Search Expands for Pregnant Woman Missing Since Dec. 24

Volunteers continued the search Saturday for a pregnant woman who disappeared Christmas Eve, while a reward for information leading to her return increased to $500,000. Authorities have received more than 260 tips on a police hotline and have expanded the search to rural areas throughout Stanislaus County.

Another anonymous donor contributed $375,000 to a fund established for Laci Denise Peterson, who is eight months pregnant and was last seen at a Modesto park just before 10 a.m. on Dec. 24. Her husband, Scott, was on a Bay Area fishing trip at the time, Modesto police said.

With the help of 50 volunteers, police searched Saturday in western Stanislaus County for the 27-year-old woman. They also served a search warrant at a warehouse used by Scott Peterson’s fertilizer business and seized his fishing boat, said Det. Doug Ridenour.

Peterson is not considered a suspect in his wife’s disappearance, Ridenour said.