Executive Summary
- Christopher Wiggins was extradited from Colorado to Utah to face a first-degree felony child kidnapping charge.
- The charges stem from a November 26 incident that triggered a multi-state Amber Alert for a 13-year-old girl.
- Court documents allege Wiggins shot at the victim’s mother days prior to the abduction.
- Wiggins was previously convicted in 2011 for attempted unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Christopher Thomas Wiggins, 34, was booked into the Weber County Jail on Tuesday after being extradited from Colorado to face a first-degree felony charge of child kidnapping. The booking follows an interstate investigation and Amber Alert issued in late November regarding a missing 13-year-old girl from Ogden.
According to court documents, the Amber Alert was activated on November 26 after the girl was reported missing. Wiggins, a family friend who had been living with the victim’s family, was identified as the suspect. Law enforcement utilized technology to track the pair, pinging the girl’s phone in Wyoming and detecting Wiggins’ vehicle near Fort Collins, Colorado, via license plate readers. Authorities located the vehicle and recovered the girl safely, taking Wiggins into custody at that time.
The arrest warrant outlines a pattern of alleged escalation prior to the abduction. Police reports state that the girl’s mother had recently discovered an intimate image sent by Wiggins to the minor. When confronted, Wiggins reportedly admitted to sending the image. Furthermore, investigators allege that on November 24, Wiggins fired a gun at the mother and daughter while they were seated in a car discussing the situation. Police confirmed they found a bullet hole in the vehicle and recovered a slug.
During a search of Wiggins’ trailer, detectives reportedly found a handwritten note addressed to the victim containing statements of “extreme love” and a willingness to “sacrifice everything,” according to the warrant. Court records indicate that Wiggins has a prior criminal history, including a 2011 conviction for two counts of attempted unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Judicial Proceedings
With the extradition complete and the suspect booked into Weber County Jail, the initial arrest warrant has been recalled as the case moves into the prosecution phase. Wiggins is scheduled for his first court appearance on Thursday, where the court will address the first-degree felony charge. The presence of prior convictions and the alleged use of a firearm may influence upcoming bail hearings and legal strategy. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
