Pregnant Woman Disappears While Walking Her Dog

Hundreds of volunteers joined police and FBI agents on Friday in combing parks and neighborhoods for a woman who disappeared Christmas Eve day while walking her dog.

But despite four days of horse, dog, raft and helicopter patrols, Laci Denise Peterson remained missing.

Peterson, 27, who is eight months pregnant, left her Modesto home Tuesday morning to walk her golden retriever. When her husband, Scott, returned that evening from a Bay Area fishing trip, she was gone.

The dog, with its leather leash still attached, was in the backyard, where a neighbor had put it after finding it wandering the streets.

Peterson’s purse was in the house, and there was no sign of a disturbance.

She was last seen in a neighborhood park about 10 a.m.

Family members began searching the park and called police, who began an extensive search of their own.

On Thursday, the FBI got involved, helping local authorities to seal off the Peterson home and seizing vehicles owned by Peterson and her husband, who police said was staying with friends. A family spokesman said that search was routine.

Police and FBI agents also questioned homeless people in the park where she was last seen and searched her computer.

Her family pleaded on national television for her return.

“Whoever has her could have some compassion,” said Brent Rocha, Peterson’s brother. “She’s a human being. She’s pregnant. She needs to take care of her baby. She’s a wife, a daughter, a sister. Please return her.”

Police do not think Peterson decided to leave without contacting her family.

“That is completely out of character for her,” said Police Det. Al Brocchini.

Family members and friends have offered a $125,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

An anonymous person also established a $25,000 reward through the Carole Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation.