Scott’s defense attorneys did not have access to the Modesto Police Department tip sheet until May 2003. However, they did learn about some of the other sightings. Tony Freitas called a defense investigator on January 20, 2003. Homer Maldonado called Sharon Rocha and Brent Rocha. An article about Vivian Mitchell appeared in the Modesto Bee on February 27, 2003. Martha Aguilar lived only two blocks from the Petersons’ house on Covena. The defense also learned about Gene Pedrioli and Grace Wolf through sources other than the MPD.
The 15-Minute Time Ranges Below are Estimates; the Order is Chronological; Events with Sightings of a Strange Van are Noted in Parenthesis
The 15-Minute Time Ranges Below are Estimates; the Order is Chronological; Events with Sightings of a Strange Van are Noted in Parenthesis
8:00 AM
Scott wakes up about 8 a.m. Laci, who is 32 to 33 weeks pregnant, awakened earlier and is already showered and dressed. She is wearing black pants and a pullover white top. Laci, who ate earlier, when she first got up, also has a bowl of cereal with Scott.
Scott wakes up about 8 a.m. Laci, who is 32 to 33 weeks pregnant, awakened earlier and is already showered and dressed. She is wearing black pants and a pullover white top. Laci, who ate earlier, when she first got up, also has a bowl of cereal with Scott.
Scott is in and out of the room as Laci watches Martha Stewart, and he watches a portion with her.
Laci asks Scott to bring in the mop bucket and fill it for her.
She plans to mop the kitchen area, walk MacKenzie, and go shopping for ingredients she needs to make cookies and French toast.
4:15-4:30 PM
Based on travel time from Livermore, Scott arrives back at his warehouse at 4:30 p.m. and drops off the fishing boat.
4:45 PM
Scott arrives home and finds McKenzie in the fenced yard with his leash on (nobody ever asked the question: "If Laci was dead when Scott left around 10 a.m., why would Scott put McKenzie on a leash, put him in the yard, and leave the gate open for him to run loose in the neighborhood?).
Scott removes McKenzie's leash and puts it on the patio table. Laci's vehicle is in the driveway.
Scott, thinking Laci is home because her vehicle is in the driveway, enters the home using the French doors from which he left. The French doors are unlocked (there are two sets of French doors, both without deadbolt locks).
Laci is not home, and Scott assumes that Laci's mom picked her up and that Laci is with her mom (there is nothing out of place and no signs of a struggle or burglary).
(Speaking with his sister-in-law Janey from San Quentin State Prison, Scott said: "The only unusual things were the leash [on the dog] and the door being unlocked. I assumed she was at her mom's.")
Scott's clothes are wet, so he undresses and puts them in the washer. He first removes the dirty cleaning rags from the washer that the housekeeper had left from the day before. He adds soap and starts the washer. He often does this when he gets home because he works with chemicals.
Scott gets the pizza box out of the refrigerator (leftover from the night before), pours a glass of milk, and heads to the shower, with a piece of pizza in hand. Scott takes a shower.
After showering, Scott checks his home phone messages and hears a message from Laci's stepfather, Ron Grantski, asking Scott and Laci to bring whipped cream when they came over for the Christmas Eve gathering.
5:17 PM
Scott calls Laci's mother, Sharon. She tells him that she did not pickup
Laci and that Laci is not with her. Sharon asks if McKenzie was in the yard when he got home. Scott says yes and remembers that the leash was on the dog.
5:18 PM
The search for Laci begins.
Over the next half hour, Scott exchanges two more calls with Laci’s mother Sharon and stepfather Ron (Sharon and Ron had been together since 1977, although they actually never married).
Scott knocks on neighbors' doors, calls neighbors and friends, and heads to the park with McKenzie.
Sharon tells Scott they will begin calling hospitals so he can check the park.
5:47 PM
Laci's stepfather Ron calls 911 and reports Laci as missing.
Ron Grantski testified that he was fishing at the exact same time as Scott on December 24th, and, like Scott, it was a last minute thing. Ron didn't tell anyone he was going fishing.
