The Laci Peterson Murder

It was his bad behavior, not forensic science that convicted Scott Peterson of first-degree capital murder. The cause of death of his wife, Laci, 27 years old and eight months pregnant, has never been determined, the time of her death was not determined, and the place of her death was not determined. Laci’s beautiful smile immediately captured the public’s attention when she was reported missing from their Modesto, Calif., home on Christmas Eve 2002. It was old-fashioned police work—knocking on doors, talking to witnesses, and checking alibis—that secured his conviction. Scott’s contemporaneous sexual relationship with Amber Frey quickly focused suspicion on him. Amber would later become the prosecution’s chief witness. On April 14, 2003, the severely decomposed remains of Laci’s unborn baby boy washed ashore from San Francisco Bay, not far from where Scott had been boating the day Laci disappeared. The remnants of Laci’s decomposed body were found the next day nearby. The trial began in June 2004 and included secretly taped telephone conversations between Amber and Scott, claims of satanic cult involvement, threats to the jury foreman (who was replaced by an alternate), and a juror removed for misconduct. Issues of suicidal or accidental drowning were raised but, on Nov. 12, Scott was found guilty of first-degree murder. On Dec. 13 he was sentenced to death. Scott is one of about 650 inmates on death row in San Quentin prison. He continues to claim his innocence and to pursue his appeals.