Searching for Deanie: A best friend remembers | News

SANTA MONICA, CA (WZZM)- Leigh Woeller stood on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, which is considered by many to be a vast unknown.

The ocean reminded Leigh of another unknown - one that's more personal.

The disappearance of her childhood best friend, Deanie Peters.

"It was so inconceivable," Woeller said as she watched the waves roll up near the Santa Monica Pier. "[Deanie] didn't get to live; she's 14 forever."

Leigh and Deanie grew up in the same Poway California neighborhood during the 1970s.

"Her mom was so involved in our lives and did so much with us and for us," Woeller said. "We went ice skating, shopping and to the beach."

In elementary school, Leigh remembers Deanie having incredible athletic ability.

"She was an incredible softball player," Woeller remembers. "I recall sitting there watching her hit a home run, and not just a home run; she knocked the ball over the fence. The girl was powerful and was destined to be a natural athlete."

Leigh admits Deanie never wanted to leave California.

"I know she was really afraid of leaving everything she knew," Woeller said.

But the Peters family eventually moved to Grand Rapids in 1979.

"I know it kind of tore her up," added Woeller.

Leigh remembers the last time she saw Deanie was in the summer of 1980 when Deanie had returned to California to visit family.

"It was like no time had passed between us," Woeller recalls fondly. "I remembered we wandered around the neighborhood and saw all of the friends we had together and spent time with them."

A few months after that, the unimaginable happened.

"I called my mom from school and asked, 'have they found her yet?'", Woeller recalls. "My mom said, 'No, we haven't heard anything.'"

Despite the dire outlook of the situation, Leigh says she maintained hope.

"I remember just everyday thinking, 'It'll be today; it'll be today'", recalls Woeller.

But, that day never came.

"You think about this person who had great potential in so many areas," Woeller remembers. It was so sad.

While Leigh got the chance to grow up, shes never forgotten about her childhood best friend, and the fact that shell remain 14 forever.

Whatever happened to her; whatever happened between you and her, whether it was intentional or was an accident, it was over that day for Deanie, Woeller said angrily. That was the end for her, but its been that day everyday for her family ever since, and Id imagine its been that day everyday for those people, too.

Everybody else got to grow up, graduate high school, get married, go to college, start a career and have families of their own, Woeller said emphatically. [Deanie] didn't, and that sucks!

31 years later, Leigh says she still believes that one day the unknown surrounding Deanie Peters disappearance will be revealed.

You can give [Deanie's family] some level of closure which can give them some peace, and they deserve that so, the clocks ticking, Woeller said.