Thursday, October 11, 2012

Jessica Ridgeway Body Found

A body has been found 6 miles from the home of Jessica Ridgeway in which police refuse to say if it is Jessica.

There are many questions remaining, including why a mother would not drive her child to school, at age 10, knowing what we all know about the breakdown of society and the dangers.

At age 10, it appears she had to walk almost a mile and a half round trip.  How is this safe?

Statement analysis of Sarah Ridgeway indicated sensitivity regarding her phone and the walking out the door.  Analysis also indicated neglect and parentification.


No matter how many cases our nation hears of, the message does not get through.  A little girl of 10 years of age should not have been walking to school.


Colorado police have found a body in a field but say they do not yet know if it is linked to the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl last week. 
The news comes after authorities announced Wednesday they believe Jessica Ridgeway was abducted.
The case has seen a number of twists since Jessica vanished Friday on what should have been a short walk to school. Police initially said the public didn't need to fear a kidnapper, but then said they were investigating whether the case might be related to that of another girl who was abducted for several hours Monday in Wyoming, among other tips they received.
On Wednesday afternoon, authorities changed course more definitively, saying they believe Jessica was kidnapped by an "unknown suspect."
Adding to the mystery was a reported sighting more than 2,000 miles away in Maine in a car with Colorado license plates -- one of hundreds of leads being investigating from at least five states.
Amid it all, there's still no sign of Jessica, the fifth-grader with blond hair and glasses who loves math and gym class.
Police in the Denver suburb of Westminster repeatedly have urged the public to study the details of her face in a photo -- a small, gap-toothed grin, a slight bruise on her nose -- and a short home video, in hopes they may have seen something or come across the girl. They've thanked thousands of Coloradans and others for helping with a search they have insisted is focused on the area surrounding Jessica's home.
For days, police only hinted at the possibility of a kidnapping. But at a news conference Wednesday, Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said authorities believe the girl was abducted by an unknown suspect.
He also said the investigation's focus is not the girl's parents, who are cooperating. Jessica's mother lives Colorado, and her father lives in Missouri.
"We're confident they are not involved in Jessica's disappearance," Materasso said.
Just one day earlier, investigators organized, at police headquarters, a TV interview with Jessica's parents, Sarah Ridgeway of Westminster and Jeremiah Bryant of Independence, Mo. While it was being conducted, an FBI evidence team went into Jessica's home one more time for unspecified reasons.
The only real clue police have revealed is the discovery over the weekend of a backpack and water bottle that Jessica had with her when she disappeared. The items were found in the town of Superior, some 6 miles from her home. Police won't discuss what was found in the bag or testing results on it.
The search for Jessica went national, thanks in part to social media and a Facebook page set up to help find the girl.
"Do your good deed of the day and retweet Jessica's photo," hundreds of Tweets urged Wednesday.
In Dexter, Maine, 2,000 miles east, a woman reported seeing a girl who looked like Jessica on Sunday, in a blue Buick station wagon with Colorado plates. Authorities issued a statewide alert for officers to stop any blue Buick station wagons with Colorado plates, Dexter police Sgt. Alan Grinnell said.
Citizens also have passed on tips from Maryland, Texas and Nevada, Materasso said.
Also of interest: the abduction and assault of an 11-year-old girl Monday in Cody, Wyo., some 500 miles north.
In that case, a man lured the girl into a sport utility vehicle, saying he needed help finding his puppy. The girl was released four hours later and was discovered by hunters. Police there are looking for a white man, between 55 and 60 years old, with short, strawberry-blond or white hair and a neatly trimmed mustache.
Westminster police spokeswoman Karlyn Tilley noted there is "no specific connection" between Jessica's disappearance and the Wyoming case.
"It's just like everything else they're looking at," Tilley said Wednesday. "They just don't want to leave any stone unturned."
Police in neighboring Arvada earlier backed off a possible link between Jessica's disappearance and reports of a suspected predator approaching two children in the weeks before. Police said there was no evidence connecting the incidents.
On Wednesday, about 25 deputies arrived by bus and fanned out across Jessica's neighborhood, scouring bushes and front yards.
Divers again searched ponds in what Materasso described as a "precautionary measure." Police have isolated trash from Jessica's neighborhood at a landfill -- but will search there only if the investigation points them in that direction, Materasso said.
Critical was an initial delay in reporting Jessica missing. Many child abduction cases or Amber Alerts are resolved within hours of a report, as was the case in the Wyoming abduction Monday.
Sarah Ridgeway said her daughter woke up at 7:45 a.m. Friday as usual and ate a granola bar before leaving to meet friends at a park about a block away for their walk to Witt Elementary School. Police say Sarah Ridgeway, a night-shift worker, was asleep and missed a call from school reporting Jessica absent. She got the message when she woke at about 4 p.m., eight hours after she said her daughter left the house.
Sarah Ridgeway checked the park, Jessica's friends and the school before calling police. Jessica never even met her friends that morning.
Police also searched Bryant's home in Missouri, where Bryant was at work on Friday, before he traveled to Colorado to be with Jessica's family.
Court records indicate Bryant was ordered to pay Sarah Ridgeway $267 per month in child support in 2005. Bryant's grandmother, retired nurse Donna Moss, said the families have always been on good terms, and she saw Jessica about once a year.
Court records also show Bryant was sentenced this summer to supervised probation in a domestic assault case in Missouri. Information on the alleged victim wasn't immediately available.
The protracted search has concerned students and parents throughout the area. Jefferson County's school district urged parents of students to update their contact information as a first step "in determining any changes in our attendance practices."
"Jessica's disappearance has understandably created concern for the safety of all students," the district said in an email. "Please join us in helping to keep your children safe."


118 comments:

Apple said...

Since she was found, I hope justice is swift.

Vita said...

http://www.9news.com/video/9newsonline.aspx

Live Streaming right now, the body found, updating, 6AM News in Denver
Not confirmed this is Jessica

Eliza said...

So sad... I hope they find who did it soon!

Vita said...

Two Denver Stations, that will be airing Live Press Conference, Westminster PD * Updating Public, on body found, 9pm Wednesday night.


Air time, 8:30 AM Eastern *15 mins from now

http://www.9news.com/video/9newsonline.aspx

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news


This is beyond Sad

Vita said...

Last night, after the news broke of the body found, I was reading the tweets, with Jessica's tag, that were in the 100's incoming. Tweets from all over the nation.

Many were parents, grandparents that were tweeting their fears for their own children's safety. Stranger Danger, abduction being the fear.

I have never seen this in a school as a program. I did find this Program, on a website that is knowledge for all, Protect.org.

This is the Program, Radkids, I find it interesting. It is a volunteerism program as I see it, for public schools. They have instructor programs, offer endless suggestions for parents, teachers, children as well (on the website)

http://www.radkids.org/

What is the program for kids?

radKIDS® Curriculum topics include:

Home, School and Vehicle Safety
Out and About Safety
Realistic Defense Against Abduction
Good-Bad-Uncomfortable Touch and more.
Stranger Tricks (including Physical Defense against Abduction)
Self-realization of personal power

read more: http://www.radkids.org/ataglance.shtml

Reading a Mom's blog last night, Tweens, she has a daughter, she to feel anxious after the body found last night. She to feel helpless that her daughter has no busing in her area. That her daughter would be walking to school and or riding her bike. Not a MILE, though as Jessica was expected to walk unsupervised.

This would be a good program for Tweens. People cannot rely on the old rules of Stranger Danger. Shows like 20/20 have proven this. Setting up children with actors, the parents to watch on enclosed camera. Watching Susie comply to man who has said, he cannot find his puppy, he holding a empty collar dog leash. Susie doing whatever he asked of her. The mother watching to stop breathing and say " No, she knows better, I have told her 100 times, you do not talk to strangers..."

It doesn't work that way, as these " Strangers" know every manipulation to gain a child's instant trust.

Check out the website, Radkids. See it they have a program available for your area etc.
It's providing your child knowledge on what to do in the event of, taking them through ever scenario in the book, they with a coach acting as Stranger. Somethings gotta give. Our children should be safe within the perimeters of their homes, not the hunted.

Apple said...

Great points, Vita.

Vita said...

Apple, the one thing that a parent can do, is pound into their children's heads, over and over, till they become sick of hearing it. Broken records are heard.

Adults do not need Children to assist them, period. If an older person approaches you and say's Hey! can you help me? or say's Hey I am lost, as they sit in the car feet away, RED FLAG. Adults go to Adults for aid and assistance, not Children. This is one thing that I know sticks, keep saying it. Even when you hear your child reply to you, MOM stop! you know they get it, but don't stop saying it.

