Bio

Austin Reed Sigg was born on January 17, 1995, in Colorado. He grew up in Westminster, a suburban area near Denver. Sigg attended several schools during his education. He went to Witt Elementary School, the same school that Jessica Ridgeway attended. After elementary school, he moved on to Wayne Carle Middle School and Standley Lake High School. He also participated in a forensic science program at Arapahoe Community College while attending high school.

As a child, Sigg was described as intelligent but faced challenges in school. He was bullied and often complained about his experiences, particularly around having a high-pitched voice. He dropped out of high school after completing the 11th grade but later earned his GED.

During his teenage years, Sigg expressed an interest in mortuary science. He was eager to understand death and human bodies, which may have influenced some of his later actions. In 2008, his mother discovered troubling content on his computer, leading to attempts to intervene and get him treatment.

Sigg lived with his mother, Mindy Sigg, and they had a close, albeit complex, relationship. Mindy provided him with support, but there were also significant challenges in their household. As he progressed through his teenage years, Sigg developed certain obsessions that were concerning to those around him.

Murder Story

On October 5, 2012, Jessica Ridgeway, a 10-year-old girl, was reported missing while walking to school in Westminster, Colorado. A massive search effort ensued, involving over 1,000 people and multiple law enforcement agencies. Jessica's backpack was found a few days later, and her remains were discovered shortly after.

Austin Reed Sigg, a 17-year-old at the time, was linked to the case after a tip from a neighbor. Authorities obtained his DNA, which matched evidence from Jessica’s clothing. On October 23, 2012, Sigg’s mother, Mindy Sigg, called the police, stating that her son wanted to confess to killing Jessica. When the police arrived, Austin confessed to them as well.

Sigg was detailed in his confession. He admitted to abducting Jessica as she walked past his parked car. He took her to his home, where he bound her before attempting to strangle her. Afterward, he claimed he dismembered her body in the bathtub and hid the remains in various locations, including his home. This act followed an earlier attempted abduction of a jogger in May 2012, where he used homemade chloroform.

Sigg was arrested and faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder. In October 2013, he pleaded guilty to all charges against him. On November 19, 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years. A judge imposed additional sentences to ensure he would serve a significant amount of time in prison.