MODESTO, Calif. -- The family of Laci Peterson, a pregnant woman missing since Christmas Eve, says they continue to remain hopeful that she will be found alive.

Family members gathered outside the Modesto police station before dawn Thursday to do interviews for the national media, and told KCRA 3 Reports that hope is still very much alive.

"We're staying very hopeful, thinking whoever has Laci ... that they're starting to wear down and are considering what choices they need to make and hopefully make the right choice," Peterson's brother Brent Rocha said.

Peterson, 27, has not been seen since the morning of Dec. 24, when her husband Scott said he left her at home while he went to Berkeley for a solo fishing trip.

Police continue to talk to registered sex offenders in the area and are looking into a burglary that happened across the street from the Peterson home the day the missing woman disappeared.

It was first thought that Peterson took her dog for a walk in nearby East La Loma Park the morning she vanished, but police said it's unlikely she ever reached the park.

"The bloodhound, tracking what her handler describes as the most recent scent, indicated that Laci never went towards the park. That would be consistent with our inability to find anyone that corroborates seeing Laci walking in the park," Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said.

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Case Drawing National Attention

Police said the focus of their investigation has shifted to foul play, but that they remain open to other possibilities, and that they are not focusing on Scott Peterson or anyone else as a suspect.

Support remains strong for the search effort.

A fund-raiser Wednesday drew 800 people, according to the general manger of the Red Lion Hotel, which organized the event. It raised $3,500 for the command center.

A reward for Peterson's safe return remains at $500,000.