Ron left home at 6:30 and drove to Lodi to pick up his paycheck, and then he went to Los Banos to check on a shopping center project that was near completion. He said from there, around 11:00 or so, he left to go fishing in Oakdale, which was after he learned Sharon was going to the movies (Sharon went to the movies with Sandy Rickard, and they didn't invite Laci, assuming she would be too uncomfortable). He said he got home from fishing in Oakdale around 3:00 or 3:30. He said Sharon was already home, and she asked Ron to call Laci to bring whipping cream to the Christmas Eve gathering at Sharon and Ron's house.
Jon Evers: "I came through the courtyard, through the front door. I stood right here. I stood right here, watched this hallway while Officer Spurlock and Officer Letsinger went this direction, and cleared this part of the house. When they were done, they came up. We then went up the hallway towards the rear of the house, looked in the bathroom, looked in the master bedroom, looked in this, in the second bedroom, and then the third bedroom, which was a nursery. Checked in there. Came back out, and then we got out here in the backyard, looked around this patio area, checked the pool, walked around the back, checked the spa (the hot tub in the backyard), and came down the side of the house and then checked around there. And then that was it."
After concluding this walk-through, the three officers had a five-minute conversation with Sergeant Duerfeldt inside the house, near the front door. Duerfeldt had not yet met Scott Peterson and didn't know who he was. Based on this discussion, Duerfeldt called Lt. Able and explained that he wanted a homicide detective to respond.
6:30 PM
Three officers perform a second walk-through of the Peterson home.
Duerfeldt calls Sgt. Carter, who is the supervisor of the crimes against persons unit. Carter gives him Brocchini's name as the next homicide detective in rotation. Duerfeldt calls Brocchini, who was in the foothills with his family.
While waiting for Brocchini, Officer Evers said he and Scott went through the house, room by room, with Evers asking, "Do you see anything unusual, anything out of place," and in all of the rooms Scott said, "No." Evers opened the refrigerator to see if there was any new food that Laci might have bought. And Scott said, "No, that it didn't look like there was anything new."
The fourth walk-through by detective Brocchini was 45-minutes. Brocchini noted Laci’s purse in the closet, with Laci's wallet, keys, sunglasses, and other items of personal property inside. Laci's cell phone was in her Range Rover (parked in the driveway). It was plugged in to the cigarette lighter, but it was not charged and would not stay powered on.
It is unclear if Laci had another house key, one not on her chain of keys, that she used when she left the home to walk the dog, or if the couple hid a key outside that Laci may have used when she left for walks. Or perhaps Laci did not always lock the side French doors when she went for a walk.
Entrance to the park that Laci could have taken if she entered the park after walking the loop from La Sombra to Buena Vista and back to La Loma (Mitchell sighting).
Laci may have left the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue after being verbally assaulted by two men (Campos sighting); Campos saw three people—two medium-build men yelling at a pregnant woman with a dog on a leash—walking together along the trail, in a direction away from the Covena Avenue address.
When law enforcement presumed that Scott Peterson was guilty and did not thoroughly investigate evidence that would point to other individuals, a wrongful conviction was probable. This became a certainty because of a biased media and a prosecutor bent on a conviction no matter what dishonest tactics he had to use. Rick Distaso made false, misleading and improper statements in the trial of Scott Lee Peterson.
If you do not believe the defense witnesses saw Laci walking in the neighborhood, who do you think they saw? There are 11 people who said they saw someone who looked like Laci walking a dog who looked like McKenzie sometime between 10 and 11 a.m. on December 24. These sightings form a well defined route within a mile of her home.
The prosecution for the most part did not interview the witnesses who claimed to have seen Laci.
Scott told Amber Frey in a January 8th taped phone conversation that Laci was going to walk McKenzie, go to the store to get ingredients to make gingerbread cookies for that day and the Cordon Blue [sic] French Toast for Christmas brunch the next day, and then they would meet at 4:00 p.m. to go to Laci's parent's home for Christmas Eve dinner.
