12-24-02 - At
5:48 p.m.,
Modesto Police received the call that Laci Peterson was missing. There was nothing unusual found in the house to indicate anything had
happened and Laci’s purse was still in the house. A neighbor had found Laci's
golden retriever out in front of the house earlier, with leash
attached, and returned the dog to the backyard, not realizing
anything was amiss. Laci's husband, Scott, and family members
began searching the park for Laci and called the Police. Officers were
held over past their regular shifts to look for Laci.
Detectives, K-9s and officers on bikes converged on the park,
looking for clues. The Sheriff's Office helicopter
searched from the sky.
12-25-02 - On Christmas morning, additional assistance was received from the Water Rescue Units from Modesto City Fire Department and Stanislaus Consolidated
Fire. Modesto Police canines and equestrian teams were used to further the search along the creek bed and in the park. The search for Laci
continued to expand beyond the park and river area. "We have organized volunteers for a systematic search and it is our hope to find Laci and bring her home," said Chief Roy
Wasden. A tip line is established at the Police
Department.
12-26-02 - A volunteer center is opened at the Red Lion
Hotel. Volunteers join the search. Thousands of fliers
with Laci's photo and the reward information are posted. Friends
and family established a $100,000 reward for Laci's safe return.
An anonymous donor made another $25,000 reward through the Carole
Sund-Carrington Memorial Award Foundation. The search
continued. Neighbors from across the street return from holiday
to find their home burglarized. A possible connection to Laci's
disappearance begins to be investigated.
12-29-02 - The Modesto
Police Department announced they have expanded their search
outside the urban area of Modesto. They state that they
are checking along Highway 132 and as far away as the Berkeley
Marina. They have also started to contact and interview
all sex registrants in the area.
12-31-02 - More than a
thousand people attend a candlelight vigil at East La Loma
Park.
1-2-03 - Police released
photos of Scott's vehicle and boat in an attempt to corroborate
Scott's trip to the Berkeley Marina on the day of Laci's
disappearance.
1-3-03 - Detectives
announced that they had the suspects in custody who burglarized
the home across the street from Laci's. Detectives were
able to verify that the burglary happened on the 26th and was in
no way connected to Laci's disappearance. Rural property
owners, ranchers and farmers were urged to check their property.
1-9-03 - Modesto Police
announces an object found by side-scan sonar that might be a
body.
1-11-03 - Object turns
out to be an anchor. The search continues to expand
to other counties. Thousands of tips coming in on the tip
line continued to be investigated.
1-17-03 - The volunteer
center at the Red Lion Hotel closes.
1-20-03 - Laci's home
was burglarized while Scott was out of town. Detectives
quickly locate the suspect and verify that the burglary was not
related to Laci's disappearance.
1-24-03 - In a press
conference, Amber Frey came forward and announced that she had a
recent relationship with Scott Peterson.
2-7-03 - Laci's family
announced that they would be organizing their own searches for
the next three weekends.
2-18-03 - Modesto Police
conduct a second search warrant at the Peterson home.
2-20-03 - Police
requested the assistance of the media in keeping the area around
the Peterson home clear. Media trucks had been causing
traffic problems and noise problems in the
area.
2-28-03 - Police
announced they have received over 8,000 tips on their tip line,
ranging from legitimate tips to people expressing their
opinions. The tips were documented and handled, with
investigations being done on those necessary.
3-5-03 - Modesto Police
announced the Laci Peterson case had been reclassified as a
homicide. "As the investigation has progressed, we
have increasingly come to believe that Laci Peterson is the
victim of a violent crime" says the lead investigator,
Detective Craig Grogan. A reward of $50,000 is announced
by the Carole Sund Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation for
information directly leading to the location and recovery of
Laci.
3-13-03 - Search of San
Francisco Bay is suspended due to weather conditions.
4-4-03 - A Stanislaus
County Superior heard arguments regarding the unsealing of
warrants in this case. He defers to an
"in-camera" date in order to fully judge this request
for unsealing.
4-9-03 - Stanislaus
County Superior Court Judge Roger M. Beauchesne heard arguments
in this case.
4-10-03 - It is
announced that the Superior Court will not release copies of the
search warrants due to the fact that "…revelations of
confidential information contained in the warrants, affidavits
and returns would irreparably harm the investigation," as
stated by Judge Beauchesne in his ruling.
4-15-03 - Modesto Police
announced that they were notified by Contra Costa County that
the body of a baby and an unidentified female had been recovered
in their area. They requested that Modesto Police confer
with them on this case as they had been searching in this area.
For further information on
these stories, click the link to the Laci Peterson Press
Releases on the top left of this page.
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Modesto, CA 95354