Search for missing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway now includes bodies of water

Girl missing since Friday

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Three photos showing Jessica Ridgeway.

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This image provided by the Westminster Police Department shows 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. An Amber Alert has been issued.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jessica Ridgeway walking dog

Jessica Ridgeway blowing bubble

Posted: 10/10/2012
Last Updated: 220 days ago

WESTMINSTER, Colo. - Westminster police will search bodies of water near to where a 10-year-old girl went missing, authorities said Wednesday.

Investigators have said they have no specific reason for searching lakes and ponds around Jessica Ridgeway's home, except that they want to rule them out.

An Amber Alert was issued for Jessica Friday after she disappeared while walking to school.  Police and hundreds of volunteers have canvassed the girl's neighborhood and nearby open spaces looking for clues.

So far all police have found is a backpack and a water bottle belonging to Jessica that was found in a neighborhood about six miles to the north of her home.

Police spokesman Trevor Materasso said investigators have received more than 650 phone calls to the tip line so far.

He asked residents to continue to be vigilant and report anything they may see regardless of whether they think it's important or not.

[ View more photos of Jessica Ridgeway ]

Materasso also said Wednesday that police have isolated garbage from Jessica's neighborhood at a local landfill should detectives want to look through it for clues later.

The FBI sent a team to the girl's home on Tuesday, but they refused to comment on any findings. Her mother, Sarah Ridgeway, said she wants her daughter back.

"I want her to come walking back through that door. I need her to walk back through that door," she said.

Authorities went to the Independence, Mo., residence of the girl's father, Jeremiah Bryant, on Friday. Bryant also said he wants to find his daughter.

"We'll never stop looking. We love her," Bryant said.

Jessica's family spent much of the day at the Westminster Police Department and didn't return home until after 8 p.m.

The girl's parents gave their first news media interview at police headquarters in the afternoon. Then family members who had just arrived from out of town gave interviews to investigators, 7NEWS reporter Marc Stewart reported Tuesday night.

Authorities have said they do not have any suspects in the girl's disappearance.

During the exhaustive investigation, police and FBI agents have canvassed some 400 homes in the girl's neighborhood while sifting through 450 tips from the public.

Jessica was last seen walking to Chelsea Park in the area of 107th Avenue and Moore Street around 8:30 a.m. Friday, where she was to meet several friends before walking to Witt Elementary School. Jessica never showed up at the park or at school.

Anyone who might have any information about Jessica's disappearance or current whereabouts is asked to contact police at 303-658-4336 or pdamberalert@cityofwestminster.us .

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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