Laci uses one of the computers in the Peterson home to go online.
At exactly 8:40 a.m., Laci used the home laptop to look at a five-day weather forecast for San Jose and a Yahoo shopping site featuring a garden weather vane.
8:40-8:45 AM
Laci uses one of the computers in the Peterson home to go online.
At exactly 8:40 a.m., Laci used the home laptop to look at a five-day weather forecast for San Jose and a Yahoo shopping site featuring a garden weather vane.
At 8:44 a.m., a Gap fleece scarf, priced at $6.99, was viewed, as well as a sunflower motif umbrella stand for $29.99 (the sunflower motif umbrella is interesting because Laci had a sunflower tattoo on her ankle).
At 8:45 a.m. Laci accessed an e-mail account and viewed an e-mail regarding a Ping Staff golf bag that Scott was auctioning on eBay, but no e-mails were sent.
Detective Lydell Wall testified that he was never asked to review web-surfing habits for Scott and Laci to try and determine which of them was using the computer.
9:20-9:40 AM (VAN)
Kristen Dempework sees Scott standing in the bed of his truck, parked in the driveway, loading umbrellas.
Kristen Dempework sees Scott standing in the bed of his truck, parked in the driveway, loading umbrellas.
Parked in front of the home of Randy and Susan Medina, directly across the street from the Peterson home, Dempework sees an unusually long, older, white utility van without the rear side windows. The other windows are tinted, and the upper portion of the van looks oxidized and dull, like someone used a scouring pad on it. She has never seen the van in the neighborhood before.
9:30 AM (VAN)
While building inspector Nickerson is still present at their home to look at their new patio, Mrs. Medina hands her cell phone to her husband and tells him to call their son. He places the call at 9:32 p.m.
9:30 AM (VAN)
While building inspector Nickerson is still present at their home to look at their new patio, Mrs. Medina hands her cell phone to her husband and tells him to call their son. He places the call at 9:32 p.m.
Nickerson leaves the Medina home at about this time. As he leaves he has to drive around a white Ford van that is blocking his way. The van has two back doors and the paint is chipping away around the window, revealing the gray primer. There is a crude rack on top with wooden cross supports.
9:48 AM
Scott is with Laci as she watches Martha Stewart on TV talk about meringue cookies.
Scott told Detective Brocchini that he and Laci were watching The Today Show and then Martha Stewart. Scott remembered seeing something about meringue and cookies on the Martha Stewart segment. Martha Stewart did, in fact, mention cookies and meringue at 9:48 on December 24th.
9:30-10:30 AM
The Medinas load their vehicle with groceries, vacuum cleaners, etc. for a three-day holiday trip.
9:48 AM
Scott is with Laci as she watches Martha Stewart on TV talk about meringue cookies.
Scott told Detective Brocchini that he and Laci were watching The Today Show and then Martha Stewart. Scott remembered seeing something about meringue and cookies on the Martha Stewart segment. Martha Stewart did, in fact, mention cookies and meringue at 9:48 on December 24th.
9:30-10:30 AM
The Medinas load their vehicle with groceries, vacuum cleaners, etc. for a three-day holiday trip.
The Medinas do not notice the van parked in front of their home.
9:30-10:00 AM (VAN)
The men in the van parked in front of the Medina home (image above) watch the Medinas load items into their vehicle for their trip.
After being spotted by building inspector Nickerson, the men drive off and go to the gas station at the corner of Miller Avenue and Camellia Way.
The men are expecting the Medinas to be leaving soon for their holiday trip. The men in the van leave the area with the intent to return shortly, after enough time has passed for the Medinas to have left home for their trip.
9:45-10:00 AM
Homer Maldonado and his wife, who live on Phoenix Avenue, leave their home and drop off a Christmas gift.
