Chicago Area Local News

CBS 2's Rafael Romo, Katie McCall, and Mike Puccinelli contributed to this report.
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ― Ninety people came out to look for Stacy Peterson Sunday, and a search and rescue group from Houston is scheduled to meet with her family to take over their search efforts. Peterson's loved ones believe they are looking for her body.

As she and other friends plan the next search for 23-year-old Stacy Peterson, friend and neighbor Sharon Bychowski is haunted by what she says were many conversations about Peterson's desire to divorce her husband, Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson.

"She knew that his prior wife had died in the bathtub and in her words, 'if I disappear, it's not an accident…he killed me,'" Bychowski said.

She said that to Bychowski many times.

Stacy is Peterson's fourth wife and mother to their two small children, ages four and two. His third wife's death in a bathtub was ruled accidental. Sources tell CBS 2, Bolingbrook police were called to the home nearly 20 times for domestic disputes during that marriage. Stacy's friends believe she is the victim of foul play.

"He also shared with her that if she left him, no matter who she was with, she would kill them too," Bychowski said.

CBS 2's news partner "The Naperville Sun" obtained e-mails sent to a friend last month. In them, she writes: "I have been arguing quite a bit with my husband. As I mature some with age I am finding that the relationship I am in is controlling, manipulative and some what abusive….if you could keep me in your prayers I could use some wisdom, protection, and strength."

The Illinois State Police are handling the investigation into Peterson's disappearance. Drew Peterson's neighbors say they haven't seen him since Thursday; each day two squad cars from his department show up to watch the house.

"I would rather have them out here helping us rather than watching a house that's empty cause we know he's not here," said Roy Taylor, a friend of Stacy's.

There is now a $25,000 reward for information leading to Stacy Peterson. Anyone with information is asked to call the Illinois State Police.

Sunday's search was a more organized and focused search than a pair of searches conducted by friends and family on Saturday. Stacy's family, friends and neighbors showed up at Stacy's Bolingbrook home Sunday morning along with volunteers to aid in the search, even bringing along an all-terrain vehicle to use in their efforts.

"To see these poor kids without a mom that has to be devastating. I can't imagine something like that happening to my mom," said volunteer Aurea McClintock. 

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Stacy, 23, last spoke with her husband Drew Peterson, a Bolingbrook police officer, by phone last Sunday evening. Volunteers searched Sunday in a wooded area not far from Stacy's home. People looked for Stacy Saturday in the Knot Knolls Park in Naperville on Saturday without any results.

Stacy's family says she had marital problems and wanted to get a divorce before she vanished. Neighbors said her husband has said he believes Stacy left him for another man.

Search leader Roy Taylor said "I'm kind of in awe. Like I said yesterday, I'm blown away by the fact that he hasn't shown up or tried to help. Even if she did leave him, he has to clear his image right now and he's done nothing to do that."

Police have said Drew Peterson is not a suspect and the case is only classified as a missing person investigation. But her sister, Cassandra Cales, has said she fears foul play.

Cales had been expecting her sister to help her paint with a friend last Sunday, but five hours after Stacy had been expected, she had not shown up. Cales said began "calling her cell phone, calling the house, I was calling everybody, and then finally I broke down and called Drew."

Cales says on the night Stacy disappeared, Drew left his four young kids home alone at 11 o' clock. She also says both cars were gone at that time. But, she says, they were back in the driveway three hours later. Cales said she reached Sgt. Peterson at 11:26 p.m. Sunday.

"I called him and I heard a bunch of noise and shuffling and car ignition keys like him starting a car," Cales said. "(Drew Peterson said), 'I went out running around looking for your sister. She left me,' I said, 'While what are you doing, where are you at?' He goes, 'I'm at home, where are you at?' I said, 'I'm at home in my garage,' sitting a couple blocks away."

Cales said she was certain Drew Peterson was lying when he said he was home, since she had just left the Peterson house. She went straight to police, who spent the Thursday executing warrants at the home.
Her friend called Drew Peterson, who claimed Stacy called him and told him where her car was.

"He's like, 'no she called me and told me the car's at whatchamacallit,'" Bruce Zidarich said. "I said 'Drew, what's whatchamacallit? Where'd she leave the car?' He said, 'Hold on, let me get my head straight.'"

He then claimed Stacy called him and told him her car was at the airport, and that she was flying to Jamaica with $25,000 in cash.

Cales says it's a lie and now she's haunted by her sister's last words, when she said Stacy asked her on Friday to search for her if she disappeared.

"That's what she told me, she was relying on me," Cales said. "And I'm not gonna stop until I find her, what happened."

Cales says Stacy planned to meet with a divorce attorney as early as Monday. Cales now fears her sister is dead.

"Something happened to her," Cales said.

Cales said she believed her sister was in danger and had in essence been stalked by her husband.

"When she told me Friday night she feared for her life, I was suspicious so I wanted to stay in contact her, so I saw her Saturday night," Cales said. "We spoke, we talked all day, we text messaged. When I left her Saturday night, she said she'd call me when she woke up. She never called, and I just got really worried."

"I'm doing what you asked," Cales said in tears. "I'm here to let you know that I will find you."

Drew and Stacy Peterson have been married for four years. In 2004, Sgt. Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, was found dead in a bathtub just down the street from the Petersons' current home.

The home where the bathtub was located was just up the street. It was a whirlpool-style tub, and Savio's sister said Thursday she did not think it would be possible for her sister to drown in it.

The Will County Coroner's office ruled Savio's death an accident. The current Will County State's Attorney, James Glasgow, was not in office at the time of the incident, and has decided to take a second look.

Drew Peterson reportedly left the home earlier to "clear his head" and has not returned. The children staying elsewhere Friday night.

"I know in my heart there's no foul play," said Drew Peterson's friend, Rick Mims. "I want to say that one more time. I know in my heart there's no foul play. I stand by my friend."

Friends and family have set up a new website, FindStacyPeterson.com, in hopes someone can provide clues into Stacy's disappearance.

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