Teen arrested in Ridgeway murder

The person arrested in the abduction and killing of a 10-year-old girl in suburban Denver and attempted kidnapping of a runner is a teenage boy, police said in a news conference Wednesday.

The suspect is 17-year-old Austin Reed Sigg, and his mother said she helped him turn himself in.

Westminster police say they made the arrest after getting a tip that led them to a home Tuesday night. The home is about five miles from Jessica Ridgeway’s.

Jessica disappeared Oct. 5 and her body was found five days later in a field in a park.

The break comes two days after police said Jessica’s abduction was linked to the attempted abduction of a 22-year-old runner in May at another park, the Ketner Lake Open Space. Police say their tip led them to a home near that park, which is close to Jessica’s school.

Sigg is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one kidnapping charge as it relates to the Jessica Ridgeway case, according to our sister station KRDO. He is also charged with one count of criminal attempt murder and one count of criminal attempt kidnapping in relation to the May Ketner Lake case. Official filing of charges are forthcoming, authorities said.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Sigg’s mother told The Associated Press he turned himself in.

“I made the phone call, and he turned himself in. That’s all I have to say,” said Mindy Sigg before she broke down in tears and hung up the phone.