|
Third
and last of three Saturday
searches held on February 22, 2003
POSTED: Sunday, February 23, 2003 at 1:14 PM PST
UPDATED: Sunday, February 23, 2003 at 5:47 PM PST
The third and last of three planned Saturday searches for Laci Peterson organized by her family and the
Sund/Carrington
Foundation
happened on Saturday, February 22, 2003 at 9:00 AM PST at the New Melones Reservoir on the border of Tuolumne and
Calaveras counties near Angel's Camp, California.
"We had about 100 people (on foot), six teams of horses and 10 boats searching the reservoir today, but we
didn't find anything," said Laci's stepfather, Ron Grantski.
During its press
conference
on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, Laci's family announced that it was organizing three searches during the remaining
Saturdays of Feburary: One in the Delta Mendota Canal area on February 8th, one in the Lake
Don Pedro area on February 15th,
and the final one in the Lake Pardee area on February 22nd.
And, indeed, the first two of those searches (on February 8th and 15th) took place, as planned, covering range
land and waterways in western Stanislaus and southern San Joaquin counties, and the Don Pedro Reservoir in Tuolumne
County. Police assisted Laci's family in choosing the search sites.
The third and last search took place on Saturday, February 22, 2003. Prior to the search date the location was
changed from the originally-planned Lake Pardee area to the New Melones Reservoir.
The meeting place or staging area for Saturday's search was the Black Bart Day-use Area at the Glory Hole Recreation
Area at the New Melones Reservoir. The New Melones Reservoir is located 60 miles upstream on the Stanislaus River
from the confluence of the San Joaquin River; located between the historic mining towns of Sonora and Angel's Camp
on Highway 49; nestled in the Foothill Oak Woodlands of the Sierras at the 1100 ft elevation.
Complete, detailed driving directions to the staging area, a map (below), and a detailed weather forecast for the
search day were provided on this web site. Volunteers were asked to assemble in the staging area at 9:00 AM PST
in a peaceful manner so as not to disturb others at the day-use area, which they did. And Laci's family thanks
them for that.
There above
map was provided on this site to aid volunteer searchers in getting to the New Melones Reservoir. Two possible
routes from Modesto were shown, one in yellow and one in green. Volunteers were advised that
while the green route seemed shorter in miles,
it may actually take longer to traverse than the yellow route. In either case, it was about an hour's drive from
Modesto. |
At the staging area
volunteers were given basic instructions for how to conduct their searches and what to look for. Some 200 or more
serial-numbered maps, each with different areas highlighted on them, were signed-out to volunteers who were asked
to return them at the end of the search day at around 3:00 PM PST. Each map contained different areas to be searched.
The part of the reservoir covered by searchers on foot and in vehicles was the northeastern area, near Rose Creek.
Searchers on horseback confined their search to the southern end of the reservoir near French Flat Road. The rest
of the main body of the reservoir was searched by boat. Four-wheel all-terrain vehicles (quads) were not used in
Saturday's search.
Volunteer searchers were asked to bring their lunch and plenty of water to drink. They were asked to wear comfortable
clothing, head covering and shoes appropriate for the task and the weather. They were reminded to bring sunblock
and binoculars. And, finally, they were admonished not to participate if they were not physically able or if they
were in poor health.
"We love that you want to help," this web site told them, "but please don't hurt yourself in the
process!"
Laci's family appreciates peoples' continued efforts , said family spokeswoman Kim Petersen, Executive Director
of the Carole
Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation
(and no relation to the Petersons). She added that it appeared as if fewer volunteers had turned out for this search
than the preceding two.
"We still had people who came from quite a ways to be there," she said. " It was such a beautiful
day, it was nice for people to be able to be out with their boats."
Volunteers scoured the reservoir on boats and combed the surrounding area on foot and horseback, but nothing turned
up that authorities deemed significant, Petersen said.
Peterson said that although investigators have not participated in the family's organized searches, they have guided
the efforts.
"Every week we have met with the police department and they have specified which areas to go over," she
said.
Ron Grantski, Laci's stepfather, added that he did not know for sure when another search would be conducted.
Click here to read about the Delta Mendota
Canal area search on February 8, 2003
Click here to read about the Lake Don
Pedro area search on February 15, 2003.
Regarding
future Saturday searches
At this writing, no search for
next Saturday or any future Saturdays have been scheduled.
But please keep and eye on this web site. Additional searches may be scheduled on one or more future dates.
Independent searching is also encouraged. Reading from his prepared statement at the family's press conference on Wednesday, February 5, 2003,
Laci's older brother, Brent Rocha, said:
"Where appropriate,
the family encourages searches by boat, horseback, quads, bikes, etc. If you are unable to join us in any of these
organized searches we still ask that ranchers, farmers, and property owners with acreage search their land, any
bodies of water, and any areas surrounding their properties."
But please do it safely!
And please do
not disturb any evidence you might happen to find.
If you find anything, keep your distance from it but do not leave it. Keep others away from it as well. Then call the Modesto Police Department at (209) 342-6166.
Please click here to learn about other things you can do to help!
|