Search continues on St. George Island for missing FSU grad who was scattering dog's ashes
Days after a New York woman was reported missing following a visit to St. George Island State Park, multiple law enforcement agencies continue a large search along the beach, Apalachicola Bay and Gulf of Mexico.
"We feel like she probably went for a swim on Thursday and didn't make it back out of the water," said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith in a Facebook Live Monday morning.
"We don't think any foul play is involved but until we make a recovery we're leaving no stone unturned."
Staci Peterson, a 33-year-old Florida State University alumna, currently lives in Saratoga County in Upstate New York.
Alone, she drove to the capital city recently on a road trip to scatter her dog's ashes in the Gulf of Mexico, Smith told the Democrat Monday.
She was staying at a Tallahassee hotel.
The search effort began Saturday after St. George Island State Park staff noticed her rented Jeep sitting in the parking lot for two days, Smith said.
Peterson's phone, wallet, keys and hotel key card were also found on the beach.
FCSO tracked the tag of her vehicle and found it coming through Franklin County around 9 a.m. Thursday from Tallahassee, Smith said. She then entered the state park about an hour later.
Beach conditions Thursday were marked by a yellow flag, indicating a medium hazard because of the "surf and/or currents," according to the Franklin County Parks website.
"From what we have found, I think she went in the water to go for a swim or maybe waded out to put her dog's ashes in," Smith said. "The water can be very treacherous here."
On Sunday, multiple law enforcement agencies like Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol coordinated beach and air searches in conjunction with FCSO.
"We have boats, helicopters, drones, four wheelers on the beach," Smith said. "We're searching in every way possible."
Smith asked that anyone who may have seen Peterson or something suspicious on the beach, call FCSO at (850) 670-8500.
"She seemed like a really nice young lady," Smith said. "It's just a sad deal."
Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Missing New York woman, FSU grad search continues on St. George Island
