Police said Thursday morning that they were not releasing any new information about a body discovered Wednesday in the investigation of the disappearance of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway.
The body was found Wednesday afternoon in the Pattridge Park open space in Arvada, about seven miles from the girl’s home. Investigators secured the scene and continued work there throughout the night and into the morning.
“As of this time, we’re not providing any additional information about that crime scene or the criminal investigation,” Westminster Police Department spokesman Trevor Materasso said Thursday.
Materasso said canvassing in Jessica’s Westminster neighborhood and the surrounding area will continue Thursday, and police will be searching additional open spaces.
Jessica Ridgeway was last seen alive Friday morning leaving her house to walk to school. Her backpack and a water bottle were found Sunday in Superior, about six miles from her home and 11 miles from the location where the body was found.
Police had announced on Wednesday that they believe Jessica was likely abducted and that her parents have been cleared of suspicion.
“We are confident the parents are not involved,” Materasso said at an afternoon press briefing.
Police have confirmed that one of many leads they were investigating was the possibility of a link between Jessica’s disappearance and two incidents in September involving a man approaching young girls in Arvada and offering them candy to get in his car.
“We’re looking at it, but no connection has been established,” Arvada Police Department public information coordination Jill McGranahan told HLN’s Nancy Grace Wednesday.
Police released a sketch of the suspect in those incidents, but no arrests have been made. McGranahan said the man in the sketch is not considered a suspect in Jessica’s disappearance.
For the latest on the case, watch Nancy Grace Thursday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on HLN.
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