Jessica Ridgeway Case: Body Found In Arvada Positively Identified As 10-Year-Old Missing Colorado Girl

Photos of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway were released earlier this week by the Westminster Police Department in addition to flyers and a homemade video with the hope that if more people see the fifth-grader's facial features, mannerisms and hear her voice, it might lead to her being recognized and located.

Investigators at a Friday press conference said that they have positively identified the body that was found on Thursday as 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway.

"There is a predator at large in our community," said Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk, adding that the FBI is continuing to work with them to bring the perpetrator to justice.

"We can not afford to jeopardize this investigation. Be mindful of the impact on Jessica's family," said Jim Yacone with the FBI.

Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey thanked the media but reminded them that law enforcement's first priority would be to bring Jessica's abductor and murderer to justice.

"The most important thing we can do now is the investigation, the apprehension and the prosecution of the person who did this. Bringing the person to justice," Storey said. Then, addressing the media, "As a result, we will not be talking to you, we will not be answering questions."

"We will not rest until this person is caught," Trevor Materasso, Westminster Police Department spokesperson, said at the news conference.

Soon after the news conference, Gov. John Hickenlooper reacted to the news via statement:

This is an unthinkable end to an unthinkable crime in our community. It is with a profound sense of sorrow that we learned of Jessica Ridgeway’s death. On behalf of all of Colorado, we offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends. The Colorado Department of Public Safety and other federal, state and local agencies involved in the case will continue to provide all of the support they can as the investigation continues.

Jessica was last seen on Friday, Oct. 5th around 8:30 a.m. making the three-block-walk to Chelsea Park where she usually meets a group of friends to walk to school with, but authorities say she never made it that far.

On Sunday, investigators say they found a backpack and water bottle believed to be Jessica's in the town of Superior, about six miles away from where she was last seen. The water bottle had her name on it and investigators are pursuing leads.

An Amber Alert went out late Friday night and the Westminster Police Department said that the FBI joined search efforts that same night.

One of Colorado's state criteria for issuing an Amber Alert is that the child must be in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death and on Wednesday, investigators said they were confident that Jessica's parents were not involved in her disappearance.

However, Westminster Police say that they got a late start searching for Jessica because her mother--who works the graveyard shift--hadn't realized she was missing since she slept through calls made from the school when Jessica didn't show.

Her mother said she arrived home at 7:30 a.m. and last saw Jessica around 8:30 a.m. when she watched her start walking to the park.

Jessica's parents gave tearful interviews to the media on Wednesday.

"I want her to come walking back through that door," Jessica's mother Sarah Ridgeway, told KUSA-TV in Denver. "I need her to come walking back through that door."

On Thursday police said they were focusing their attention on an unknown suspect and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit released a list of possible behaviors Jessica's abductor might be exhibiting.

According to a profile detailed by the FBI's BAU, the suspect is likely a male and may be exhibiting changes in their behavior since last Friday when Jessica was first reported missing:

• Often, someone in the community will unknowingly be associated with the offender of the crime, and may be in a position to observe behavioral changes in that person. They will recognize the changes, and may even question the person about it, but may not relate the changes to that person’s involvement in the crime.
• Immediately following the incident, he may miss work. The absence will be sudden and unplanned. He may either be a “no show” or he may offer a plausible excuse such as illness, death in the family, car trouble, etc.
• He may miss scheduled appointments/commitments and be unaccounted for during this period. These appointments/commitments may include such things as medical appointments, meetings with a probation officer, prior commitment to a friend or family member, drug test, etc.
• He may suddenly leave town, either with no explanation or with some plausible reason.
• This individual may express an intense interest in the status of this investigation and pay close attention to the media. However, some offenders may quickly turn off media accounts or try to redirect conversations concerning the victims or their families.
• There may be changes in the usual consumption of alcohol and/or drugs.
• He may make a change in his appearance or alter something to prevent identification, such as changing the look of his vehicle, clean or discard his vehicle.

Loading Slideshow

• Missing School Girl

  This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. Police in Westminster are looking for a 10-year-old girl who was last seen walking to school. Jessica Ridgeway normally meets a friend at a park on her way to Witt Elementary School, but she didn’t make it to the park or school Friday Oct. 5, 2012. An Amber Alert has been issued. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department)

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• 150105_10151341575584305_1291829664_n

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  Via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151340500824305.521112.141296864304&type=1">Westminster PD's Facebook page</a>.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Department released new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. The picture is dated June 25th, 2011.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is dated July 6, 2006.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo of Jessica is dated July 13, 2006.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Jessica Ridgeway

  The Westminster Police Dept. provided <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-PD/141296864304">new photos of missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on their Facebook page</a> Tuesday. Jessica has been missing since Friday Oct. 5th. This photo is undated.

• Arvada Police spokeswoman Jill McGranahan, left, and Westminster Police spokesman Trevor Materasso, right, address the media regarding a body found lat Wednesday in Parttridge Park in Arvada during a press conference at the Westminister Police Department Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 in Westminister, Colo. The search missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway will continue, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Missing School Girl

  A police officer walks through a field of tall grass searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Missing School Girl

  Denis McLaughlin leads his search and rescue dog through a field of tall grass searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Missing School Girl

  Members of a search and rescue team use a dog while searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Missing School Girl

  A member of a search and rescue team leads his dog through a field of tall grass searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Missing School Girl

  A Westminster police officer sits in her partrol car at the home of ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Missing School Girl

  A missing poster for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway is seen in Broomfield, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

• Arvada Police spokeswoman Jill McGranahan, left, and Westminster Police spokesman Trevor Materasso, right, address the media regarding a body found lat Wednesday in Parttridge Park in Arvada during a press conference at the Westminister Police Department Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 in Westminister, Colo. The search missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway will continue, police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Police search near an area where a body was found Wednesday in Parttridge Park, in Arvada, Colo., during the ongoing search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Police are not saying whether the body found is linked to the missing girl case and noted Thursday that officers are still searching for Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Police search near an area where a body was found Wednesday in Parttridge Park, in Arvada, Colo., during the ongoing search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Police are not saying whether the body found is linked to the missing girl case and noted Thursday that officers are still searching for Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Police search near an area where a body was found Wednesday in Parttridge Park, in Arvada, Colo., during the ongoing search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Police are not saying whether the body found is linked to the missing girl case and noted Thursday that officers are still searching for Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Police search near an area where a body was found Wednesday in Parttridge Park, in Arvada, Colo., during the ongoing search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Police are not saying whether the body found is linked to the missing girl case and noted Thursday that officers are still searching for Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

• Police search near the 9800 block of Alkire St. on the west side of Stanley Lake in Arvada, Colo., during the ongoing search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Police are not saying whether a body found in Pattridge Park on Wednesday is linked to the missing girl case and noted Thursday that officers are still searching for Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)