Police link abduction of Jessica Ridgeway, jogger attack

By The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 23, 2012

WESTMINSTER — Police say the abduction and killing of a 10-year-old Westminster girl is linked to the attempted abduction of a jogger earlier this year.

Westminster investigator Trevor Materasso said Monday that police have established a connection. He wouldn’t discuss the details about why they think there’s a link, including whether the same person was involved in Jessica Ridgeway’s abduction and the attempted abduction of a 22-year-old woman jogging at Ketner Lake over Memorial Day weekend.

A man grabbed the jogger from behind and placed a rag over her mouth that had a chemical smell. She escaped.

The lake is less than a half mile from Jessica’s home. Jessica disappeared after leaving for school on Oct. 5. Her body was found five days later in a field at a park in Arvada.