Seward County Independent

    The search for a missing child is over.
     Around 5 a.m. April 13, Seward and Butler county sheriff's department officers, along with members of the Nebraska State Patrol, recovered the remains of 14-month-old Trista Michelle Peterson in Butler County.
     "We are investigating the death of little Trista as a homicide," Seward County Attorney Wendy Elston said in a news release. "We have the father of the little girl in custody and are continuing our investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death."
     Trista's father and custodial parent, 22-year-old Lucas J. Peterson of Bee, is being considered "a person of interest," Elston said in an interview with the Seward County Independent April 13.
     Seward County Sheriff Joe Yocum said Peterson took officers to an abandoned farmstead three miles south of Highway 92 off County Road P in Butler County and pointed out where Trista was buried. At that point, he was returned to the Seward County Jail where he remained as of press time.
     Peterson was being questioned by Seward sheriff's deputies April 12 and finally said, "I'll take you to where she's at," Yocum said.
     When Peterson returned to the jail, Yocum said, he was quite, had his head down and walked directly to his cell without saying a word to anyone.
     Yocum requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, who sent its Major Crimes Unit. Butler County officers joined the recovery efforts at the scene.
     After the area was secured and officers had received permission to enter it, they started the recovery process, Yocum said.
     "There's a methodology for conducting an archeological recovery," he said, adding that photos and measurements were taken and sketches were made. "It took several hours to recover her body."
     He said investigators found Trista about 5 a.m. and completed their work on the site around 6 a.m.
     "I was thankful for the cooperation between agencies," he said.
     Butler County Attorney Julie Reiter ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The autopsy was scheduled for April 16.
     "What an awful, awful case. It's a tragedy for the family," Reiter said.
     Elston said she would have a better idea of potential charges following the autopsy. As of April 16, no charges had been filed, and the investigation is ongoing. She was not available for comment April 16.
     Both sets of grandparents have chosen not to comment at this time.
     Trista's mother, Jennifer Williams, 25, is currently serving one year in the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women on charges of theft by unlawful taking and issue bad check $100 to $500. According to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services website, she is scheduled to be released June 16.
     Peterson was seen with the baby around the first of the year, Yocum said. He was attempting to avoid law enforcement at the time of his arrest in March.
     Trista was reported missing on Jan. 4, 2007. According to the Nebraska State Patrol's missing persons website, authorities were dispatched Jan. 30 to do a welfare check at Peterson's home. At that time, they were unable to locate either Lucas or Trista.
     Peterson was arrested March 28 on an outstanding warrant for an unrelated charge of failure to appear in court. He had been charged with third-degree assault, attempted strangulation and criminal mischief $200 or less for an incident on Oct. 7, 2006.
     The affidavit from the Seward Police Department said the officer was notified by dispatch about 2 p.m. March 28 that Peterson had just purchased a six-pack of beer at Fast Mart. The officer saw Peterson sitting on a deck at 321 North Seventh. Peterson saw the officer and ran west, attempting to avoid arrest.
     Other officers joined the chase, which ended in the back yard at 321 North Ninth Street. The responding officer transported Peterson to the Seward County Jail.
     Two other cases against Peterson are pending in Seward County Court. One stems from an incident on Jan. 18 in which Peterson was charged with obstructing an officer and unlawful display of plates.
     The other was filed April 3 and relates to a March 23 through 25 incident in which Peterson is charged with tampering with physical evidence, criminal mischief more than $1,500, first-degree criminal trespass, obstructing a peace officer, possession of marijuana one ounce or less and possession of drug paraphernalia.
     At the time of Peterson's March 28 arrest by the Seward Police Department, he did not have the child with him and told a Seward Sheriff's Department deputy that Trista was alive and "in a safe place," according to an affidavit filed March 29.
     The deputy said the sheriff's office received a call Jan. 24 from Karen Peterson and Arlene Williams, Trista's grandmothers, who wanted to report Peterson as missing. They said they were also "concerned for the welfare of their granddaughter, who they had not seen since December," the affidavit said.
     Karen Peterson reported her son missing again on Feb. 24.
     Both times, law enforcement attempts to check on the welfare of the baby were unsuccessful.
     Jennifer Williams also expressed concern for Trista's wellbeing.
     "Lucas Peterson had only written her one letter saying the baby was 'in a safe place,'" the affidavit said.
     Peterson has a history of run-ins with law enforcement, beginning in 2001. Five cases were filed against him during that year and another in 2002, when he was tried as an adult. In February 2002, he was charged with reckless driving, first offense, and no operator's license.
     In December of 2002, he was charged with possession of marijuana one ounce or less and possess/use drug paraphernalia, for each of which he paid $100 fines. He was also charged with theft by unlawful taking, over $1,500 in July, 2003, and in October, he was charged with refusal to submit to test, first offense, for which he served 60 days, had his driver's license revoked and paid a $400 fine and failure to appear, for which he served 90 days in jail.
     In September of 2004, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance. In May of 2005, he was charged with driving under suspension/before reinstatement, for which he paid a $100 fine.
     The sheriff's department affidavit said Peterson told the deputy "he knew he had been screwing up his life and that the baby was not safe with him."
     He told the deputy he didn't want the baby's grandmother to get her because he didn't think he'd be able to see the child. Arlene Williams told the deputy she was concerned that if Peterson bonded out of jail, "he would run off with the baby and they wouldn't see them again."
     At the time, Peterson refused to tell the deputy where Trista was, despite being told he could be charged with abandonment and child abuse.

     Stephanie Croston, Seward County Independent, Nancy McGill, The Milford Times, and the Nebraska State Patrol contributed to this report.