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Barry Gutierrez / AP
Police search near the 9800 block of Alkire St. on the west side of Stanley Lake in Arvada, Colo., on Thursday. Police are not saying whether a body found in Pattridge Park on Wednesday is linked to the disappearance of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway.
A body found in Arvada, Colo., during the search for missing schoolgirl Jessica Ridgeway is "not intact," delaying the official identification of the remains, police said Thursday.
AP
Jessica Ridgeway disappeared while making the short walk to school Friday.
Westminster Police spokesman Trevor Materasso said police have not tied the discovery of the body to the search for the missing girl, however, they hope to have a positive ID on the body by Friday.
The body was removed from Pattridge Park in Arvada -- an area dotted with abandoned coal mines about five miles southwest of Westminster -- by police just before 9 p.m. Wednesday (11 p.m. ET).
Authorities said Wednesday that they believed Jessica, a fifth-grader with blond hair and glasses who loves math and gym class, had been abducted. She disappeared Friday on what should have been a short walk to school in Westminster.
In their search for Jessica, police have dismissed any connection to several related cases.
In one, police in Portsmouth, N.H., said there was no link between an abandoned car with a Colorado license plate found at a Walmart and the investigation into Jessica’s disappearance. Instead, police said the car belongs to a woman who recently moved from Colorado to New Hampshire, and she parked at the Walmart because she doesn’t have parking at her home.
In another, police said they were investigating whether Jessica’s case might be related to that of another girl who was abducted for several hours Monday in Cody, Wyo.
Police explore link between missing Colorado girl and Wyoming abduction
Police discover human remains during a search for a missing Colorado girl. NBC's Jay Gray reports.
In that case, a man lured the 11-year-old girl into a sport utility vehicle, saying he needed help finding his puppy. The girl was released four hours later and was discovered by hunters. Police there are looking for a white man, between 55 and 60 years old, with short, strawberry-blond or white hair and a neatly trimmed mustache.
Westminster police spokeswoman Karlyn Tilley noted there is "no specific connection" between Jessica's disappearance and the Wyoming case. "It's just like everything else they're looking at," Tilley said Wednesday. "They just don't want to leave any stone unturned."
Adding to the mystery was a reported sighting more than 2,000 miles away in Dexter, Maine.
A woman reported seeing a girl who looked like Jessica on Sunday, in a blue Buick station wagon with Colorado plates. Authorities issued a statewide alert for officers to stop any blue Buick station wagons with Colorado plates, Dexter police Sgt. Alan Grinnell said.
Citizens also have passed on tips from Maryland, Texas and Nevada, Materasso said.
In Colorado, the parents of a missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway open up for the first time since their daughter disappeared on her way to school. They vow to "never stop looking." NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
Police release new photos, video in search for missing Colorado girl
Backpack, water bottle found
Police in the Denver suburb of Westminster repeatedly have urged the public to study the details of Jessica’s face in a photo — a small, gap-toothed grin, a slight bruise on her nose — and a short home video, in hopes they may have seen something or come across the girl.
The only real clue police have revealed is the discovery over the weekend of a backpack and water bottle that Jessica had with her when she disappeared.
The items were found in the town of Superior, some six miles from her home. Police won't discuss what was found in the bag or testing results on it.
The search for Jessica went national, thanks in part to social media and a Facebook page set up to help find the girl.
"Do your good deed of the day and retweet Jessica's photo," hundreds of Tweets urged Wednesday.
Kathryn Scott Osler / The Denver Post via AP
After giving the interview, Jessica's mother Sarah Ridgeway and father, Jeremiah Bryant, embrace at the Westminster Police Department Tuesday.
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OH-MY-GOD!!! Watch the interview with the mother and father. The father cannot keep his composure, the mother is rather matter-of-fact, and nearly has to force emotion. For me, something stinks @!$%#.........Sure looks to this armchair detective that mama's got some 'splaining to do.....
BTW, This is an OPINION and COMMENT forum, which means I can post my thoughts just as freely as anyone else.
