Search for missing Saratoga County woman in Florida

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. – Sheriff A.J. “Tony” Smith has been doing a series of Facebook Lives – some at the scene – to keep people updated on the search for Staci Peterson, 33, of Saratoga County.

“Our guys have been on four-wheelers looking up and down the beach,” said he said Wednesday afternoon. “We have searched along all of St. George, the bays, the mainland, Dog Island, and still no luck.”

The operation has gone from search to recovery.

The sheriff told newspaper Tallahassee Democrat that Peterson was on a road trip to scatter her dog’s ashes in the Gulf of Mexico.

The conditions Thursday were yellow flag, meaning medium hazard, use caution, and the sheriff said those who live there know how treacherous the waters can be.

Investigators do not suspect foul play.

“We are continuing to look. We’re not going to give up,” said Smith. “Her mom is here as well, and we just ask you to keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers, and we’ll update you as soon as we have new information.”

The Tallahassee Democrat is reporting that Peterson’s rented Jeep was noticed sitting in the parking lot for two days, and that her phone, wallet, keys, and hotel key card were found on the beach.

The paper quotes the sheriff as saying he thinks she went in the water to go for a swim, or maybe waded out to put her dog’s ashes in.