Nov 3, 2007 7:25 pm US/Eastern
Search Underway In Illinois For Cop's Missing Wife
Stacy Peterson's Family Believes She May Have Been Killed, Family Looking For Volunteers To Aid In Search
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Stacy Peterson, 23, has been missing since Sunday, Oct. 28.
CBS
Family and friends of a missing woman from Illinois are launching a massive search effort this weekend.
As CBS station WBBM-TV reports, Stacy Peterson, 23, has now been missing for six days. Her husband, Bolingbrook, Ill. police Sgt. Drew Peterson, was the last one to see her this past Sunday.
Two searches for Stacy Peterson were planned for Saturday. Neighbors conducted the first search at the Petersons' house. Another search is planned Sunday, starting at 9 a.m.
On Friday night, a friend of Drew Peterson's spoke on his behalf. Ric Mims has been the sergeant's friend for years, and he says the 53-year-old veteran cop would have been incapable of harming his wife.
"I know in my heart there's no foul play. I want to say that one more time, I know in my heart there's no foul play," Mims said. "I stand by my friend."
But Stacy's family is not so certain.
"Something happened to her," said her sister, Cassandra Cales.
Stacy's family fears that she might have been the victim of foul play. They plan to look around Bolingbrook for her on Saturday.
Cales told WBBM-TV West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli on Friday that her sister had been in fear for her life and had said so before disappearing. Cales said Stacy Peterson had been expected to help her paint last Sunday, but never showed up.
Later, Cales said, she called Drew Peterson, and she said what followed was a mysterious conversation.
"And I hear a bunch of noise and shuffling, and car ignition keys, you know, like he's starting a car, and he's like, 'I went out running around looking for your sister. She left me,'" Cales said.
Cales has said she did not believe her sister would leave without her children.
On Friday afternoon, investigators searched a manhole near the Peterson Home looking for clues. Police divers also searched a retention pond near the home.
The two-day search of the retention ponds ended with no result. Authorities continue to investigate numerous tips from the public.
But in spite of the family's worst fears, police continue to investigate the disappearance only as a missing persons case.
"I'm just hoping some way, she's out there still," said family friend Bruce Zidarich.
Stacy is Drew Peterson's fourth wife. Questions also remain about the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, who drowned in a whirlpool-style bathtub three years ago. At the time, the Will County coroner's office ruled the case accidental, but the Will County state's attorney's office has reopened the case.
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