FBI releases psychological profile of suspect in Jessica Ridgeway kidnapping

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KMGH) - The FBI has released a general psychological profile of the man kidnapped and killed Jessica Ridgeway to help the public look for possible suspects.

FBI spokesman Dave Joly on Thursday asked for the public's help in identifying possible suspects.

The FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit said that often, someone in the community will unknowingly be associated with the offender of the crime, and may be in a position to observe behavioral changes in that person. They will recognize the changes, and may even question the person about it, but may not relate the changes to that person’s involvement in the crime.

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Immediately following the incident, he may miss work. The absence will be sudden and unplanned. He may either be a “no show” or he may offer a plausible excuse such as illness, death in the family, car trouble, etc.

He may miss scheduled appointments/commitments and be unaccounted for during this period. These appointments/commitments may include such things as medical appointments, meetings with a probation officer, prior commitment to a friend or family member, drug test, etc.

He may suddenly leave town, either with no explanation or with some plausible reason.

This individual may express an intense interest in the status of this investigation and pay close attention to the media. However, some offenders may quickly turn off media accounts or try to redirect conversations concerning the victims or their families.

There may be changes in the usual consumption of alcohol and/or drugs.

He may make a change in his appearance or alter something to prevent identification, such as changing the look of his vehicle, cleaning or discarding his vehicle.

Joly said the FBI is "working on an abundance of leads" in the case. He would not discuss specifics of the case and said the FBI is only wanting to give a profile to the public so that they might notice the behavior of the suspect.

Jessica vanished last Friday after leaving her Westminster home for a three-block walk to meet schoolmates at a nearby park and then walk to school with them. The friends said Jessica didn't arrive and she didn't show up for school, so investigators believe she was taken somewhere on the three-block walk.

Police said the parents are not suspects in Jessica's disappearance and have conducted extensive door-to-door searches in the area where she disappeared, in addition to using bloodhounds to try and pick up any direction for Jessica from her scent.

The searches proved fruitless.

On Sunday, Jessica's backpack was found on the sidewalk of the Rock Creek subdivision in Superior. Police said it appeared to have been left overnight Saturday. The person who found the backpack said it contained a water bottle with Jessica's name on it. Police would not discuss what was in the backpack.

On Wednesday, part of a body was found in the Pattridge Open Space Park in Arvada. Police said they could not connect the remains to Jessica but three sources told ABC News it was likely Jessica Ridgeway.

On Friday, authorities announced that that body had been identified as Jessica's Ridgeway's.