Fact Check

Laci Peterson

A 27-year-old pregnant woman named Laci Peterson has been missing from her Modesto, California, home since Christmas Eve 2002

Published Jan. 11, 2003

Claim:

Claim:   A 27-year-old pregnant woman named Laci Peterson has been missing from her Modesto, California, home since Christmas Eve 2002.


Status:   Not any more.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2003]




Laci Peterson has was last seen by her husband on Christmas Eve.

Laci Peterson, a 27 year old California woman who is eight months pregnant, was last seen walking her dog in a neighborhood park on Christmas Eve. Her husband, Scott, was away on a fishing trip in the San Francisco Bay area, but called police when he returned home and found his wife missing. She was last seen wearing black pants and a white long sleeve top. Laci also has a sunflower tattoo on her left ankle. Her family is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to her safe return to them.

The Internet is huge and covers the whole world. If you pass this photo to just 5 friends, and they each pass it on to 5 of their friends, maybe this picture will reach someone who has seen Laci and can help find her.

Anyone with information should call the Modesto Police Dept. Anonymous hotline at (209) 342-6166



Origins:   The

Laci Peterson

information quoted above is generally correct in all its details. According to the Modesto Police:



On 12-24-02 at about 5:48 p.m., Modesto Police received a phone call from a man stating that his pregnant wife had not been seen since 9:30 a.m. that day.

Scott Peterson, of Modesto, left to the Bay Area to go fishing. His wife, Laci Denise Peterson, 26 years, eight months pregnant, stayed home to shop for dinner that evening and to walk their dog at East La Loma Park, commonly known as Dry Creek Park.

After Scott was done fishing, he tried to call Laci from his cell phone but did not reach her. When he arrived home, he discovered his dog in the back yard of his house with the leash still attached. There was nothing unusual found in the house to indicate anything had happened and Laci’s purse was still in the house. Scott and family members began searching the park for Laci and called the Police.


Despite intensive search and investigative efforts since Laci's disappearance on Christmas Eve 2002, and rewards totalling $500,000 for information leading to Laci's safe return, police were unable to turn up any leads on her whereabouts or the circumstances regarding her disappearance. In April 2003 Laci's body washed up on a San Francisco Bay beach, and her husband was arrested and charged with capital murder.

Last updated:   30 September 2007





  Sources Sources:

    DeFao, Janine.   "Search Finds No Trace of Modesto Woman."

    San Francisco Chronicle.   28 December 2002.

    Woolfolk, John and Roxanne Stites.   "Clues Sought in Home of Missing Woman."

    The [San Jose] Mercury News.   28 December 2002.


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