Jan 16, 2008 4:56 pm US/Central
Stacy Peterson's Grandfather Speaks Out
Bob Toutges Says He's Convinced Peterson's Husband Killed Her
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
Stacy Peterson's grandfather is talking for the first time about her disappearance. CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli has the exclusive story.
The Valentine's card that Stacy Peterson gave her grandfather, Bob Toutges, when she was six years old has taken on a new meaning since the Bolingbrook mother of two has disappeared.
"She told me 'Grandpa I love you.' And there's her handwriting on the back," Toutges said.
Toutges doesn't think he'll ever see his granddaughter alive again. "I'm pretty sure she's in water someplace," he said, and he believes Stacy Peterson's husband and declared suspect Drew Peterson put her there.
Asked if he thinks Drew Peterson killed his granddaughter, Toutges said, "In my heart, I'm sure he did."
Toutges said his heart nearly gave out when his granddaughter turned up missing.
"I don't think it will ever be alright. But I've learned to live with it," he said. For a while he wasn't sure if he could.
On the day after Stacy Peterson disappeared more than two-and-a-half months ago, Toutges told a nurse at his assisted living facility that he felt like he just wanted to die. That's when he was brought to Ingalls Hospital and admitted for four days.
Drew Peterson has said his wife left her home alone to go visit Toutges on the morning when she vanished, but Toutges says Stacy Peterson never visited him without bringing her children. He first learned of his granddaughter's disappearance when his son called.
"He said, Drew said she was coming over there. I said, 'No, she isn't here' and he said, 'I think she's dead.' I went into shock," Toutges said.
Now, when he looks at the images of his 80th birthday party and the young mother who threw the party his heart aches for a granddaughter who seemingly can't come home again.
"I'm lost without her," Toutges said. "I love you sweetheart, come home."
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