5 Shocking Facts And Latest Updates On The Stacy Peterson Disappearance: Has Her Body Ever Been Found?

The disappearance of Stacy Ann Peterson remains one of the most haunting and frustrating cold cases in modern American history, even in late 2025. The central, agonizing question—did they ever find Stacy Peterson—has a definitive, tragic answer: No, her remains have never been officially located or recovered by law enforcement since she vanished from her Bolingbrook, Illinois, home on October 28, 2007. The case has been marked by sensational media coverage, a landmark legal battle, and the conviction of her husband, Drew Peterson, for the murder of his previous wife, Kathleen Savio.

Despite the lack of a body, Stacy Peterson is legally presumed dead, and her husband, former Bolingbrook Police Sergeant Drew Peterson, remains the prime suspect in her presumed murder. The investigation continues to generate news, primarily due to the relentless, independent search efforts of her family, particularly her sister, Cassandra Cales, who continues to push authorities for action on new potential evidence. The following details the latest developments, the tragic biography of the missing mother, and the shocking legal legacy of the case.

The Tragic Life and Disappearance of Stacy Ann Peterson (Biography)

Stacy Ann Cales Peterson was a young mother whose life was tragically cut short, leaving behind a complex and disturbing family history. She was the fourth wife of Drew Peterson, a relationship that began when she was just 17 and he was a 47-year-old police officer.

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• Full Name: Stacy Ann Cales Peterson (née Cales)
• Born: January 20, 1984
• Age at Disappearance: 23 years old
• Date of Disappearance: October 28, 2007
• Location of Disappearance: Bolingbrook, Illinois
• Spouse: Drew Walter Peterson (married 2003)
• Children: Two young children with Drew Peterson, in addition to two step-children from Drew's previous marriage.
• Disturbing Family Connection: Stacy’s own mother, Christie Cales, also vanished under mysterious circumstances from Blue Island in 1998 and has never been found, creating a devastating double tragedy for the Cales family.
• Last Known Actions: She last spoke to a family member on the evening of October 28, 2007. Drew Peterson claimed she left him for another man.

The Unanswered Question: Did They Ever Find Stacy Peterson?

The short answer is an emphatic No, but the search for Stacy Peterson’s remains is far from over. Her body has never been recovered, which has prevented the Will County State's Attorney from officially filing murder charges against Drew Peterson in her case.

The Relentless Search Efforts by Cassandra Cales

The most significant and recent search updates do not come from law enforcement, but from Stacy’s younger sister, Cassandra Cales. Cassandra has dedicated her life to finding her sister, operating independently and often using her own resources.

• Sonar and ROV Searches: Cales has repeatedly conducted searches using advanced technology, including sonar equipment and remote-operated vehicles (ROVs), to scan waterways and canals in the Lockport, Illinois, area.
• Claims of Discovery: In recent years, Cales has claimed to have located what she believes are her sister’s remains or a skull-like object at the bottom of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
• Official Response: These claims have prompted authorities, including the FBI and local police, to conduct new searches in the Lockport canal area. However, official reports state that the searches have consistently turned up nothing conclusive or related to Stacy’s disappearance.
• Family Frustration: Cassandra Cales has publicly expressed intense frustration and disappointment with the cooperation levels of police and the FBI, insisting that the locations she has identified warrant a more thorough and continuous investigation.

Drew Peterson: The Convicted Killer and His Ongoing Legal Battles

Drew Peterson's status as a convicted murderer is directly linked to Stacy’s disappearance. His arrest and conviction for the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, was a direct result of the investigation into Stacy’s vanishing.

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The Kathleen Savio Murder and the Hearsay Law

Kathleen Savio was found dead in her bathtub in 2004, a death initially ruled an accidental drowning. When Stacy Peterson disappeared three years later, authorities reopened the Savio case, exhumed her body, and reclassified her death as a homicide.

• The Stacy Peterson Law: The prosecution's case against Drew Peterson for Savio’s murder relied heavily on a controversial piece of legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2008. This law, often called the "Stacy Peterson Law" or "Hearsay Law," allows for the admission of certain out-of-court statements from a victim if the court finds the defendant murdered the victim to prevent them from testifying.
• Crucial Testimony: This law allowed prosecutors to use hearsay statements Stacy Peterson made to her pastor and others, where she expressed fear of Drew and claimed he had confessed to her about killing Kathleen Savio.
• Conviction and Sentence: In 2012, Drew Peterson was convicted of Kathleen Savio's murder and sentenced to 38 years in prison. In 2016, he received an additional 40-year sentence for a plot to hire a hitman to kill Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, bringing his total sentence to 78 years.

Latest Updates on Drew Peterson's Status (2025)

Even in late 2025, Drew Peterson continues to pursue legal avenues from behind bars, seeking to overturn his conviction. His current legal focus is on post-conviction relief.

• Appeals and Post-Conviction Case: Peterson's legal team has filed numerous appeals, all of which have been unsuccessful. He is currently campaigning for a new trial, arguing ineffective counsel and challenging the constitutionality of the Hearsay Law.
• Psychological Evaluations: Recent court records show that Drew Peterson has been back in Will County court for psychological evaluations related to his ongoing post-conviction case.
• Maintaining Innocence: Despite the overwhelming evidence and his conviction for Savio’s murder, Drew Peterson still vehemently maintains his innocence in both the death of Kathleen Savio and the disappearance of Stacy Peterson.

The Lingering Legacy of the Bolingbrook Mother

The Stacy Peterson case has left an indelible mark on Illinois law and the lives of her family, especially her four young children. The children, two from Stacy and Drew, and two from Drew’s previous marriage to Kathleen Savio, were left without a mother and with a father who is a convicted killer.

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The tragic parallel between Stacy’s disappearance and that of her own mother, Christie Cales, who vanished nine years earlier, adds a layer of profound sorrow to the case. The Cales family has endured two unsolved missing person cases, further fueling Cassandra Cales's determination to bring her sister home.

The "Stacy Peterson Law" stands as a controversial but powerful legal tool, allowing prosecutors to introduce critical evidence in cases where a defendant may have silenced a key witness. While it secured the conviction in the Savio case, the ultimate goal of finding Stacy and achieving justice for her remains unfulfilled. The case serves as a constant reminder of the vulnerability of domestic violence victims and the legal challenges of prosecuting a murder without a body.

As of late 2025, the search for Stacy Peterson continues. While authorities have yet to confirm any successful recovery, Cassandra Cales’s tireless efforts ensure that the Bolingbrook mother is not forgotten, and that the pressure on investigators to solve the 18-year-old mystery remains intense.