining where I am and my mind feels fuzzy. Does anybody else have that happen where the weather (barometric pressure) messes with you physically? I can't think straight!

Yes, I think it is because it bothers my sinuses. Today I have a cold, and it's raining off and on. :boohoo:

 

[MoonFlwr]

Maybe the perp place the cross with the remains. As a sick way of blessing her death.

Good thought.

He/she would be a bit dense to do that, though!

 

[Foxfire]

Imo, the cross appears to be handcrafted by a novice. It may be important to sleuth wood carving sites & forums. When an inmate is incarcerated in prison. Many find religion for various reasons. Once reaching trustee status, they are rewarded by being allowed to participate in crafts; woodcarving, leather crafting, etc. Some correctional institutes have craft sales for this prison art such as Angola in LA.
Just a hunch, the predator may have been incarcerated in the past...


Images for prison crafts - Report images
http://www.google.com/search?q=pris...5G4-i8gSp5YHwAw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=667

 

[Cybermom]

Hi Footwarrior. Love your posts as they make me think...

I'm not an expert by no means but I can tell you positively as a fact that 6 hours can very well be a normal time frame for removing remains of this nature. I have grown up in a family with a paternal grandfather that was a chief of police before he died, maternal grandfather that was chief of fire & rescue, exfiance that is a sgt det, multiple cousins & friends that are le, & so on. I stated all of that to hopefully quash any theories or suspicions as to why it took so long bc honestly the cops are doing their jobs thoroughly. If the remains were bagged into evidence in say an hour or two, knowing they weren't intact & found outside, then I'd vehemently suggest le weren't doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. You see, since the "body" wasn't intact, that definitely shows murder. Depending on the cleanness of the cuts &/or severs, it shows how organized the killer is. Le would have to document each & every drop of blood, the fauna around the remains, soil that I suspect they took various samples of, plus the ground would be extra hard due to the colder weather at the time. If the skin or bones were laying on the ground, they could have been stuck to the ground due to the coldness. Even if the remains were in a black garbage bag as previously stated, the bag & seepage could have stuck to the ground. Special forensic professionals would have had to dig underneath where the remains were to gather everything in one piece as much as they could. Based on the bright orange markers in the grass as well as the road, I suspect not only blood was scattered. If she was gutted & beheaded, as well as dismembered, investigators would have had to search that entire area so as to contain & obtain each & every piece of evidence they could right then & there to preserve it's integrity. If it was just a torso, I'd wager they put it in a cold kept container. Actually, I'd bet all body parts were stored that way, unless they had a refrigerated evidence truck/van. The task they faced was withoutadoubt huge, not seen before by most investigators there, and probably took them some time to gather the strength within them. When they found the remains it was obvious the person wasn't alive, therefore they had to call in all professionals needed. I'm sure it took a little bit of time to block off the roads, plus to get the fire truck there with their spotlight. Then the forensic me with the coroner. They'd need the chief of police there for something of this magnitude. The FBI was already involved so they'd have been involved. Then the evidence collection, etc. They wouldn't haul just part of a person away if they thought other parts would be found there as well, so they'd collect everything first, then haul it away to the lab. It's tedious & very time consuming. It may seem mundane but most of the time a good conviction only comes after thorough & pure evidence collecting.

Not talking down, please don't think that... I'm only trying to shed light on why it takes the time that it does.

Side note: If it were a possible suicide, or even if the body were completely together with no signs of foul play, then investigators could have been in & out in just a few hours. The fact it took so long to get Jessica's remains to the lab/me tells me it wasn't in very good shape at all.

Thank you both for addressing this. It was bothering me that given the nature of this crime and that LE seems to be keeping some information from the public ( rightfully) that to have a body in an uncovered area for that length of time where an aircraft could fly over and snap video/pics and leak surprised me.
Not faulting LE, but it seemed odd to me. I guess the mom in me would want to shield it/cover it so it wouldn't be seen/ exposed but now I can see why.

 

[Ghostwheel]

Look at the hole. It is not well worn. It did not come off of something that the person who owned it wore every day or used every day. It might have been carried in a pocket, the finish is bit worn.

The three marks look like they were made before it was stained or finished. It appears to be rosewood, but that is a guess. It is definitely hand made, as it is crooked.

Looking at the base, with the chips in the wood, it was made by the owner, by a good friend or relative of the owner, or came from a very cheap import place. Not likely made by a professional unless it is very old and has been refinished (I can't see well enough to know).

The back finish does look worn.

 

[Dr. Know?]

What is the zig zag on what I assume is the back of the cross?

https://www.facebook.com/westminste...7378734305.523602.141296864304&type=3&theater

 

[Nore]

Hi All, I have been trying to read here everyday and have only posted once in the beginning. I am wondering if the three lines that are etched in the cross have any significance...such as how man victims or attempts that were made.
Also, I would imagine this cross would have dna. I wear a cross and constantly fiddle with it with my hands and fingers. I don't know if a man would do the same.
Just throwing in my thoughts on the cross and yes that particular cross gives me the creeps.

------------
Hi All, does this look "Goth" to anyone else? When I worked at the store I saw a few similiar to this one.:seeya:

 

[izzyblizzy]

Well I guess if he lives up the canyon he wouldn't need to, but the road doesn't lead to anywhere. If he came from town, he'd have to turn around to get back into town.

82nd? Although it isn't a road I have ever traveled I believe it comes out at highway 93 on one side and Indiana on the other side.

 

[cindersoot]

The zig zag pattern is a popular decoration in Southeast Asian art.

 

[nursebeeme]

“Authorities are looking for someone who may carry or wear this type of cross, may have recently purchased one of these, or is known to have some association with one,” Materasso says.
They’re also looking for a local business that sells this cross.

http://kdvr.com/2012/10/19/police-s...-that-could-lead-to-jessica-ridgeways-killer/

 

[cindersoot]

That zig zag pattern on the back of the cross could also represent the fallen Trinity. Notice the lines at different angles now. On the front they are straight.

 

[SapphireSteel]

This guy's having a fun old time.

:furious:

He didn't leave it there accidentally in my opinion, and the three notches are just that... He's telling LE he has 3 victims...but who?

:dunno:

 

[foxbluff]

I don't see our "Super Bee Mod" on site... could somebody please TAG this thread re: cross ??!! TIA

ETA: I now see our Mod is onboard!!

 

[absentia]

http://kdvr.com/2012/10/19/police-s...-that-could-lead-to-jessica-ridgeways-killer/

why a local store when there's internet shopping?