New Search Effort for Stacy Peterson

BOLINGBROOK, Ill.(WLS) -- Family and friends joined volunteers to kick off a new search for missing mother Stacy Peterson Friday.

They were combing parts of the southwest suburbs for the first time in several months.

Peterson's family says they have new information as to where she may be, and they want your help in finding her. A new search set off Friday as part of an ongoing effort to find the missing Bolingbrook mother of two.

Stacy Peterson's husband, Drew Peterson, is suspected in her disappearance, but he claimed she left on her own. Drew Peterson sits in a Will County jail, not because of his fourth wife's disappearance. He is awaiting trial in the 2004 murder of third wife Kathleen Savio.

Stacy Peterson disappeared in October of 2007, and her family and friends fear she is dead. Since her disappearance, there have been numerous search operations for the mother. In the days immediately after she went missing, hundreds of volunteers combed the fields and woods around Bolingbrook, as well as ponds, streams and rivers for any signs of her. All of those searches turned up nothing.

Volunteers gathered Friday morning at the Ikea store in Bolingbrook.
They have been waiting to search the wetlands because they were waiting for them to dry up.

About 30 to 40 volunteers were searching for her. They headed down the road to a federally protected field in a wet land area near several homes.

Police were not involved in the search. Several other searches have not resulted in any clues.

The family of Stacy Peterson says they had a tip about a year ago that Drew Peterson was spotted in the area shortly after Stacy's disappearance. They believe there is a good chance they will find something.

"It will be nice just to find her and bring her home. And, you know, it's just an emotional roller coaster ride that I continue to ride and will continue to ride until I bring her home," said Cassandra Cales, Stacy Peterson's sister.

"Several people have tried to contact the Illinois State Police. I feel rather they have too many leads, or something timing wise, that's not good enough. It has to be now and all the time," said Gia Hoffman, family friend.

"Obviously her body is somewhere. I'm hoping today will be the day, and her family deserves that," said Pam Smith, volunteer.

It could be a rather long search effort. The area is not very large, but the brush and the weeds are high. And in certain areas, the water is deep. Some areas may even be unsafe.