North Jeffco
Westsider
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 41
October 19, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Focus turns from search to justice Police ask for community’s help with finding Jessica Ridgeway’s killer By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Arvada Police Officer Dave Glynn removes a barrier for a resident to pass through Oct. 11 at a roadblock set up at 82nd Avenue, west of Quaker Street. Arvada and Westminster authorities, as well as the FBI, conducted an investigation of a body discovered about one mile away from the roadblock. Photo by Andy Carpenean
A search and rescue effort turned into a homicide investigation when the body found near Pattridge Park Open Space Park in Arvada was officially identified as 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway of Westminster. The tragic news was announced late Friday afternoon by the Westminster Police Department. “Our focus has changed from the search for Jessica to a mission of justice for Jessica,” said Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk. “We realize there is a predator at large in our community.” The body, found on Wednesday, Oct. 10, was not intact, making an initial iden-
tification difficult. Police and the FBI ask for the community’s help in finding the suspect. FBI Denver spokesman Dave Joly said the agency is using its Behavioral Analysis Unit in the search for a suspect. The mission of the unit Ridgeway is to provide behaviorallybased operational support for complex and sensitive cases. Resources are focused on crimes perpetrated against child victims, including abductions and mysterious disappearances of children. “People need to be looking for abnormal behavior, or changes in behavior since Jessica’s disappearance,” Joly said. “It can be something as simple as shaving of the face, or change in hair color. It could also be a behavior change like someone parking in the garage when they always parked in the driveway.” Ridgeway continues on Page 5
Community gathers to honor Jessica’s memory Nearly a thousand unite to commemorate girl’s life, join efforts to seek justice By Darin Moriki
dmoriki@ourcoloradonews.com Nearly a thousand people stood under cloudy skies and pouring rain to say goodbye to a girl most of them never met. Community members, search volunteers and authorities gathered Saturday to celebrate the life of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway with a balloon release at American Furniture Warehouse, 10455 Sheridan Blvd. Later that night, people also gathered for a candlelight vigil at Westminster City Park, 9410 Wadsworth Parkway. The events took place the day after police announced DNA tests identified the girl’s remains found in Pattridge Park Open Space Park in Arvada Oct. 10. Jessica was last seen alive walking to school on Oct. 5. Christi Smith and four other Thornton residents brought a single heart or star-shaped mylar balloon in Jessica’s favorite color — purple. Around 2:15 p.m., the crowd released its balloons and watched as they dotted the grey sky above them. “This is our community, this is our town and these are our kids,” Smith said as she fought back tears. “They are not property to be taken. No parent should have to bury their child.” A. Bunt, who lives several blocks away from the Ridgeway family’s home, said she has been involved in the search for Jessica for nearly a week and wanted to stand in solidarity for the girl’s family. “I’m very proud of my communi-
Nakita Dvorburg, and sisters Molly and Emma Grencik, hold candles during a candlelight vigil for Jessica Ridgeway at Westminster City Park Saturday night. Photo by Andy Carpenean ty,” Bunt said. “Yes, I hope her killer is caught. Yes, I hope her killer is brought to justice. It’s atrocious. It’s just sad that it takes something like this to bring people together. Resident Kimberly Bowman, who
helped to organize the balloon release through the Jessica Ridgeway Facebook memorial page she created, said the outpouring of support that she and other volunteers received was amazing. “The people of Arvada and West-
‘Though I had never met Jessica, she has strengthened me in ways that I could have ever imagined.’ Kimberly Bowman, resident
minster are incredible, and I knew they would rally,” Bowman said. “Though I had never met Jessica, she has strengthened me in ways that I could have ever imagined, and that is something that I will always hold with me.”
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