Vita said...

Evidently no Press Conference, or it was so short, it was not worth airing? Only update I have seen, on the Denver live streaming news, LE are not offering any information on the body found, and stated they will continue to search for Jessica Ridgeway.

Jo said...

Mom says Jessica got up at 7:45. She got the message at 4:00 - eight hours after Jessica left for school. That would mean Jessica was up and out the door in 15 minutes. Does that seem reasonable for a 10 year old? Also, mom just came off the night shift. Who was with Jessica overnight? If someone else was there with her overnight, what time did they leave the house? What time did mom get home from work that morning? Seems a lot of critical information about what happened and who was present in the last moments that Jessica was seen, has not been released.

Anonymous said...

I really wish the author of this article would exercise some restraint on his opinions of kids walking to school. It appears the author is trying to spin this story by his own emotions. I thought this was statement analysis, and not statement emotional reaction. According to the beliefs of this author, no child 10 or younger should ever walk to school becuase of "what we all know about the breakdown of society and the dangers".

Anonymous said...

At best, Jessica's mother is a piece of work.

Anonymous said...

How terribly sad, whoever the body turns out to be.

But surely walking to school, except in a bad neighborhood or where traffic constitutes a danger, is a good thing, far better than being ferried about by car, contributing to pollution and unfitness. The problems arise when a child is left to do it on their own at too young an age.

Pak31 said...

It is the author's blog and he should be able to voice his opinion. Whether you agree with it or not, his opinion is his opinion and it's not illegal to voice it. Restraint? It's about time we got angry about things like this. It's not fair that children are prey to sicko's out there but it is reality. If parents love their children and they are able to protect them then that is their duty and should be their desire. To each his own but I also agree that as a parent, it's your job to see that your child gets to their destination safely.

Pak31 said...

Here is what I don't understand. In the family interview, Jessica's mother describes in great detail how she watches her daughter do all of her morning routine, from start to finish, what a great child/student she is, she's the light of the house, etc. yet when she has to go to school it's out the door, into bed and phone downstairs. If she was as doting as she said she would then she'd take the extra 5 minutes to make sure her child meets up with the friends. Or drive her to school so that she knows in her mind that her daughter is where she's supposed to be. I just know I couldn't send my child at 10 out the door and then just go get in bed. To each his own. I don't know if she had anything to do with her disappearing. She never really made a plea to the abductor, never said that she loved her daughter, never shed a tear, spoke of her in the past tense and a family member had to keep correcting her, she even laughed a few times too. That isn't normal especially for the way SHE described their relationship. She didn't seem concerned all that much to me. SHe was focusing more on her story than anything else. She just may be a bad speaker but I personally feel she protrayed her relationship with her child as much more than it is. ALso, I thought she had to walk 3 blocks to her friends, now the article is saying one block. I'd like to learn more about her home life.

Jo said...

I am starting to wonder if mom came home from work and went to bed and didn't see Jessica off that morning. (or any morning) Is that why she provided so much detail about "watching" her come down the steps, eat a granola bar and walk out the door? Could all the sensitivity be around her lying about even seeing her that morning?

Anonymous said...

Pak31, I assumed that statement analysis is an unbiased analysis of the facts presented. I feel that when emotions are invloved it becomes more of an opinion, more of an editorial than an analysis based on facts. Nowhere did i mention the "legality" of having an opinion. I simply feel that when opinions and emotions are factored in it becomes more of "how can i interpret this information to reassure my personal beliefs". If statement analysis is to be respected as a scientific tool, then there should be no place for emotional opinions in it and should be based solely on the facts. Pak31 can you name a respected scientific discipline that values opionions and emotions?

Anonymous said...

RIP, Jessica. If only Jessica's "single, hard-working, college-applicant" mother had burned up some of those excess calories she so obviously is consuming by walking her pre-teen daughter to school, maybe none of this would have happened.

MizzMarple said...

Hello,

I have been trying to keep up with this case, but I have a couple of questions that I have not found the answers to:

1. Does Jessica have any siblings ?

2. Does the mother have a boyfriend / live-in ?

Thanks !

MizzMarple said...

Good points ... and I was wondering the same thing that since the mother works the "night shift", who stays home with Jessica when she is home sleeping ?

Did the mother leave her alone at night when she went to work ? Was there someone else living in the house ?

Anonymous said...

I read that she lived with her grandmother and aunt as well as her mom.

m

Jane said...

Give me a break. Jessica's murder was caused by her MURDERER, not her mom's obesity or "society's breakdown." Blame the right person.

MizzMarple said...

Thank You. So that would be Jessica plus 3 others in the home.

Has the grandmother and aunt spoken to the press ?

Anonymous said...

Jane.... if Mom had exercised some basic self-control (i.e. her need for food, need for sleep) and walked her vulnerable, pre-teen daughter to school, maybe none of this would have happened. Big Momma bears some responsibility

Unknown Quantity said...

They've confirmed the body is Jessica's. :(

Chipmunk said...

I agree with the comments about something is off with the mother. I have one question. Who was home with Jessica during the night. Make that 2 questions. If someone was with Jessica during the night, do they just leave when mom comes home? Why wasn't someone there to answer the phone?
God Bless You Jessiica

Lis said...

I think the mother must have a lot of guilt over having turned her phone off and missing those calls from the school. That will likely impact her statements.

I read that Jessica's grandmother watches her during the night. Jessica would walk to school with a group of children but she had to walk a short distance alone to get to the place they all met.

Anonymous said...

ok, folks.....next time Sarah Ridgeway is up at bat in front of the media, let's ask some basic questions:

#1 "Were you asked to take a police polygraph?" If so, did you, Sarah, take a polygraph?"
#2 If a polygraph was taken, what were the results?

As Sarah herself indicated in her media interview as she was surrounded by many family and friends "I understand if they need to eliminate me. Go ahead." So, Sarah, now that they have found Jessica's body, have you been eliminated as a chief suspect via police polygraph?

Theresa said...

Jessica's mother worked nights. Who watched Jessica at night while her mother was away? A 10 year old should not be left home alone, especially not all night, and it doesn't matter if she was asleep. So I'd like to know who was with Jessica. I have tried to find that info but have not.

IF I worked nights, and only saw my child for a few minutes before she walked to school and a few hours before I left for work, bet your buns I'd drive her to school. I would want to spend every second with her that I could!!!

If I let my 10 year old little girl walk to school, which... just would never happen, ever. BUT, if it did, I certainly would not let her leave and then leave my phone in a place that I would intentionally not hear it ring! What if it was something as simple as her daughter falling down and needing a ride the rest of the way? Or getting hit by a car? Stuff happens! I would never send my kid out and then leave my phone somewhere where it wouldn't bother me. No way, no how.

Jo said...

The "go ahead" just sounds like her being cocky with LE. Like she is daring them to try and find something. I would expect to hear more frustration as resources are being used to investigate her rather than look for her daughter.

Theresa said...

In fact, it says she is a night shift worker, but has it been confirmed that she worked Thursday night/Friday morning? Just because she is a night shift worker doesn't mean she was scheduled to work that shift. I just don't see anything in any articles saying that she was at work, came home, etc.

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen that. Westminster PD (who said they will be the only ones releasing information) has yet to give an update. The 630 am briefing gave no new information. They have officers and FBI out in full force scouring all neighboring areas (I'm guessing to search for more evidence? It seems that things were scattered around a certain radius).

Anonymous said...

They have yet to confirm the identity of the body, though its not hard to fear the worst. Regardless of if it is Jessica's, someone's loved one was dumped or left for dead in a field. Very sad.
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/293899/222/No-new-info-in-Jessica-case-after-body-found

Blaze said...

RIP Jessica, from your video I could tell you were well taken care of by all the adult women in your life...your mom, grandmother, and aunt. I'm glad they found you. I pray they find your murderer soon.

JoJo said...

Police have ruled out both parents as suspects. Mom obviously has tremendous guilt over the choices she made that day (and probably every day). Still no official word on identification of the body.

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/colorado/ci_21749630/jessica-ridgeway-search-westminster-police-wont-comment-body

BeccaBoo said...

My son is ten. We live 500 ft. from his school and barring bad weather he rides his bike to school. He is an active member of the kinder care program which means he helps get the kindergartners lined up and organized before school. So even though he doesn't have to be at school until 9:05, he leaves our home about 8:25, that way he is there for his"little buddies." His words, not mine. The yard monitors would call me by 8:40 if my son was not there. Does this all make me a terrible parent because I let him do these things?

