An emotional night turned into relief early Thursday after the Jessika Francisco, the 13-year-old girl who triggered an Amber Alert in Ogden, Utah, was safely recovered — and the man suspected of her abduction, Christopher Thomas Wiggins, is now behind bars.
According to law enforcement, Jessika was located by deputies in Fort Collins, Colorado, late Wednesday evening; authorities took Wiggins into custody shortly afterward.
The alert had gone out after police in Weber County, Utah, warned that Jessika — last seen around 3 to 4 a.m. Wednesday by her family — was believed to be with a registered sex offender who knew the family.
Jessika, described as about 4 feet 6 inches tall with blond or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes, was wearing Dr. Pepper–branded pajama pants, a white hoodie, and pink slippers at the time she vanished.
Wiggins, a 34-year-old man with a prior conviction for unlawful sexual activity with a minor, was believed to be armed and driving a white 2013 Hyundai Sonata bearing Utah license plate A999FH.
In a statement, law enforcement officials thanked the public for their rapid responses and shared relief after the safe recovery. They said Jessika’s safe return was due in large part to vigilance by community members sharing information across Utah and neighboring states — and the fast work of officers coordinating across jurisdictions.
Investigators say Wiggins was not permitted to have contact with Jessika, yet the abduction happened anyway. The case — now involving multiple jurisdictions — will be handled carefully, with prosecutors and federal partners working alongside the local police to determine charges and pursue justice.
For now, Jessica Francisco is safe, reunited with her family — ending a night of fear with much-needed good news.
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