9:50-10:05 AM
While Laci is mopping the floor in front of the French doors, Scott leaves through the French doors, which open onto the patio and pool area of the side yard. Scott goes out the side gate, which opens onto the driveway. As he leaves, Scott forgets to latch the side gate or doesn't ensure that it is securely latched.
Laci has plans to walk the dog and go shopping.
In a recorded phone call with Laci’s mom, Scott described Laci the morning of December 24. He said, "that she (Laci) looked so cute because she was sitting on her bench in front of the mirror styling her hair the way Amy (her half-sister, the hair dresser) had shown her (the evening before)."
On the evening of December 23, Scott and Laci went to Salon Salon where Laci's half-sister, Amy Rocha, worked. Amy gave Scott a haircut. Amy confirmed this and added that she showed Laci how to "fun flip" her hair with a straightener. Amy testified that Scott invited her over for pizza that night, but she already had plans. Amy said Scott mentioned plans to golf in the morning and offered to pick up a gift basket for Amy's mother and stepfather at a store called Vella Farms. Amy told police that Laci was wearing tan pants and a black blouse with small flowers. Scott said they then left the salon and picked up Mountain Mike’s pizza on the way home. Once home, they ate the pizza and watched Monday night football.
The photo below, taken the evening of December 24, shows Laci's curling iron on the bathroom counter with the cord extended toward the outlet near the toilet. The housekeeper, Margarita Nava, who was there the day before, testified that nothing was out on the bathroom counter and no bench was in the bathroom when she left. This is evidence that Laci was still alive and curling her hair on the morning of December 24, before Scott left.
9:55-10:20 AM
Next-door neighbor Karen Servas finds the Peterson's dog McKenzie on a leash in the street in front of their home. The leash has leaves and grass clippings on it and is moist, according to Servas.
9:30-10:00 AM (VAN)
The men in the van parked in front of the Medina home (image above) watch the Medinas load items into their vehicle for their trip.
After being spotted by building inspector Nickerson, the men drive off and go to the gas station at the corner of Miller Avenue and Camellia Way.
The men are expecting the Medinas to be leaving soon for their holiday trip. The men in the van leave the area with the intent to return shortly, after enough time has passed for the Medinas to have left home for their trip.
9:45-10:00 AM
Homer Maldonado and his wife, who live on Phoenix Avenue, leave their home and drop off a Christmas gift.
9:50-10:05 AM
While Laci is mopping the floor in front of the French doors, Scott leaves through the French doors, which open onto the patio and pool area of the side yard. Scott goes out the side gate, which opens onto the driveway. As he leaves, Scott forgets to latch the side gate or doesn't ensure that it is securely latched.
Laci has plans to walk the dog and go shopping.
In a recorded phone call with Laci’s mom, Scott described Laci the morning of December 24. He said, "that she (Laci) looked so cute because she was sitting on her bench in front of the mirror styling her hair the way Amy (her half-sister, the hair dresser) had shown her (the evening before)."
On the evening of December 23, Scott and Laci went to Salon Salon where Laci's half-sister, Amy Rocha, worked. Amy gave Scott a haircut. Amy confirmed this and added that she showed Laci how to "fun flip" her hair with a straightener. Amy testified that Scott invited her over for pizza that night, but she already had plans. Amy said Scott mentioned plans to golf in the morning and offered to pick up a gift basket for Amy's mother and stepfather at a store called Vella Farms. Amy told police that Laci was wearing tan pants and a black blouse with small flowers. Scott said they then left the salon and picked up Mountain Mike’s pizza on the way home. Once home, they ate the pizza and watched Monday night football.
9:55-10:20 AM
Next-door neighbor Karen Servas finds the Peterson's dog McKenzie on a leash in the street in front of their home. The leash has leaves and grass clippings on it and is moist, according to Servas.
The front gate to the Peterson home is locked and a side gate that opens to the driveway is open at least 90 degrees. She leads McKenzie through the side gate, which Scott left open when he left, and closes the gate.