MsCabinFever said...

It has been reported a couple of times now that she has not taken a polygraph. On NG last night, she said it was probably unnecessary since the FBI thoroughly searched her house (twice) & so it was probably not needed. The Mom herself said on one of our local news stations that she has not been polygraphed, but said something like she would I guess & I think she also said it wasn't necessary. I don't have her exact words though, sorry.

MsCabinFever said...

I wonder if Jessica had a cell or what she was taught to do if something came up that scared her, or if she needed help. I have a 15 yr old that I make take a cell to the market down the street & she has to call when she gets there, call when she leaves there, and also call if she feels anything is out of place or strange people approach her, etc.
At 10 yrs old though, I didn't let her walk to the store unless she was with her older brothers... I still just can't wrap my mind around it.
I have searched also & can not find any more information on who watches her at night ... If it was a sitter or relative, why wouldn't they just drop her off at school on the way?
The whole situation is just disturbing.
But her Mom said, she wouldn't hurt a hair on her teeny tiny little head ....

Jazzie said...

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/293899/222/LIVE-VIDEO-Missing-girl-update

I think I heard Westminster Police spokesperson Trevor Materasso say in the live feed that the body found was not in one piece. Live Press Conference allowed no questions. Was brief. Sorry I can't verify if that's what he actually said.

Anonymous said...

I haven't read the analysis of the mother's statement, but I would expect there to be immense feelings of guilt over not waking to take the school's phone calls, and about letting the child walk to school! In retrospect, both decisions were wrong ones!

However -- I think the mother's obesity also immediate biases most viewers against her and makes viewers immediately expect her to be neglectful of her daughter. Not blamin'. Just sayin'.

Additionally -- I walk my dog for 2 to 4 miles each day. A school is along our daily route (which is through a neighborbhood, no major streets). If I were a parent, I would probably expect an older child to be walking to school when the weather made that a reasonable choice. Kids these days need more exercise, not less!

Are stranger-abductions really more common these days than they were 20 to 30 years ago? Or does our media just seize upon them more eagerly when they happen?

(Long time reader, first time commenter...)

Anonymous said...

Maybe your question is rhetorical, but I think it's amazing that your son volunteers like that & helps his "little buddies". What a wonderful lesson to learn at such a young age.

Jazzie said...

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21748319/jessica-ridgeway-search-westminster-police-plan-6-45

MsCabinFever said...

Well, I guess a better question would be is; would you forgive yourself, and would your conscience be clear if your child was abducted (or something awful happened to him) within that walk to school? Let's say the worst happened & he was abducted & killed (heaven forbid):
would you second guess your decision to allow him to do it?

Only you can answer that.

Anonymous said...

Sarah Ridgeway: have you taken an immediate, basic, preliminary polygraph (i.e. Mark Klaas in the search for his daughter, Polly) in the search for your daughter, Jessica Ridgeway?

If so, what were the results?

If you have not taken a basic polygraph test regarding the search for your missing daughter, please explain to a highly- concerned public why you have not taken a polygraph?

Anonymous said...

Wow... A mother is going through what is likely the hardest thing she will ever have to deal with, and all you care about is her weight? Disgusting. Not everyone out there fits the perfect body mold. Not everyone out there can be as blessed as apparently you are! Maybe you could take the excess bitchyness that you so obviously harbor and spread your hate somewhere else... A persons looks mean nothing in the grand scheme of things and to say that her weight caused this girl to be abducted is absurd! Give your head a shake and use some common sense before posting such dribble next time!

Pak31 said...

Great question BeccaBoo, I agre with Bonnie Blue. Every parent can do what they feel is best with their own children, obviously within the law. 500 feet isn't that far at all. I would personally watch my son make it to the school okay, I don't know if you do or not, but I would. That is me. I really worry and I feel better knowing that my kids make it from point A to point B ok. That being said, do I follow him around everywhere? No, I gradually let him go off on own, not too far, with him knowing that strangers that lure or stalk etc. are dangerous and he knows what to do. It still can't prevent everything. As long as you are doing your best that is all you can do.

Anonymous said...

They have ruled out the parents, but have not said anything about the family. That was a HUGE group with her in that interview.

With regards to your second point about the mother's obesity, I would tend to think the opposite. Obese = more loving. (jolly fat man syndrome?) Its the skinnier/younger/over tanned ones that I would think are less loving. Logically I know this isn't true, but based on first appearances and impressions, thats how I think I'd think.

Anonymous said...

What exactly makes you so sure that a medical issue isn't to blame for her size? Who are you to say that self control had anything at all to do with this? It is pretty common for a 10 year old to walk herself to school, especially if she was meeting up with friends on the way.

MizzMarple said...

Interesting about the polygraph ... but I'm not buying it.

Remember : Jeremy Bradwin "claimed" that he did not need to take a polygraph, and I call "bull" on that one !

It is standard operating procedure to clear the parents, and that includes giving the parents a polygraph. And IF they refuse, there is a reason, IMO.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the above post: I am a state-registered, medical professional for over 25 years. In >95% of cases, obesity is NOT caused by "medical issues" (i.e. "thyroid problems.") In > 95% of cases, in my professional, medical experience, obesity is caused by one's excessive caloric intake in relation to their caloric expenditure.

In regard to Jessica Ridgeway, I do not agree based on personal experience, that it is "pretty common" for ten year olds to walk themselves a mile to school. Please consider that this site is dedicated to "statement analysis." That being said, Jessica's mother, Sarah, clearly stated that she needed her sleep so that she could "be there" when Jessica arrived home from school. If Sarah is to be believed that she was an exceptionally concerned mother, why would she not have a second, reliable contact phone number in place with her daughter's school before going blissfully off to sleep after a hard night at work?

Anonymous said...

If MOM turned OFF the phone-why the heck is it downstairs? Mom says she left phone downstairs to avoid being woken up by those ever pressing college salesmen. Okay. What about Grandma? What about Auntie? If there were others in the home-why the gap in sighting? Why haven't we heard from these others in the home? Where is the realization that SOMEONE (other than MOM) dropped a the MAJOR BALL? Ball- being school- not following through with absence-a secondary telephone number-an emergency contact? Are we to believe that this is the only incident involving Jessica's home life-being MOM is in a very PUBLIC custody battle(was the first thing we heard about the parents!)was the school made aware of this custody issue? Chances are school would have the paperwork concerning who Jessica can leave with-and who she CANNOT leave with-I find it hard to believe that the school would only call only one person and one time. I'm sorry-it's just my opinion. As far as Jessica having to walk that far to school? I have been there! I had to walk my kindergartner 2 miles a day-to school and back through horrible weather conditions and with a baby and there was NO BUS-NO OPTION for BUS and when I called the school district to ask for help the gal who answered the phone actually asked me if my daughter walked by herself...(THIS WAS AFTER I TOLD HER SHE WAS A KINDERGARTENER)...It is INSANE that our public schools do not have these resources! Ride a bus when you were a kid? It WASN'T A LIMO ride! Gimmie a break-I see a great deal of holes and cracks in Jessica's life and for what it is worth-right now it seems MANY people had to turn their head for this tragedy to take place. I am getting the vibes of the horrible of case Zahra Baker here and that ain't COOL. =(
~Jenniesdae

Anonymous said...

Oh and more thing-...IF my daughter was missing and a body showed up less than 6 miles away and police cannot or would not confirm the identity?

NO WAY. NO WAY NO HOW IS LE KEEPING THAT INFORMATION AWAY FROM ME!
-Jenniesdae

MizzMarple said...

These are some good points.

The mother's statements about her "phone" seem "hinky", IMO, especially the part about the colleges calling. I don't know of any colleges that have "pushy salesmen" -- telemarketers, yes, but colleges ?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your reply. While I agree that it is not a common reason for obesity, I do know that it is not impossible. We do not know the medical history of the woman in this situation, so to say that it is a self control issue is unfair. As you stated this is a statement analysis site, I do not see anything in it that relates to her weight. As for her "need to sleep" if Jessica did not want her mother walking her to school, the mom may have felt it was not necessary to do so.

As far as the 10 year old walking themselves to school, I find age 10-12 is about average depending on the maturity/confidence of the child. I do however agree that a mile is too far. I also agree that not having a phone on when your child is at school (or out anywhere) is a bad idea and does not make the mother look good.

I am not saying that I think the mom did the right thing, my point is that size should not make a difference in statement analysis. When you base your opinion of someone on the way they look, you can throw SA out the window. The subject is dead, the statement is alive.

awhitcomb said...

Jo, I think you're right!