I couldn't agree with you more!!! Although the Mother appears to be crying.....there are no tears..... That always makes me suspect!!! She doesn't have "snot" running down her face. Her face isn't puffy and blotched from days of crying. What evidence could the policy be taking from her home??? Hmmmmmm
As dazed and confused said...JUST MY OPINION
The mother's reaction may appear to be matter-of-fact and seemingly without emotion, but you can't judge by that. I am much the same in the face of extreme stress or tragedy. I tend to shut down until well after the incident is over and then literally fall to pieces. I just hope that, whatever the outcome, the person responsible for the abduction of Jessica is found and brought to swift and severe justice.
@lawful1 I aplaud your ability to be able to appear calm in the face of one of your children missing and presumed kidnapped. Any parent who loves their children and has been in the same position would not be so matter-of-fact. I lost my young daughter in the mall, for a few minutes, and was nearly inconsolable. However, there are other subtle signs that the mother is not as upset as one would think. Watch her body language, like why is she looking around so much, and not into the camera?
Good post dazed and confused-2122889 See it should not matter what you write for your comment. We come here to comment about our own OPINION on the. We do not come here to get CRITICIZED for how we think so if you do not like someones comment then deal with it Because it does no good to Degrade them for there own personal opinion, remember just because someone likes coke does not mean you have to hate them because you like Pepsi....
Ever hear of "shock"? "Denial"? "Extreme stress"? Look them up in the dictionary.
lawful - I am much like you. When things are bad, I bottle it up & appear stoic. Then when I am alone, something will trigger & I fall apart.
Have to agree with you. There's something just off about the way she acts in the video. This is why I have a very bad feeling that, as much as I wish against it, we won't see a good outcome to this story.
This is not judgement on the family. The fault lies on the evil choice of the one who did this to her. But as a parent of two children, living in this day and time, you do not let your children walk alone, you always keep your phone by you for a call from their school, no matter what. There are things we need to do as parents to help keep our children safe. They may seem overprotective, but who cares, if it prevents something like this from happening. How many times do we watch the news about a little girls being taken walking to or from school? It's just not worth taking the chance with their lives.
To the victim's family and friends;
"May you find some comfort in the memories of little Jessica life" You will never quit hurting, hopefully through time you feel the hurt less often.
To the community;
Pressure Gov. Hickenlooper & our Legislature to take a serious look at Jessica's Law. Become involved & examine the current law and make it better where possible. Possibly, by requiring in cases where there is not a Capital Offense involved, the defendant to trial and sentencing by a jury of his/her peers only (No Judicial Activism and or Restraint)
To Parents;
Educate yourself in ways to minimize the risk of this happening and ways of self-preservation if it does, so you can teach your children.
To the Perpetrator;
You are a very sick POS and we do not need your seed in the gene pool!!!! Hope your judgement day comes soon for Jessica's family and friend's sake.
There is no rehab for child molesters. They can be locked up for 50 years but the day they get out, they will do it again. It should be a mandatory life sentence for first time offenders. I would love to say give them the death sentence but I'm trying to be realistic here. It seems as though our judicial system seems to tolerate this crime and feel sorry for the criminal. I agree with old hat, let the public witness a few hangings and if you don't want to see it, then don't go. I will be on the front row eating popcorn and drinking beer while his neck snaps. So much for being realistic.
To the family I hope and pray that your little girl will be found, alive and well. This is a message to parents. Don't trust anyone with your children. DO NOT allow your children to walk alone. One momentary lapse in judgement is all it takes for a child to never come home again. I know that times have changed. There are predators out there, and they roam this earth seeking whom they may devour. It breaks my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I pray to bring this angel home. Father, mother. Keep your resolve and be strong.
This sort of thing happens everyday here in America and around the world. Usually the courts are very harsh on child killers. Back in the early 1970's a little girl was killed in my small town in Texas. The killer was soon found and within months was on trial. After the guilty verdict was read he was kept in the county courthouse for a short while before being moved to state maximum security. He never made it. Some prisoners killed him in the county courthouse. Beat the hell of of the dude with hammers. Justice served.
