The Westminster, Colorado, community can begin to breathe a sigh of relief with the news of an arrest in the Jessica Ridgeway case.

Austin Reed Sigg, a local 17-year-old, was arrested for the October 5, 2012, abduction and subsequent murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. Although innocent until proven guilty, an AP report says that the young man's mother made the call that led Sigg to turn himself over to police. She had no other comment.

In a news conference today, police announced that Sigg would be charged in the abduction and murder of Jessica and also in the attempted abduction and attempted murder of a 22-year-old runner on May 28 of this year. His home, in the area of both crimes, is currently being searched for forensic evidence and a vehicle has been removed from the garage. Police are also searching a Dumpster across the street from Sigg's home. Most of the evidence used as a basis for the arrest is sealed by court order.

If after reading details and seeing Sigg's picture you have more information to report, please contact police:

Tip line: 303-658-4336
Email: PDamberalert@cityofwestminster.us

Even though steps are being completed by the criminal justice system, these crimes are not done for these families or for this community. Especially since horrible crimes were committed against a child, adults will need to continue to provide support.

In How to Talk with Children in the Aftermath of Violence, Scott Hirschfeld explains these steps:

1. Validate feelings
2. Listen first
3. Respond honestly
4. Encourage non-violence
5. Avoid violent imagery
6. Limit media consumption
7. Focus on what's important
8. Counter bias and hate
9. Watch for warning signs

Hirschfeld suggests seeking assistance from a doctor or mental health professional if a child exhibits these symptoms: difficulty sleeping, trouble eating, fear of routine activities, refusal to separate from family members, or changed behavior that may be aggressive or withdrawn.

Some questions will be answered by the continuing investigation, some will not. Best wishes to the family, friends and community of Jessica Ridgeway. Let us continue to put our best foot forward in every missing child case. Hopefully few families and neighborhoods will have do deal with such extreme fear and grief.

Related stories:

Westminster Police arrest 17-year-old Austin Sigg in Jessica Ridgeway abduction, murder case, The Denver Channel.com Oct. 24, 2012.

Arrest Made in Ridgeway Case, Westminster Police Department Public Safety News: Oct. 24, 2012.

Purple was 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway's favorite color. Purple balloons and flowers now decorate memorials for the recent murder victim. Although hundreds searched for her, they were unable to rescue her from the hands of a monster. Now all efforts must be directed toward capturing and prosecuting her killer.

Jessica left for school on the morning of October 5, 2012. She never arrived. Hundreds of private citizens in her Westminster, Colorado, community joined authorities to search for her. Sadly, they did not find her alive. This is a time line of some of the steps taken to find Jessica and now to find her killer:

• Jessica left for school in Westminster, CO, 8:30 AM 10-5-2012
• Jessica's mother, who works nights, slept through calls from the school, 10-5-2012
• Jessica's mother reported her daughter missing, 4:30 PM 10-5-2012
• Amber Alert issued, evening 10-5-2012
• Family involvement was ruled out, 10-6-2012
  
• Fliers distributed and 100s of volunteers assisted authorities in search, 10-6-2012
• Dive team went on Ketner Lake, 10-6-2012
• Jessica's backpack found in Superior, CO, 6.4 miles NW of her home, 10-7-2012
• Neighbors held a vigil for missing girl. Family talked to media, 10-9-2012
• An unidentified body was found in Arvada, CO, SW of Jessica's home, 10-10-2012
• Crisis Center opened in Westminster, CO, 10-11-2012
• Officials verify that the murdered body was Jessica Ridgeway, 10-12-2012
• A celebration of Jessica Ridgeway's life, 2 PM 10-13-2012
• Memorial service held, 10-16-2012
• Autopsy performed, 10-16-2012

Next, society needs to continue to pursue the murderer and bring that person to justice. When Jessica's body was found, police described it as being "not intact." It took two days to positively identify the young girl who had just wanted to go to school. As Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk announced at an October 12 press conference, "Our focus has changed from a search for Jessica to a mission of justice for Jessica." (Denver Post 10-12-2012)

If you traveled through the Denver area, especially along the Denver Boulder Turnpike, between October 5 and October 10, 2012, try to recall anything suspicious and report it to the Westminster Police tip line: 303-658-4336.

What to Do if Your Child is Missing (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
On the trail of a killer (Denver Post, 10-13-2012)
Jessica Ridgeway killing: Police look for suspect in two near-abductions (ABC News, 10-15-2012)
A girl's neighbors are left to grieve and fear a predator in their midst (New York Times, 10-16-2012)
3,000 embrace memories, smiles of slain 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway (Denver Post, 10-17-2012)