Amaleen6

MsCabinFever said...

don't know if anyone has seen this yet;
abandoned car in New Hampshire may be linked.... http://kdvr.com/2012/10/11/n-h-police-abandoned-car-may-be-connected-to-jessica-ridgeway-search/

Anonymous said...

First, I want to say: My sympathies lie with Jessica's family. I can't imagine their grief at this time. I place the blame for this squarely on the perp's shoulders and no one else. Second: Here's something interesting from CO news sources: Arrested on or about April 27, 2012 after alleged kidnapping attempt of 11 year-old girls in Lone Tree, CO on or about April 20, 2012. Monte Greenwald and Raymond Desrosiers, both in their late 50's. Were driving a white van when the alleged kidnapping attempt occurred. Were working on someone's home in the area when they were arrested. Construction workers. This location was about 30 miles from Arvada, CO. These guys were charged with things like careless driving and harassment instead of attempted kidnapping - crimes that don't usually equate to a whole lot of time behind bars. If I were the police in Colorado, I'd be giving them a second look in this case, especially with the other recent reports from girls about Jessica's age indicating they were followed by a person (or persons) driving a white van and someone else reporting a suspicious white van was seen in the vicinity of Jessica's home on or about the day she disappeared.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you...except that the word is "drivel", not "dribble".

Theresa said...

BeccaBoo... I don't think you are a bad parent for letting your son ride his bike to school 500 feet. It isn't very far, and he gets there quite quickly, I'm sure! That's a lot different than letting your daughter walk alone before meeting friends (whether one block or three, I don't know, I've read differing distances), and not watching. A kid on a bike has a better chance of getting away from a perp than a kid on foot, IMO.

I personally would never ever let my child go 500 feet unattended at age 10, but that's just me. I don't think that makes you a bad mom, it's just that if I did it, and something awful happened to my child, I would die every day for the rest of my life and blame myself for not being there. What if she got hit by a car and I wasn't there to comfort her? I'm a huge worrier.

When I was growing up a close friend of mine and her family went to the same church as I did. Her family lived across the street and a block down from the elementary school that her little sister attended. Her mom would watch her little sister leave the school and walk home. Her sister was 9. In the very short distance between her school and her drive way, she and two friends got hit by a car driven by a man who was running from the police. The little sister and one friend died. Certainly, a terrible accident, but, it has made me know, 100% that I can't have my child walking unattended anywhere. I'd rather walk her to and from school. Terrible things can happen in 500 feet.

Anonymous said...

Geez - for those of you so critical of the mother, do any of you have kids??? Jessica had to walk only 3 blocks alone to meet up with the other neighbor kids. They would all walk to school together from there. Are all those other parents lazy & selfish too?

You all should be ashamed of yourselves (including the author) of blaming the victims!!

Picked a Name said...

Count me among the people who wish more kids walked to school. Granted, 1.5 miles is long for a 10-year old, but she went only three blocks on her own. If more of our kids walked to school, they'd all be safer - more eyes on the street. Plus, they'd be fitter and the environment would benefit. And while we do see these tragic cases where kids are harmed/killed when out walking, we aren't taking into account how many kids are harmed/killed in car accidents when being driven to/from school or somewhere else they might have walked. We don't have full information on the relative safety of walking vs. being driven.
With all that said, I totally agree about just going to sleep with the phone off while your kid is out walking to school. My 12-year old checks in with me before she bikes or walks home from school, and when she gets home. My internal clock kicks in just around dismissal time and I start looking for her text or call. There is NO WAY I'd go to sleep during that time, or be without my phone, though. That's the part I don't get, and it may be the source of her seeming guilt.

Anonymous said...

I think the grandmother slept there overnight with the girl, and then went home or to work herself in the morning.

Jen said...

I live LESS than a block from the elementary school where my son will attend when he is old enough...there are literally 3 houses between our home and the entrance of the school and I would never allow my son to walk to school (regardless of his age)...kids walking to school, especially on a daily basis is just what predators are watching and waiting for...think Summer Thompson, snatched just feet from her home right in front of her brother & cousins...or better yet Jaycee Dugard, whose own step-father saw her abduction & was unable to stop it. A predator looking for a victim is counting on you thinking your child is 'safe enough' and the walk is 'short enough'. When I was about 7 years old a man drove onto my PARENTS PROPERTY and attempted to lure me into his car...I was on my bike & he followed me all the way down the half mile or longer driveway & cornered me at the gate to the pasture fields...he pulled his car up so that I had nowhere to go besides past him or to climb over or under the wooden fence which ran like a maze through our property.

He got out and asked me if I knew there was a 'lake back there', pointing in the direction of the pond where the cattle were pinned, and said he wanted me to show him where it was. I rather boldly told him that my daddy doesn't let anyone fish his lake or hunt his farm. Just as he changed tactics, asking me if I liked his car & telling me that he knew my dad, and he had said it was ok for me to go for a ride in his 'fast new car', my moms voice filled the air..she was yelling my name as she ran toward me from about 100 yards away. I dropped my bike, ducked under the fence & started running as the man scrambled into his car, & quickly backed down the driveway. Luckily my mom had happened to see the car pull into our driveway (something people mistakenly did often not realizing it was a private drive) and when he did not turn around in the clearing she knew he was up to no good & took off across the field to find me.

Thank God she did because although I knew better, I talked to him because he wasn't the scary 'stranger' I expected...he asked for my help, my opinion on his car...things that adults don't do, as another commenter wisely pointed out. Thats what we need to be prepping our kids for, because these predators have their script well practiced & as I saw first hand, they don't skip a beat...if one tactic doesn't work they move onto the next and no child is fit to match wits against a practiced manipulator. I was in my own yard & was targeted so no way I would ever let my son walk anywhere alone, sadly that is the world we now live in...a sad fact!

Anonymous said...

Miz Marple, there is something fowl about this college 'calling' crap. When I, and later my sons went to college, first you had to apply to said college and pay an application fee, and at that time provide your grade transcripts for authentication, processing and acceptance. It was up to YOU to contact the school to ascertain if you had been accepted and if you had been, NEXT apply for admission to those course classes you wish to take (provided some were still open) then pay your registration and course class fees. You don't pay, don't show, you don't go.

So you tell me, how MANY colleges would Sarah have applied too where she had to pay an application fee, etc., etc., etc., and they would be beating a path to her door??! It's not exactly like she had been awarded a big football scolarship, or several, and many colleges were veying for her on their football team!

It's probably more like she had applied for a state subsidy assistance program for single mothers and was awaiting approval for their assistance, which is ALSO a lengthy process; besides, I believe their approval is tied into the school you will be attending and THEIR programs and costs and YOUR already pre-selected major. It also depends on whether a particular school/ciriculum has already been approved for state subsidy scholarships and if they still have any available. NOT some floating decision you are making, like playing anny, minnie, miney, moe.

Lastly, the fall quarter already started and classes are closed. Next registration isn't until the end of this quarter and just prior to the winter quarter. It's not like you can wander in and out of classes on a whim, take your pick, or just because you want too, and this includes after hours adult classes. I'm just guessing, but she may have been attempting to gather information and trying to gain state subsidy approval for assistance, but it would seem to me that this is about the size of her college plans at this point. Still it is YOU hunting them down, NOT them chasing you.

Anonymous said...

BTW, I agree with you and others about this strange avoiding-the-phone nonsense. IF she had already turned the phone OFF, why leave it downstairs? Or why leave it downstairs if you have turned it off anyhow? Or what difference would it make anyway since it is OFF!

There are many things in this woman's story that add up to either exaggeration, outright lies or are deliberately misleading.

Anonymous said...

Community and career-oriented /2 -year colleges are actually very competitive. They offer many flexible options, including online courses, and many offer several different sessions for courses that start at different times throughout the semester. Additionally, she may have been applying for the upcoming spring semester. The mother has been cleared. Give her a break.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:24 is correct. Community and career-oriented (think tech schools, online colleges, etc.) are extremely competitive. My g/f just applied to one and is called at least once a day to check on her "progress".

Jen said...

PS: My mom reported this incident to the police and gave a description of the car & told them what the man had said to me, within an hour or so they had located the car & questioned the man. He lived in the apartments which border the back side of my families property...he told the police that he was just driving around & trying to see if the road that went thru our property was accessible as a short cut, (which made no sense since it's a dirt/ gravel road thru rough terrain & blocked in multiple places by gates, not a road you would drive a 'fast new car' on), but they dismissed it as an over reaction & told my parents to post No Tresspassng signs & if he came back after that, they would do something. My mom was not satisfied & warned a mother of one of my classmates who lived in the same apartments...the mother told her she had already had words with him for inviting her daughter into his unit to play with his pet bunny rabbit. My mom relayed that story back to the police & she was warned not to harass HIM anymore! Unreal how things have changed with the sexual predators registry & yet our kids still are not safe!

