Who is Austin Reed Sigg, the suspect arrested in the Jessica Ridgeway abduction, murder case?

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KMGH) - Westminster, Colo., police announced on Wednesday that they have made an arrest in the abduction and murder of Jessica Ridgeway.

The suspect is Austin Reed Sigg. He is just 17 years old. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds.

He was arrested at his family's home in Westminster at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of murder in the first degree, one count of second degree kidnapping and two counts of criminal attempt.

The first three charges, murder and kidnapping, are related to the Jessica Ridgeway case, according to Westminster Police spokesman Trevor Materasso.

RELATED | Teen arrested in Jessica Ridgeway abduction and murder http://bit.ly/VpejJe

Materasso said the last two charges, attempted murder and attempted kidnapping, are related to the incident in May at Ketner Lake.

In the May attack, a 22-year-old woman was jogging when someone grabbed her from behind and tried to put a chemical-laced rag over her mouth, police said.

The woman escaped and called 911, police said.

Sigg lives on 102nd Avenue, about a mile from Chelsea Park. That's where Jessica Ridgeway was walking on Oct. 5 when she disappeared. Sigg lives on the opposite side of the park from the Ridgeway family.

Sigg's family home is less than a half mile from Ketner Lake.

The CALL 7 Investigators at KMGH, our Scripps Station in Denver, have learned that Sigg listed his occupation as student at Arapahoe Community College on his custody report.

The custody report said officers told Sigg's mother in person that they were arresting her son. Officers said Sigg was cooperative during the arrest.

Sigg is expected to make his first appearance in court on Thursday at 8 a.m.

Sigg is being held at the Mount View Youth Services Center, a state detention facility for youth offenders in Lakewood.

Mount View Youth Services Center is described as a "secure, co-ed multi-purpose institution" operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services' Division of Youth Corrections," according to the state Human Services website. 

Westminster Police asked that if you recognize Sigg, and have any information you feel may help officers, please call the tip line at  303-658-4336 or email: PDamberalert@cityofwestminster.us

Sigg's Background

The CALL 7 Investigators have learned that Sigg had an interest in crime scene investigations. In high school, Sigg was part of HOSA, Health Occupation Students of America. He took second place with a team competing in a CSI event in the group's 2011 competition. He was also a finalist in forensic medicine and biotechnology at that same competition.