| JULY 17, 2003 Less than a month after Laci Peterson disappeared, a woman who lived nearby entered Peterson's house and left with several objects, including Laci's wedding dress, according to several sources. The suspect, Kimberly Ann McGregor, had been active in searches for her missing neighbor. Sources close to the burglary say McGregor, 30, went into the Covena Avenue home early on Jan. 18, when Scott Peterson was in Los Angeles heading up a one-day search for his wife. Police originally said there was no connection between the burglary and the case of the missing Modesto woman, but now authorities claim that it could be part of the case being prepared against Scott Peterson on charges that he murdered his wife and their unborn son. Peterson's attorneys could raise the incident in their defense of Scott. He faces the death penalty if convicted of murdering his 27-year-old wife and their son, Conner. Jackie Peterson, Scott's mother, told The Bee in May that items taken in the January burglary included her daughter-in-law's wedding dress. She said her son got the dress back, then had it cleaned and boxed. On Jan. 17, The Bee reported that police had informed Laci's family that Scott was having an affair with a Fresno woman. Later that day, Laci's family members released a statement, through a spokeswoman, saying that they thought Scott Peterson lied when he said he did not have a girlfriend, and they urged him to fully cooperate with police.They also closed the volunteer center that had coordinated the massive search effort, citing "recent developments and the incredible media attention." Shortly after midnight, McGregor entered the Peterson home, drank some alcohol and left with items in hand, sources said.McGregor also was at the house on Christmas Eve after family members reported Peterson missing, and she was in the home over the next two days, said Ron Grantski, Peterson's stepfather. McGregor also walked the Petersons' dog. Grantski said he could neither confirm nor deny whether McGregor was involved in the burglary. McGregor declined to comment on the incident or her involvement in the search. "I don't have anything to say," she said Wednesday. "I'm just a single mom. There's a reason that stuff has not come out." Scott Peterson reported the burglary Jan. 19 upon his return from Southern California. "Detectives don't believe the burglary is connected to the Peterson case," police spokesman Detective Doug Ridenour said Jan. 20. Shortly after news of the burglary surfaced, police reported that the burglary suspect was known to the Petersons and had access to the home. The suspect cooperated with police and the stolen property was returned, police said at the time. No arrest was made. Court records indicate that a judge issued a bench warrant in March 2002 for McGregor for failing to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of challenging a person to fight in public.She was not arrested on that warrant until about a month ago, at the time of her booking at county jail on a public drunkenness charge, according to the Sheriff's Department. Ridenour would not comment on the case, but said in general that officers are not required by law to arrest someone on a bench warrant if they come in contact with them, Ridenour said. "It depends on the circumstances why they stopped them," Ridenour said. "For the most part they do take them in, but there may be some extenuating circumstances." McGregor also was booked for public drunkenness on May 31, 2001, and Sept. 22, 2001, according to Sheriff's Department records. HOME INDEX LACI AMBER SCOTT TRIAL NEWS DEFENSE TEAM PROSECUTION EVIDENCE & NEWS STORIES WIRETAPS LACI'S FAMILY |
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| LACI & CONNER PRAY FOR JUSTICE |