MsCabinFever said...

Jen,
Excellent post, thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Theresa, first let me say that it is nice to see you again! I wondered what happened to you; also to John who was a good poster and quite serious about learning statement analysis. I haven't seen him here in several weeks now and miss him. Where are you John?

Secondly, I agree with your post above. It is NOT safe to allow your children out of your sight; no, not even for 500 feet! This is not being overly protective. This is called using your head for something besides a hatrack, or just thinking of your own selfishness or plain laziness. My daughter is 10 years old and she is not even allowed to walk across the street to get the mail from the mailbox unless one of us is on the porch watching her. We live in a rural area and someone could pull up and snatch her off the street in a heartbeat.

She is no longer allowed to ride her bike around with her little girlfriend on these streets and back roads either since one of us can't always be with them. I don't even want her riding it alone on the driveway. In fact, I recently set the bike out on the street for the scrap iron pickers to take it, which they did. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that two cousins near this same age were taken and their bikes left lying? They still have not been found, but I had my fears of something like this happening before that.

I live on a corner and my rear yard is not fenced so she also can't go out there alone either; one of us has to be watching her, including when she cuts across the yard to the backyard of a neighbors house, whose home she is not allowed to go inside. She can only play in the backyard where I can see her. She is not allowed to cut back across the backyards from the neighbors house unless one of the adults walks her back home.

My only exception has been on a few occasions when she has Big Dog with her, who is a vicious Rotweiler, but since the neighbors are scared of him, this won't work either. I have allowed her to take him to the mailbox with her but I was still standing on the porch watching them. When she takes the dog out back or on the side yard for a walk/quick run or to do his business, one of us is watching. A dog can be shot dead in one second and your child still taken. When we go to malls and stores, she is required to stay right with me where I can see her. No lolling behind. No idle wandering around on her own; I will take her to any department she wants to go into and stay right with her.

I now view it as a miracle when your child makes it back home alone and I simply won't take the risk that she might not make it. I would surely die if something happened to her, I would never be able to get up again. I agree with you totally!

Vita said...

Shamed? for being a parent? should be ashamed, that's interesting.

I don't have any empathy for Mother, sorry, and I do have a daughter. I did everything in my power to keep her, her age, as safe as possible in her Elementary years, Middle School years, and even High School years, so shoot me. Was no matter to me what I lost, or put to the side, or sacrificed, it's what you do. Especially as a single Mom. My daughter, her childhood once, I am the parent, I was/still solely responsible, the accountable as her mother, not her job as daughter. She to know this. As I am her run to, not run away from. Your comment anon, is bitter.

Anonymous said...

The University of Phoenix is really bad about calling to pressure you into signing up. The for-profit colleges you see advertised on tv all the time are the ones that do this.
She may have given her personal contact info when requesting information about specific courses and they started calling her.

My husband did it, and UofP called him almost daily.

Nicole said...

The mom could've been the most attentive parent in the universe, personally driving the girl to and from school every day, and still wind up in a car crash with the girl dying. Walking anywhere can be dangerous. So can driving!

Vita said...

Going back to the Statements said by Sarah Ridgeway.

SR: "I know I didn't do anything. Everybody that's here knows I didn't do anything," "Nobody in this room did anything to harm her or a tiny hair on her little head. "If they have to eliminate me, go right ahead," "I know it's something that has to get done. They have to get it out of there."
-------
Her intro of " I KNOW", is moot. She does not offer what happened Friday AM, or the night before. She cannot be countered with a question. Nothing for the interviewer to compare in her saids, for she offered no information of what she knows.

What does I didn't do anything really mean? is it the literal sense of " I didn't do anything" as I was not a participant in the AM ritual of Jessica preparing and leaving for school? Why does this bother me so, irk me to no end, all of the mother's statements. Because it's foreign language coming from a mother of a vanished child is why.

She doesn't stop at I know, I didn't do anything, she continues to add on to her statement.

"Everybody that's here knows I didn't do anything" Everyone is a blanket, who is she specifically speaking for? Jessica's father estranged, his cousin estranged, her Uncle flew in, the reason said of why Mother could not speak sooner. This leaves her own mother, her sister. So the women are considered everybody? " body" not one, not everyone, but everybody.

She is speaking for them as they are a body? a united front? that are doing what? complying with Mother's saids unknown to the world, as she does not offer what HAPPENED on Thursday night or Friday am. "Everybody's who's here knows" " I didn't do anything" she is presenting everybody as a character witness? Is it not blatant that she was the last one to SEE Jessica. She does not offer her mother or sister were present in the house, on Thursday night or Friday am does she? We the listener have no knowledge, for her to rebuttal everybody who is here. What they know or don't know is meaningless.

Flip the Script, now the body, united front becomes unraveled, to be nobody, no one. "Nobody in this room did anything to harm her or a tiny hair on her little head"
Who is in the room? her character witnesses? or she is speaking for the ambiguous Boogeyman that hurts children? many are in the room, not only family members, camera men, the reporter, so this equates what? it cannot be "Nobody" in this room, or can it? This is an obtuse statement on her part.

The added "or a tiny hair on her little head". The body found has been said by LE, Press to announce it is not intact. The word dismembered not formally used. NOT intact. What does intact mean? to be forged, to be one piece. NOT intact, means " separation". The body found, was it decapitated? difficult to identify due to the body is not intact.

"If they have to eliminate me, go right ahead," WHAT? Wait, stop the madness here. This woman is defensively speaking, I know, I didn't, everybody knows, nobody in this room,, she using empathetic language to convince us the public, she is the victim? victim of who? certainly not Jessica, so this leaves Law Enforcement. Her words are meaningless to us the public, for we know nothing. HOW then can she be a victim to scrutiny when she says in a dare voice, If you have to eliminate me, go right ahead. She is mirroring her thoughts, had she said, if they have to SUSPECT me, go right ahead, this fits. As any innocent parent is willing to be drug thru the Mud, have all their laundry out in the open, not caring. FIND MY DAUGHTER ! doesn't matter what LE does or says of me, judges of me, my life, past, present, I have nothing to hide, find my Daughter!

She though is daring LE to eliminate her, clear her, not daring them to find her " deceptive". Why would you dare LE to Deem you Cleared?



Anonymous said...

And YOU need to use your head for something besides a hatrack!!!!!!!! This is a VERY unsafe and hard world we live in.

Thank GOD you weren't MY mother. Seven kids and she never allowed a babysitter in our home, we were poor but she took care of us herself, day and night; NOR did she ever allow a one of us to sleep over at a friends' home.

ONE exception when I was fifteen and my cousin was fourteen, and oh boy, was she ever right! She allowed me to spend a night at Darlene's house, and I'll be damned if I didn't have to fight Darlene off nearly all night long, trying to get me to "let's do what boys do" and I didn't even know what boys do, and her trying to touch me all over. I never told my mother what she tried to do to me but I DID stay away from Darlene for ther rest of my life.

It's irrelevant if someone thinks another mother is lazy, slovernly or self-centered. Just take care of your kids! That's all that's important. There is NO sacrifice too great to make for your kids. You only get one go-round and then you reap the consequences, whether good or bad, but your kids have to live with it forever; that is, if they make it but thanks to some mothers and fathers, some don't.

MsCabinFever said...

Vita,
I am still very leery of the mother and the statements that she made. I even went back to listen specifically to the account of that morning that she gave, but I only wrote down the first couple of minutes. I posted it for Peter earlier, but I think I posted in the wrong place. Here it is:

Reporter: take me back to last Friday morning, before she left, was it like a morning like any other morning?

Sarah: it was any other morning. I came home and she, you know, her alarm goes off at 7:45 She wanted an alarm clock so she could, you know, get up on her own and so her alarm clock goes off and she comes down and she watches TV and she and she eats her granola bar, goes up and gets dressed, comes down and, you know, we peel oranges for her for her snack at school. She fills up her water bottle. She does everything on her own because she wants to make herself look like she's a grown up. She wants to be a teenager before she's a teenager and so, you know, she she gets ready and she gets dressed and she gets on her coats and I make sure that, you know, she's gonna meet her friend cause it is snowing and, you know, she she makes ..she (cuts off)..and her friend says yes I am walking too and I watch her walk out the door and I shut the door and that's the last time I saw her and I want her to come walking back through that door ...I need her to walk back through that door .."