Mit Robme knew this was gouing to happen to someone sometime. Why did he not provide better security ?
STFU jerk!
Time and Place. Someone always wants to make a joke or political stance. Give it a rest already. Child discovered dead in a field, and someone wants to clown around. Grow up, you have nothing to add to this thread, take your comments to craigslist....
dandli, you make a joke about this poor girl & her family, your a fuking insect.
I just wanna F-this guy up. I mean beat the hell out of him. And not stop.
after seen videos and pictures of this lost girl's mother, now that explains why she got lazy to walk her daughter 3 blocks where this little girl was going to meet with another classmate to walk to school.
Shame on you
She works the midnight shift. She stays awake and see's her off. Just because she is overweight does not mean she is lazy.
Until the "Justice for Sale" system stops practicing catch and release on pedophiles and rapists we will see this more often. If there is little or no repercussion for the abuse of our children there will be no reason for these animals to restrain themselves. I suggest a 1 strike and you're out law, as my sisters think I shouldn't advocate death because it is not politically correct.
These perps lack the ability to empathize with the feeling of others, & there are indications they have none of their own. Still the crave the opportunity to exert power over others, so naturally they become serial criminals, money managers, lawyers, & there, at the bottom, the worst of the worst go to Congress.
Is it just me or is this kind of national attention reserved for pretty, blond, white girls? If they're not all 4, they have to be shot by the Taliban to get this kind of coverage.
In my prayers for Jessica, I'm including all of the other missing children, even those who aren't pretty, blond, white, & girls. Please do the same.
Yea, im thinking its just you. Miss the story about the little black girl gunned down in Chicago? The story of the little black boy beaten to death in Texas? The little native american boy missing on the reservation? I'm thinking you might need to pay more attention to the news and what all is out there.
I will agree with you. Pray for the return of all missing chilren and the swift punishment of all those who would prey on the most innocent of us all.
This very sad. Makes me want to say my God why? I just stared at the little girl's pic; brought tears to my eyes. I have a 10 year old little girl. I do not know what I would do if I were ever in a situation like this. My heart goes out to this family.
Sad. Very sad. :'(
Yeah, like I guess GOD was too busy doing other things. Why wasn't he there to protect this child from some crazied lunitic? Guess we will never know. Now people are posting that they hope she is in God's loving arms!! Please, too late for that.
See. I can understand your frustration. I won't go into length about it. Im pretty sure you wouldnt read it all anyway. So Ill give the short version. God gave humans free will. We are allowed to make our own choices. Regardless of the choice. So if God were to step down and stop every bad person from doing something bad then that would be removing the free will that he gave us. I know you and others reading this are getting ready to blast me. So I will close now. No need to waste the words.
In the end. I do pray that this child is in the arms of The Father. I hope that one day her earthly father will get to see her smiling face again. Do not hate me or curse me for my faith. Allow me and all others who have a heart and soul and/or faith to mourn the loss of this poor angel. To also pray for our country. To also bring swift and draconian justice upon this creature.
This world is full of monsters and people like these should be executed right away even before going for a trial. They have no right to live on this planet !
And when you're arrested, shimlailu?
Hey since the criminals cant live on this planet Lets send the girls to Jupiter to get more stupider and send the boys to Venus and cut of there penis.. Don't read it sing it..
It might just work.
666 & 3' whats wrong with you two.
For the people faulting the mom for going to bed, this girl is 10 she is old enough to walk a couple of blocks by herself. This mom was providing for her family and you would be the same ones complaining if she was on welfare but then she would have been able to be awake as her child went to school. Sadly there are sickos out there that will hurt children and we have to be the eyes and ears for everyones kids as they walk to school and play in the neighborhoods. There is no cure for the perverts that harm children and I am sick of hearing how when they are released and want no restrictions on where they live and who they are around, what kind of people advocate for these pukes, they should be branded so all know who they are, they are only "cured" until the next opportunity comes for them to hurt another child. As for my grandchildren I will always get them after school while their mom works even though they only live 2 blocks from their school but this is not how it should be, they should be safe wherever they are.
