MODESTO, Calif. -- Four months after Laci Peterson's body washed onto a San Francisco Bay shore, officials have finally released her remains.
Under a court order, the coroner in Contra Costa County -- where the remains of Peterson and her unborn son were discovered in April -- had until Friday to release the bodies.
The coroner's office confirmed Friday that it no longer had the remains but officials would not say whether the family retrieved them and referred all other inquiries to prosecutors in Stanislaus County, where Scott Peterson faces double murder charges for allegedly killing his wife and unborn child.
In a statement, the Stanislaus County district attorney's office said it would not respond to questions.
"The district attorney requests that all parties respect the privacy of the Rocha family in this time of mourning," the office said, using Laci Peterson's maiden name.
A spokeswoman for the family declined comment Friday, saying only that funeral arrangements would be private.
Scott Peterson, 30, has pleaded innocent. A hearing at which prosecutors will summarize their evidence against him is set for Sept. 9.
Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve. Contra Costa County officials held the remains so that both prosecution and defense teams could test for forensic evidence.