She does not seem to be speaking from memory considering the majority of it is not in past tense. She is missing pronouns after Jessica eats her granola bar, although she is pretty consistant otherwise. I thought it was weird that she said Jessica wanted it to appear that she was grown up, it was a strange thing to say in my opinion. "I shut the door" is practically the only thing she seems to say from memory!

Another point, I keep seeing it posted that Jessica walks about a mile to school. On the families FB page, it says she only walks 3 blocks to school. It also says that her grandmother watches her at night while her mother is working but that the mother gets her ready for school.

I found it interesting also that one of the officers said that Jessica is a "good child, and a good student". A good "child" ... hmmm.

One last point, the FB page also points out that they won't announce if the remains are Jessica's or not because Police are also searching for a missing young girl from Durham, New Hampshire that it could be also:

"DURHAM — Police throughout the region are searching for a University of New Hampshire student who reportedly hasn't been heard from since leaving a class last Tuesday night.

Elizabeth Marriott, 19, a commuter student at the University of New Hampshire, attended a class on Tuesday and was last seen at 9 p.m., police said."

The post goes on with more details...

I am sure we will all know soon enough.


Anonymous said...

I agree with you Vita. My post just above was meant for Anon @ 2:25, but she's not listening.

I too was a single mom when my oldest son was small, divorced and had to work, no choice; but you can bet your bottom dollar I had my eye on him from every angle and every decision I made. He was never out of my thoughts and responsibility for one minute.

I don't regret a thing I had to sacrifice, I just wish I'd done more instead of flitting around like a glamour queen. Just because I could didn't mean I should. Some things I look back on and think how stupid of me, when I loved him more than anything on this earth. I just thank God Almighty that it turned out well.

Anonymous said...

This is just plain bullshyt. More kids are NOT killed in auto accidents while driving them too and from school. The speed limit in school districts is only 10 to 15 miles per hour during thodr times kids are on their way to and from school! Good heaven's. At most, these are little fender benders.

What an airhead. You must think everyone is crazy but you. Sorry, and don't mean to offend anyone in particular, but I'm constantly shocked at some of the ridiculous things I read.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and a poisonous grasshopper could have bitten her too, I suppose. See how ridiculous that sounds? No more ridiculous than your post.

You don't think much of this child's life or death, do you? It's quite alright with you that she was brutally murdered when she was supposed to be on her way to school,(WITHOUT adult supervision) since she could have died by some other means, right?

Anonymous said...

My condolences to the family of the deceased. That's all I can say because I am not smart enough to to kick someone when they are down Lack of proper education I guess

A man, perhaps even teen, was seen in the area trying to lure children into his fender skirted car with candy some time back (bet it's an old Caprice and he's an up and coming CSI/profiler/pschobabblist) Here's a composite:

http://stillunsolved.wordpress.com/

Near a fence (Like Harrington) equal distance from clue to body (lives with someone much older and enjoys CNN)all the above in different towns, but is it a different county?

He's a gonna be a big star some day. Bet he gets in thare and heps 'em out.

Anonymous said...

Excellent, EXCELLENT post Vita. My thoughts exactly. And then some.

Anonymous said...

Thank you :P 2:00

Anonymous said...

One more thing Anon @2:25: Sierra LeMar only made it to the end of her driveway and she was 15 years old! NO CHILD should ever be on their own these days and expected to walk alone from their home to a pick up point, such as the bus stop, or walk to or from school at all regardless as to the distance; or anywhere else. PERIOD.

Sierra had only a short distance to walk to make it to the school bus stop; vanished, gone forever, murdered. Snatched at the end of her own driveway. You could say she could have run back to the house. Maybe she DID try to do that, but no one was there so who could have protected her had she even been able to get back in the house? Or maybe she DID try. He could have come right into the home and killed her there. Or maybe she tried to escape and run down the road to get away from her abductor.

We will never know since he WAS able to abduct her right off the end of her driveway. Wake up woman, these kids can't fight a crazed rapist killer even when there are two of them walking together or they are right outside the door, not even on their own driveway!

Anonymous said...

"It could be your boss, it could be your friend, and ultimately it could be your family member," FBI spokesman Dave Joly said. "Bring this information to law enforcement and let us vet that to a close. If that person is not the suspect, 'Thank you for your call.' Next lead."

It was a lively area where children played outdoors, said another neighbor, Luis Pena, but since Jessica disappeared, parents are keeping their children inside and people look at each other with suspicion.

"Nobody trusts anybody anymore," he said.

Some body parts are miing. Equal distance in two different towns, one distance is

Something unrelated...“It’s always filled with nice people and their kids and dogs who say ‘hi’ to you,” adds Chris Houghtaling.

But Westminster Police say Monday about 1:15 p.m., a man attacked a 22-year-old woman as she jogged along the trail. Police say she passed the suspect once, as he walked the opposite way.

But when she looped around again, he was walking in the same direction and grabbed her as she ran by. She told police the suspect tried to put a cloth over her face, with some kind of chemical on it. She managed to fight him off and called 911 as he ran away.

Wonder who in that town listens to evil music, reads evil books, watches evil things?

Wonder who's into chlorform?

Anywhoooo, it'll be great fodder when they get everyone turning in everyone and then they can in turn collect from that information as these people become part of the new and improved whodungonanddunnit reality show.

Wendy said...

I'm confused: why would Colorado police think a body found there could be a missing young woman from New Hampshire? And why is an abandoned car in New Hampshire supposedly related to the Jessica Ridgeway case? All very confusing...

Anonymous said...

A car with Colorado license plates was supposedly abandoned in NH. Police, however, determined that the owner had just moved to NH from CO and left her car overnight in a Walmart parking lot because there was nowhere to park near her residence.

MsCabinFever said...

Wendy;
I agree with you but it was on the "blog" from the Westminister Police, and also the face book page that is supposedly backed by the family. They referred to the young missing college girl on the fb page, and the car was referred to on both sites along with alleged sitings. I think it was due to the person(s) who claimed that they saw Jessica in Maine (?) It was just one of the multiple tips given to the police.

NH is just so far away from Colorado. I am not sure why it has repeatedly been connected. Maybe they were just hoping?

Wendy said...

Oh - that explains the "connection" there was to NH then. I have been lurking around here for about six months now, but I don't fully understand statement analysis, I'm sure. Nevertheless, my gut tells me the reason Jessica Ridgeway's mother sounds hinky is because she is so self-involved she came home from work and went to bed, leaving Jessica to get herself off to school and she is feeling terribly guilty about it. She tries to justify her actions, or lack thereof, by telling us Jessica tried to be grownup, was the rock of the family. The story about oranges and granola bars doesn't sound real to me.

Pak31 said...

Anon, I have children. That is WHY I have been critical. If she only had to walk three blocks to meet the others, why couldn't her mom take the 5 minutes to walk her to them? SHe took the time to watch her get up, eat, get ready for school and walk out the door so why the disconnect once she's out the door?

Anonymous said...

Off topic, but nearby:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/owner-finds-rare-parrots-decapitated

MizzMarple said...

I agree -- excellent post, Vita.

The mother is very defensive -- which in my opinion, there is a reason she is so defensive.

Again, my opinion, but I think there is much more to this story ... just like so many others ...

Vita said...

Bonnie, thank you for the transcription. The paragraph of Sarah's transcribed words:

It was any other morning. I came home and she, you know, her alarm goes off at 7:45 I want her to come walking back through that door ...I need her to walk back through that door .."
--
Red Flag is the filler " you know" - NO, we do not know, she does not offer what should be in place of this " you know". Which begins the opening of HER, not ours to understand, but Her own, owned Pandora's box. What is missing? the date, day, time, her shift ending when, that she arrived home, who was present, who wasn't, where Jessica was when she arrived home, on and on it goes. It's all pertinent and yet glazed over. This coming from a mother that has nothing to lose? gain? for she has nothing vested? as it is her Daughter's life hanging in the balance, and she offers, "you know". The two words fills the gap of all that should have been said, but wasn't.

Have you ever listened to Cheech and Chong? their early years? Sister Mary Elephant.
Sister Mary Elephant, a substitute teacher, first day back at school, she picks randomly a student to read their essay of their known project being their summer vacation. Chong begins to recite his very unprepared, not written, essay.

TEACHER: Young man in the first row, stand up, state your name, and read your essay.
STUDENT: Who me?

TEACHER: Yes. Read your essay, please!
STUDENT: Uh, I don`t have it finished yet.