She goes back home to wash her hands, and she leaves home again for the bank and other errands. At the bank she circles the parking lot and can't find a spot, so she goes to a local store and makes a purchase after shopping for about five minutes (the store is a 10-minute drive from Servas' home; her receipt is stamped 10:34).
10:08 AM
Scott checks his voicemail as he makes the 10-minute drive to his warehouse at 1027 N. Emerald in Modesto.
9:55-10:20 AM
Laci leaves home and takes McKenzie for a walk in the neighborhood.
The police repeatedly stated in their press conferences that they were unable to confirm that Laci was walking her dog. However, the police didn't even make an effort to follow up on most of these leads (they were unwilling, not unable).
10:15 AM (VAN)
The Maldonados, after dropping off a Christmas gift, stop for gas at the station on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camellia Way. They see a yellowish-tan van at the adjacent pump, but they aren't getting any gas, "they are just there." One man comes out of the gas station's store and they hear a male voice from the van ask the man if he "got the cigs." The van reeks of cigarette smoke. The van has white curtains on the side and rear windows and a roof rack and chrome ladder.
The Maldonados pull out of the gas station and head west on Miller Ave. Mr. Maldonados sees Laci and McKenzie walking south down Covena Avenue. She is almost to the corner of Covena and Miller. He continues westward on Miller Avenue and looks in the rear view mirror. He sees Laci and McKenzie turn right onto Miller Avenue, heading westward on Miller toward La Loma Avenue (in the same direction
as the Moldonados).
Maldonado says he first saw Laci in the morning about two weeks earlier, walking her dog by a bridge across Dry Creek (the park by the Petersons' home is referred to as Dry Creek, and the area is divided into different parks, which includes La Loma, Moose, Kewin and Thousand Oaks parks). He spotted her and her dog again on December 22 between 10:30 and 11 a.m. near a small park at Miller and La Loma Avenues (according to an April 17, 2004 article in the Modesto Bee).
10:15 AM
Tony Freitas sees Laci and McKenzie on La Loma Avenue. He is driving his regular delivery route northwest on La Loma Avenue when he sees Laci and McKenzie near the intersection where there is a small, grassy triangular park, located on La Loma between Santa Barbara and N. Santa Ana.
10:15-10:30 AM
Gene Pedrioli sees Laci and McKenzie on La Loma Avenue. He notices McKenzie because he has a dog the same color. Laci and McKenzie walk around some branches that are on the sidewalk.
10:15-10:30 AM
From the kitchen window of her house near the corner of La Sombra and Buena Vista, Vivian Mitchell, as she is doing dishes, sees Laci and McKenzie walking east down La Sombra and turning north onto Buena Vista, heading toward La Loma Avenue. She "had seen Laci walk by the house several times before." When Laci walks by around 10:15 on Christmas Eve, she hollers to her husband Bill: "Oh look, it’s the lady with the golden retriever.”
Laci was walking McKenzie, east on La Sombra Avenue, Vivian originally told the Modesto Bee. And then Vivian saw her go north on Buena Vista Avenue.
10:08 AM
Scott checks his voicemail as he makes the 10-minute drive to his warehouse at 1027 N. Emerald in Modesto.
9:55-10:20 AM
Laci leaves home and takes McKenzie for a walk in the neighborhood.
The police repeatedly stated in their press conferences that they were unable to confirm that Laci was walking her dog. However, the police didn't even make an effort to follow up on most of these leads (they were unwilling, not unable).
10:15 AM (VAN)
The Maldonados, after dropping off a Christmas gift, stop for gas at the station on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camellia Way. They see a yellowish-tan van at the adjacent pump, but they aren't getting any gas, "they are just there." One man comes out of the gas station's store and they hear a male voice from the van ask the man if he "got the cigs." The van reeks of cigarette smoke. The van has white curtains on the side and rear windows and a roof rack and chrome ladder.
