WESTMINSTER, Colo. (AP) — Police in Colorado say a backpack found in the town of Superior is likely linked to a 10-year-old girl who has been missing since Friday.
Westminster police say the backpack was found on a sidewalk on a street about 6 miles from the suburban Denver home of Jessica Ridgeway, who was last seen Friday as she walked to a park where she meets classmates before school.
An Amber Alert has been issued.
Police would not discuss the contents of the bag but say they believe it belongs to the girl. They also say the item has led investigators to expand their search for the girl to the Rock Creek subdivision of Superior.
Jessica weighs 80 pounds and is 4-feet-10 with blue eyes and blond shoulder-length hair.
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Hotline for information on Jessica Ridgeway: 303-658-4336
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181-a-07-(Trevor Materasso (ma'-teh-RAS'-soh), investigator, Westminster Police Department, at news conference)-"with this case"-Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso says the discovery of a girl's backpack is being linked to the disappearance of 10-year-old girl Jessica Ridgeway, who was last seen on Friday. (7 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *181 (10/07/12)>> 00:07 "with this case"
182-a-11-(Trevor Materasso (ma'-teh-RAS'-soh), investigator, Westminster Police Department, at news conference)-"use the tipline"-Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso says the discovery of Jessica Ridgeway's backpack, about six miles from her home, raises new questions about the girl's disappearance. (7 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *182 (10/07/12)>> 00:11 "use the tipline"
183-a-17-(Trevor Materasso (ma'-teh-RAS'-soh), investigator, Westminster Police Department, at news conference)-"town of Superior"-Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso says Jessica Ridgeway's backpack was found in a subdivision nowhere near her home or school. (7 Oct 2012)
<<CUT *183 (10/07/12)>> 00:17 "town of Superior"