TEACHER: Well then, read what you have, young man!
STUDENT: Okay. The first day on my vacation, what I did on my summer vacation, the first day on my vacation, I woke up. Then, I went downtown to a quiet job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. The second day on my summer vacation, I woke up, then I went downtown to look for a job. Then I hung out in front of the drugstore. The third day on my summer vacation, I woke up...

TEACHER: Now that`s fine, young man!

STUDENT : ...Then I went downtown to look for a job...
TEACHER: Now that`s fine, young man!
STUDENT : ...Then I got a job, keeping people from here and out in front of the drugstore. The fourth day on my...
------------
This is how I heard Sarah's words, alike Chong. She offers, responds to the question asked of her, it's her Um, I haven't finished it yet, she though to continue to speak. She felt she was plucked from EVERYBODY in the room, or Nobody in the room. When it was asked, the accounts of, what happened, the last time Jessica was seen. This is her said, she was the last person to see her. Yet she offers a run on, canned recall of what would be any morning, day in the life of Jessica Ridgeway.

Vita said...

Revisiting - Adam Walsh, John and Reve Walsh

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/41923739

Foolsfeedonfolly said...

So, exactly how many children have to be sexually abused or killed before people realize that this isn't the 1950's anymore? Times have changed. Personal integrity and societal values have fallen drastically, and the internet has exploded pornography, beastiality, sadomasichism, "snuff" films, etc. Adults and children (by legal definition, under 18) have been desensitized to sexuality and violence. Coupled with societal messages and programming of "If it feels right to you, it's right for you.", why are we surprised that the number of sexual assaults, abductions, and murders are climbing dramatically? Given the availability of child pornography and the short (meaningless) sentences given sex offenders, is it any wonder more and more children are being targeted? If your state has a sex offender registry, take some time to peruse it page by page. You'll be surprised to find who lives near you, your child(ren)'s school/parks/playgrounds/dance studio and your church (if you have one). You'll be surprised to find out which businesses employ sex offenders (landscapers, utility companies, heating/plumbing/electrical contractors and repair, home builders, carpet installers, grocery stores, restaurants, animal rescue, pet adoption centers, video/gaming stores,etc.). Bear in mind, those are only the sex offenders who've been caught and that doesn't account for the hours they're not at home or at work. Like you, they like to go out and about also. You'll find sex offenders in the best neighborhoods, as well as the worst. Statistically speaking, chances are good, you've probably sat near at least one in church. After all, there are children there.

Wake up, folks! This is the world we live in, like it or not. So, again I ask, exactly how many children do we have to lose before parents get a clue? It's not like it's one or two isolated incidents around the country. It's multiple children, every single week, all over America...from Tinseltown to tiny town. What's it going to take to get parents' attention? There are predators among us and the children are the prey (literally). They're being hunted. The danger is two-fold: they look just like you or I and we all like to think we live in a "safe" neighborhood/ "safe" town,we go to a "safe" church, we have "safe" neighbors, our acquaintances are "safe" people, the kids at school are "safe",etc. Statistics and sex offender registries scream otherwise. We need to listen and act wisely. Our children are depending on us.

shayshay said...

She may not be mother of the year nut I am not going to write her off as a murderer for beong obese. I was accused forover a year if being anorexic becausr i lost a large amount of weight and kept loosing until being diagnosed/treated with Graves disease. Things are not always as they seem and don't feel the mothers weight should be a factor in this.

shayshay said...

But if it is a medical issue causing her to be obese and she emphasies her need for sleep those are both major symptoms of hypothyroidism.

shayshay said...

I am not a parents but i personally do not feel people should be labeled as a bad mother for letting there child walk to school. Maybe my opinion of that will change when I have kids. Reading some of these posts makes me feel sorry for some of the readers kids, not even allowed to play in the yard out of fear of abduction. But like i said i am npt a parent and may have a different opinion if i become one.

Jen said...

I think your opinion probably will change when you have your own kids and you see things like this happening every week all over the country.. your stomach will absolutely turn at the thought of how much evil is lurking, waiting to exploit a single moment of vulnerability. We parents have to be as active in preventing our kids from being victimized as these predators are in hunting them.

JoJo said...

I don't understand all this focus on the mother. Yes, her words show deception through SA. But that's all that can be concluded on it's own. Just as Marlene LeMar (Sierra's mom, i may have her name wrong) showed deception and sensitivity regarding the morning she last saw Sierra, and people were going off on wild tangents, theorizing "the boyfriend did it, mom's covering for him" and other such theories involving the mother and/or boyfriend, when all along Sierra had legitimately been abducted and murdered by someone other than family. SA can indicate deception and sensitivity but sometimes can only give a clue as to why (Sierra and her mom probably fought that morning and mom was feeling guilty over the last words spoken/heard by Sierra, as Peter suggested. Other cases, like Hailey's are more obvious). WHY is she deceptive? Odds are, she is dealing with tremendous guilt. Her actions/inactions allowed her daughter to be placed in a situation where she was abducted. Surely, she is suffering through "if only I had..." at this time. She more than likely did/does not want to appear to the entire nation as a lazy /selfish/ idiotic/ uncaring mother. Her guilt though, is not from direct involvement in the crime, but from believing (probably correctly) that had she done something differently, her daughter would not be missing/dead. SHE HAS BEEN CLEARED AS A SUSPECT.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

jojo, did you read the analysis or are you referring to comments?

What is "all the focus" you are referring to?

A child went missing and the mother did most of the speaking, therefore, she got the attention.

Nowhere in the analysis is the mother indicated for guilt in the disappearance.

There is, however, indicators of neglect, parentification and guilt over decision making.

She also did not make a reliable denial, but this may be because she was not asked straight forward questions.

A child went missing and the parent that did most of the speaking was the topic of analysis. It is the same, case after case.

Peter

Statement Analysis Blog said...

PS:

Why were theories that the boyfriend did it, "wild" in your thinking?

A teen went missing, the mother was deceptive about the boyfriend. Statistics show that someone known to the family, or the family, is more likely the culprit.

Following statistics, and having a deceptive response about the boyfriend in the home leaving does not have that "wild" feel to it for me.

When mother was on Nancy Grace, the guests saw that she was deceptive or inconsistent about boyfriend, and even remarked how defensive she was about him WHILE her daughter was missing.

The mother brought suspicion upon the boyfriend, herself, not commentators.

I see nothing "wild" or extreme about the "who done it?" look at the boyfriend or the mother. It is the first thing professional investigators look at: the inner circle.

I don't see the comparison in that case with this case. Peter

Statement Analysis Blog said...

shayshay, you are wise enough to own that your opinion may change when you have children. I respect your open mindedness.

I am with Jen. Stephen King said that he was unable to write horror that matches the imaginations of young parents fretting over their children. You can only imagine what we experience when we first see our little one hanging upside down on the monkey bars at a playground. It is difficult to "let go" and allow the child's confidence to grow because our instinct is to jump up and say, "no, no, you might fall" and risk crippling the child's confidence for the rest of his or her life.

We do not live in a safe world and in this case, Jessica's mother showed neglect and parentification of Jessica. That she kept the phone where she could not hear it in an emergency is one thing, but her emphasis on sleep is still another. When she said that she will be treated well "like always" , it is an indicator of neglect and my guess is that the neglect was probably public enough to have Child Protective Services, or Teacher's Conferences to address.

We all leak out more than we realize, which is why the truth is always best and easiest.

When I see a young couple about to have their first child, I always say to them, "Everything you think will change the day after."

You will be amazed at how dramatic a change will come upon you at the birth of a child. So many beliefs and stances go down the drain quickly. Some people will say, "Well, what happened to your belief that..." which is a form of "I told you so" that is probably not helpful.

This is not the first public case of a mother who, had she gotten off her butt, her child would still be alive today. Either the public can take it as a lesson and warning of great value, or will quickly defend the mother, likely revealing their own issues. You, shayshay, are wise enough to say that your opinion may change.

I used to ride my bike several miles to school and not even lock it. I look back with disbelief now. By the time my children were bike riding in our neighborhood, they had certain blocks they were not "allowed" to ride their bikes down, meaning that they knew, if they did, they would be potentially robbed. Did they have a "right" to go down those blocks? Yes, but one stolen bike for us was enough. I did not see the need of putting them in harm's way just to defend a "right." Kids with bolt cutters stole bikes at our public library! The only way they could travel safely, as teens, was in a group and one would have to remain outside the library, watching the locked bikes.

They now look back at that and say the world has gotten worse now than it was then.

Before someone dismisses this as generational musings, take a good hard look at crime stats.

Anonymous said...

