Peterson eyed for link to missing student

San Luis Obispo detectives are looking at Scott Peterson in connection with the disappearance of a college student nearly seven years ago.

Peterson, husband of Laci Peterson, went to Cal Poly at the same time as Kristin Smart, who disappeared May 25, 1996.

"We are looking at his class schedules to determine if they crossed paths at all," San Luis Obispo County sheriff's Lt. Steve Bolts said Friday.

"We have discussed the case with Modesto detectives as well. We both are familiar with each other's case."

Smart, from Stockton, was 19 when she was reported missing. Peterson was a 24-year-old student at California Polytechnic State University at the time.

Laci Peterson, who met her future husband while both were at Cal Poly, has been missing since Christmas Eve.

Friday, Peterson denied a report in The Bee that he was having an affair and that last summer he took out a $250,000 life insurance policy on his wife.

"Well, it's a bunch of lies," Peterson told San Francisco-Oakland television station KTVU. "So what are you to do?"

The brief interview took place by telephone as Peterson made his way home from Los Angeles. "I'm going to come back to Modesto and open my own volunteer center and find my wife and my kid," he said.

Family support crumbles

Laci Peterson's side of the family -- which had stood behind Scott Peterson since his wife's disappearance -- distanced themselves from him in a news conference called Friday afternoon by a family spokeswoman.

"Approximately two weeks ago, Ron Grantski, Laci's stepfather, asked Scott if he had a girlfriend," Kim Petersen said. "Scott told him no and Ron believed him. Now, however, they believe he has lied to them about this and possibly other things as well."

Peterson did not return calls to The Bee on Friday. He has not been named as a suspect in his wife's disappearance, but Police Chief Roy Wasden said Peterson has not been eliminated from the investigation.

In other developments:

The search for Laci Peterson's body extended to San Luis Reservoir, west of Los Banos, on Friday. Chief Ranger Dennis Imhoff said searchers did not find a body, but declined to comment further. San Luis, the nation's largest offstream reservoir, covers 13,800 acres with 65 miles of shoreline. Parts of the reservoir are 300 feet deep.

Wasden said sonar is being used to search several bodies of water, including San Luis Reservoir.

Early in the investigation of his wife's disappearance, Peterson retained criminal defense attorney Kirk McAllister of Modesto. An investigator working for McAllister has interviewed La Loma-area residents this week in relation to a van reportedly seen in the neighborhood about the time Laci Peterson disappeared.

Wasden said detectives believe the van -- reportedly seen by several residents -- belonged to a landscaping crew.

Kristin Smart investigation

From San Luis Obispo, sheriff's Lt. Bolts said investigators contacted hundreds of people as they looked into Smart's disappearance. Peterson's name is in the case file as one of those hundreds, but Bolts said he could find no indication that Peterson was ever interviewed.

"Scott Peterson's name has not been directly related as a witness or a student who gave any positive response," meaning he did not return a letter sent to hundreds of students, asking them for information, Bolts said.

Bolts said Peterson did not show up on a list of people at whom investigators wanted to take a closer look.

Smart last was seen at about 2 a.m. walking back to her dorm room with Paul Flores, another freshman. Smart's roommates reported her missing three days later. Her identification and other personal possessions were found in her room.

Smart has never been found and authorities have not arrested anyone in her case.

The support Peterson had received from his wife's side of the family shifted Wednesday night after police detectives told them about the affair and life insurance policy, a family member said.

Friday's Bee quoted that relative anonymously, and at a late afternoon news conference the family spokeswoman explained the changing sentiment.

"If Scott has nothing to hide, they ask that he prove it," Kim Petersen said. "He has continually allowed family members and friends to support him personally as well as on television.

"They ask that all of you continue to search for Laci and appeal to farmers and those who live in rural areas to search their fields and barns, as well as hunters, fishermen and Realtors showing empty homes."

Drapes unopened

Laci Peterson, 27 and eight months pregnant, last spoke to her mother, Sharon Rocha, at about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 23.

Scott Peterson, 30, has told police that he last saw his wife the following morning as he left for a fishing trip out of the Berkeley Marina, and that he could not find her when he returned home that evening.

Peterson called Grantski, Laci's stepfather, who then called police.

One of Laci Peterson's family members believes that whatever happened to her may have occurred sometime on Dec. 23, after she spoke to her mother.

Laci Peterson opened the drapes in her home every morning, said the family member, who asked not to be identified.

"I don't think she made it through that night," the family member said. "If she was alive that morning, she would have opened up her drapes. I know that's something minor, but maybe it was overlooked."

Bee staff writer Michael Mello contributed to this report.

Bee staff writer Ty Phillips can be reached at 578-2331 or tphillips@modbee.com.

This story was originally published January 18, 2003 at 7:45 AM with the headline "Peterson eyed for link to missing student."