Sheriff Detectives Probe Woman’s Disappearance

Though no evidence of foul play has surfaced, Orange County sheriff’s detectives will conduct a criminal investigation into the disappearance of a Newport Beach woman during a wedding anniversary boating expedition, officials confirmed Saturday.

Pegye Bechler, 38, disappeared July 6 outside Newport Harbor while steering a rented speedboat towing her 29-year-old husband, Eric, on a bodyboard, Eric Bechler told authorities. She was not wearing a life jacket, he said.

After a 15-hour air and sea search and subsequent Coast Guard investigation turned up no trace of Pegye Bechler, a triathlete and expert swimmer, U.S. Coast Guard officials “concluded that sheriffs were more equipped than we were to handle this,” Coast Guard Lt. Jeanne Reincke said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Charles Walters said there is no indication of a homicide, but they cannot discount the possibility without further investigation.

Bechler told U.S. Coast Guard commanders he was knocked off the board by a large wave about 4 p.m., only to surface and see the 19-foot motorboat boat circling in the distance and his wife gone.

“First I thought she had to be right there,” Bechler said Saturday of the mother of his three young children. “I started paddling over and started screaming, just yelled, yelled forever.

“I want to know where Pegye is,” he said.