All these horror stories are swell and grand, but not one of you has addressed my original comment regarding emotions in statement analysis.

JoJo said...

Peter, I am referring to the comments, not your analysis. I was not trying to imply that your analysis is "off," so I apologize if it reads that way. I simply don't understand why some of the commenters are continuing to question the mother's involvement after she has been cleared. Yes, she is indicated for deception, and neglect, and others you mentioned, but it doesn't mean she killed her daughter. Am I incorrect in my understanding that while SA is a valuable tool for detecting deception, it cannot always tell us the full reason behind WHY a person is being deceptive? I have read all of your analysis on this case and not once did you claim "she did it," and further, you offered a couple possibilities as to where some of the distancing language and deception may have come from. There are some posters here who (in my opinion) have taken your analysis. and run with it, and I don't understand why, or where some of these theories are coming from, especially those that were made after it was publicly announced that the mother had been cleared.

Picked a Name said...

Wow, thats a lot of anger and name-calling just because I don't share your opinion. BTW, do you have the data about car crashes vs. child abductions? I don't, and I said I didn't. You imply you do. It'd be interesting to see.
Human beings all have skewed perceptions of risk. Risks we take voluntarily are downplayed in our minds, and risks that are foisted upon us are seen as much greater than they are, statistically speaking. This is something that has been shown over and over again in studies - it's just human nature. Rather than just accept these innate reactions to risks, I'd prefer to try to take a step back and see what the facts are, and take it from there.
I'm not an airhead, and I don't think everyone's crazy but me. I'm not a name-caller, either. I just stated my opinion and asked a question about relative risk. Maybe you need a nap?

JoJo said...

I used the LeMar case because it was one that I could easily recall in which accusations flew yet it was a true abduction. I certainly can see the connection between a mother hiding something regarding her boyfriend, and jumping to the conclusion that the boyfriend did it (although if I recall correctly you did not once make the assertion that "he did it," as part of your analysis.). However, it is "wild" to me because people can be deceptive about things for several reasons - perhaps she was worried he had done something to Sierra, maybe he was having an affair and didn't come home and she didn't want to discuss it, maybe they were engaged in intimate or illegal activities and didn't even see Sierra at all that morning and she knew he wasn't involved because she was with him but didn't want to disclose that on national television. I don't know the reason. I just know that there are any number of possibilities, and all we (the public) know is what is disclosed publicly. Yes it is logical to suspect someone when they are deceptive, but in my opinion, it is "wild" to exclude all other possibilities without having all the information. Perhaps "wild" was not the best word to use, as it's not an implausible theory. I was simply trying to point out that someone can show guilt/sensitivity /deception without being the killer/kidnapper, and the LeMar case was one example that came to mind.

BeccaBoo said...

Anon @ 11:29 thanks, I think hes pretty awesome too!
Bonnie Blue, your comment definitely is one that I have considered and here's what I came up with:
I my decision to let my little one resulted in his death, then yes I would suffer and suffer and suffer from regret. The same suffering I would get if my child were to die in a swimming accident, car crash, fatal food poisoning, victim of gun violence such as school shootings, theatre shootings or just walking down the street. Every time I let them out of my sight, I'm taking the same risk. How can I judge Jessica's mother when I myself might make a disastrous decision that decides my child fate?

Anonymous said...

LE has said the parents are cleared which could be true but could also be a tactic. We have no way to know for sure at this time. No one has said the family has been cleared, just mom and dad.

Anonymous said...

Jessica took care of herself by herself; her mother only watched, while she was inside the house; to her, that's all that mattered was what went on inside the house. That's how she came to be missing outside the house.

Anonymous said...

1 name comes to mind:
Mickey Shunick.
Riding bike, perp driving truck strikes bike, incapacitates her w/stun gun, throws her into truck, bike into truck bed.

Takes less time than it would take for 1 stunned mother to run 500 feet trying to catch said truck driving off w/her 10 yo son.

Anonymous said...

Another name:
Sierra Lamar.
disappeared at the end of her driveway in a cul-de-sac, steps from her bus stop.
suspect: temp-employed construction worker, former grocery store worker w/several attempts of using stun gun on customers at their cars loading groceries, married, 1 baby, living in trailer w/wife, baby, & his own mother.

His M.O. was to use stun gun to incapacitate his victim, then attempt to sexually assault them.
He ended up killing Sierra, his DNA on her clothes folded neatly in her purse in some alley, her cell phone tossed off the roadside he drove as he fled from her housing development with her in his car. Still no body, but he (like his dad) is sitting in jail charged w/1st deg homicide.

Anonymous said...

BTW, Sierra Lamar's killer grew up in the immediate area south of her house, attended high school that played hers in sports. Fond of hiking. Several lakes/bodies of water were sonared, nothing found. She's probably in a shallow grave off his favorite hiking trail.

Anonymous said...

The only accident I ever witnessed relative to school was my own, when my (kid you not) next-door-locker-mate at school misjudged the slick conditions on the snowy road in front of our Massachusetts high school, as I sat at the stop sign on the road that was perpendicular to the one he was on, & he ran into my Pinto's driver's side door, jamming it so I couldn't get out ! This was the model of car with the fuel-tank fire defect, & the only car the four of us kids (close in age, all in high school) all shared to get to school, sports, work, & band. I'll never forget the embarrassed look on his face or the profuse apology he gave ! LOL

Anonymous said...

Which begs the question:
So why didn't the daytime-schedule working grandmother take Jessica to school on her way out of the development on her way to work ?

Anonymous said...

Statistically, the types of accidents school age children suffer fatalities in are ones in which they're skating or biking on the road, don't look where they're going, & a car doesn't see them, & they get hit. Or, they fall...off a bike, w/o a helmet & suffer fatal head trauma/bleeding, or they ride on ATVs & the ATV rolls on them, crushing them.

Anonymous said...

Or, their parents "accidentally" physically abuse them to death.

Anonymous said...

Excellent analysis, Vita.
You have me spellbound.

Anonymous said...

Except for your first sentence, what you wrote makes no sense to me.
Your contempt shines through your lines though.

MsCabinFever said...

You are right BeccaBoo, "Time and unforseen occurance befall us all."
The things you mentioned are a possibility in our day and age and are out of our control. But let's change the scenario a little. You have gotten a notice from your son's school that there is a possible kidnapper/child-hunter-killer is on the loose in YOUR neighborhood, maybe on YOUR street & he has already (recently) tried twice and failed. You are warned of the situation & told to beware & take extra precautions (which should go without saying). Obviously you can't hole yourself up in your house & never let your son leave!
But is there anything that you can do, or would do, that you may not ordinarily feel was necessary? Maybe you would drive him, instead of letting him take the bus. Or, walk him to the bus stop & stay until he gets on (even if it's from a distance)? You know, Just to be sure.
Or, would you send him out the door, & even though the bus stop is within your view, would you let him go out the door and then just go to bed? Wouldn't you wonder if that predator was near the bus stop, again? Wouldn't you even be curious or concerned, just a little more than normal? It's not like you are hiring an armed guard to escort him each morning. You will lose 15 more minutes of sleep that day. Would it be worth the sacrifice to you?

This is not the first child that has been taken, tortured and killed. And, it will not be the last. I may not be able to control the monsters in the world, but I am going to go down with a heck of a fight trying to keep mine away from his sick mind.
It doesn't mean I will homeschool them & make them hold my hand until they are 18 yrs old. But, there are a few things I can do within reason. Then I will truly know that I did put forth the extra effort & tried my hardest to protect them because they are too important to me not to.

If the mother was not involved, which the LE says she was not, then how very heartbreaking for her to have the added pain knowing that it could have been avoided. But, hindsight is 20/20 isn't it?
I think people are angry that another child has died a horrible death at the hands of another sick monster & in this case, the mother happened to make it very easy to blame her by her in-action to take the extra step, even after warnings.

The bottom line is that we each are responsible for our own children and how we act. I will do the best I can, with the resources & abilities that I have. For each family, and each parent, those vary. The general public on this forum are devastated to see another little girl brutally killed by some sick monster. Emotions are running high due to the loss & what seemed to be a simple solution for added protection.

Let's hope that by people pointing out the obvious here, that maybe it helps one mom who reads it to pay a little closer attention or do something that she wouldn't have thought was so important before, so that her child will just be a little safer tomorrow.

Or maybe it will incite another to start watching the neighbor kids that are walking to school, or the bus stop, as they are out for a morning or afternoon walk. It will just be that one extra person that helps to keep yours safe because the reading here has opened their eyes and that may make all the difference in the world.