Services for Peterson will be private

Laci Peterson's family on Monday had not decided on funeral arrangements for her, but had determined that any ceremony will be closed to the public, a family spokeswoman said.

"They held the public memorial and appreciate the outpouring of support from the community," said Kim Petersen, executive director of the Carole Sund- Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. The foundation has assisted the family since Laci Peterson, 27, was reported missing Christmas Eve.

"If they choose to do anything else, it will be done in private."

The search for the expectant mother and substitute teacher from Modesto rallied a community and drew the nation's gaze.

In May, an estimated 3,000 people flocked to a Modesto church for a memorial service on what would have been Peterson's 28th birthday.

Four months after her family reported her missing, Peterson's body was found washed up on the eastern shoreline of San Francisco Bay. The body of her unborn son, Conner, was found just over a mile away.

Peterson's husband, Scott, has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths. He has pleaded innocent.

Last week, the Contra Costa County coroner's office released the remains to the Rocha family after Scott Peterson's defense team examined the bodies and later X-rayed the fetus.

The remains were transferred to the Stanislaus County coroner's facility late Thursday and were being held there as a courtesy to the family until funeral arrangements were made, Sheriff Les Weidman said.

Bee staff writer John Coté can be reached at 578-2394 or jcote@modbee.com.