I put a bench on my front porch, just to sit there & practice with my guitars. The effect has been wonderful. The neighborhood kids are safe, & everyone knows it. Women too. The drug dealers who tried to move in, moved on. Vandals, reckless drivers, & all manner of potential troublemakers got so tired of checking the bench they gave up & went elswwhere.
Try it, you'll be glad you did.
You will be accused of "Watching little girls" yourself if your not careful. Don't be the victim of a drive by either. Criminals don't like people interferring with their business.
@gramgigi
Ok we will see what you say if/when one of you kids is kidnapped on the way to school when they are 10 years old. But Thats your opinion and if you think a 10 year old can be safe by themselves then Thats ok for you.
So if your girl/boy is kidnapped at 10 years old walking to school your fine with that.
Im lost...
I don't know what's worse. Authorities looking for a missing child.
Or authorities looking for a missing child, and come across another body and not even sure if it's the person they're looking for.
It's just plain sad.
Amen brother, amen.
There are two girls (11 and 9 year old cousins) missing since July from a small town in Iowa. Their bicycles and a purse were found not far from where they live. I hope law enforcement is looking at the possibility this could be related as well. Child abductors and serial killers do move from state to state. I hope and pray that all the girls missing will be found alive and well.
Something tells me this is Obama's fault...
Well, we knew some fool would get around to it eventually.
Not a good idea to leave your children unattended in this day and time.
The system is full of too many sex offenders.
Until we're ready to jail them permanently when we catch them it's a good idea to watch your kids closely.
Not just kids, but young attractive women.
The sad part is, this has ALWAYS happened, and in greater numbers than you would ever realize. I've survived that life, trust me. People didn't mention it, didn't speak of it - there wasn't the 24 hour in your face news to show every selacious piece of news. NO. you can't hover over your children constantly. I"m sorry, you're raising a bunch of dependent, thin skinned, everyone wins, noone is imperfect prodgeny. Where do think this "type" of behaviour comes from? No Consequences, No limits, No line to cross to get punishement, and no punishement.
Golden Rule: ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES... Harm a child like that - as a SURVIVOR, don't expect me to let you live.
So basically your sayin if your son/daughter get kidnapped raped beat up shot then ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Im sure your going to say see I told you so you deserved it.... there is a difference between hoovering over your kids and watching them so they can be safe...But thats my OPINION...
I feel for your kids...
Point is - SEX offenders, Especially Child Sex Offenders, should never have the opportunity to see the day of light ever again!!! They gave up their rights when they took the rights away from their victims innocent!!!! I just don't understand where the common sense has gone? I've heard of crimes such as embezzlement & tax evasions that sometimes are punishable with no possiblility of parole? But if your crime is raping a child you have the chance to do be free & do it again?!?!?!?! WTF?!?!?! You can't change someone's sexual preferance. And if you're an adult & fancy little children, you're f#@ked in the head & should be put away!!! You serve no use to society......at all.
Please let this little girl be alive!
Suspend the cruel and unusual punishment rule for killers of children. It seems the only way to deter these heartless people would be to make the punishment so horrible that no one would ever consider hurting an innocent child!
Answer to the music man. When arrested, it should be execution if found guilty.
Oh man this story makes me so sad. There are definitely monsters among us.
But not the mother who beat and glued her two year old to the wall....She SAID she isn't a monster....
Oh man this story makes me so sad. There are definitely monsters among us.
It is so unfortunate in this day and age that a child cannot simply walk to the corner for the bus. I remember my parents and grandparents talking about when they were children, it was such a different time. Very depressing that I cannot allow my child to play in the backyard without intense supervision. What a sick world with sick people.
I cannot say that I hope that this isn't the little girls' body that was found. That just means someone else out there also lost a child.
Find the POS, we need to bring back public hanging and guillotines for scum like this.
Pedophilia isn't something new. Unfortunately, children were abducted/molested back in your parents' and grandparents' days, too. The only difference is now we live in the information age, and it is easier to find out what is happening in every little town across the country.