The Maldonados pull out of the gas station and head west on Miller Ave. Mr. Maldonados sees Laci and McKenzie walking south down Covena Avenue. She is almost to the corner of Covena and Miller. He continues westward on Miller Avenue and looks in the rear view mirror. He sees Laci and McKenzie turn right onto Miller Avenue, heading westward on Miller toward La Loma Avenue (in the same direction
as the Moldonados).Maldonado says he first saw Laci in the morning about two weeks earlier, walking her dog by a bridge across Dry Creek (the park by the Petersons' home is referred to as Dry Creek, and the area is divided into different parks, which includes La Loma, Moose, Kewin and Thousand Oaks parks). He spotted her and her dog again on December 22 between 10:30 and 11 a.m. near a small park at Miller and La Loma Avenues (according to an April 17, 2004 article in the Modesto Bee).
10:15 AM
Tony Freitas sees Laci and McKenzie on La Loma Avenue. He is driving his regular delivery route northwest on La Loma Avenue when he sees Laci and McKenzie near the intersection where there is a small, grassy triangular park, located on La Loma between Santa Barbara and N. Santa Ana.
10:15-10:30 AM
Gene Pedrioli sees Laci and McKenzie on La Loma Avenue. He notices McKenzie because he has a dog the same color. Laci and McKenzie walk around some branches that are on the sidewalk.
10:15-10:30 AM
From the kitchen window of her house near the corner of La Sombra and Buena Vista, Vivian Mitchell, as she is doing dishes, sees Laci and McKenzie walking east down La Sombra and turning north onto Buena Vista, heading toward La Loma Avenue. She "had seen Laci walk by the house several times before." When Laci walks by around 10:15 on Christmas Eve, she hollers to her husband Bill: "Oh look, it’s the lady with the golden retriever.”
Laci was walking McKenzie, east on La Sombra Avenue, Vivian originally told the Modesto Bee. And then Vivian saw her go north on Buena Vista Avenue.
Bill said that, at the time, his wife casually mentioned, "There's the pregnant woman with the beautiful smile." Bill looked out the living room window, but only caught a glimpse of the dog. The walker seemed to be headed toward La Loma Avenue.
Later, the couple saw television news accounts that Laci had mysteriously disappeared.
Later, the couple saw television news accounts that Laci had mysteriously disappeared.
Bill, a former city councilman, told The Chronicle: "I was city-oriented, and I told her to call the police. We didn't know the Petersons before or since."
But Bill said the police never called his wife back. "They had a theory, and it didn't fit their theory," he said. Bill said he finally got fed up and contacted the city manager to complain that there wasn't any follow-up by police.
The Mitchells had seen Laci walking her dog on several prior occasions. A neighbor across the street also had previously seen Laci walking the dog. The Mitchells told this neighbor about their sighting of Laci on Christmas Eve.
"How can you duplicate a woman that looked like her?," Mrs. Mitchell said. "She was so magnetic. She was so pretty."
Vivian Mitchell died before Scott's trial began in June 2004.
10:30 AM
The Medinas leave their home for their three-day trip. They make a call at 10:32, right after they leave home (this time is not listed as a time-range of 15 minutes since it is verified by cell records).
10:30 AM
Scott logs onto his computer at work and sends an email reply to his boss. Computer forensics show Scott continuously logged onto his work computer for 26 minutes between 10:30 and 10:56.
He checks e-mail, sends e-mail, and looks up instructions on how to assemble a wood working tool called a mortiser that he just received via UPS. He works on building the mortising woodworking machine. Because the temperature is only 40 degrees, rather than golf, Scott decides to go fishing in his 14-foot Gamefisher aluminum fishing boat, which he bought used from a private owner on December 8th (it was the fourth boat that Scott had owned). This is his first time putting the boat, which he stored at his warehouse, on the water.
10:35-10:50 AM
Mail carrier Russell Graybill delivers a package to the Peterson home, and he notices that their side gate is open.
The Mitchells had seen Laci walking her dog on several prior occasions. A neighbor across the street also had previously seen Laci walking the dog. The Mitchells told this neighbor about their sighting of Laci on Christmas Eve.
"How can you duplicate a woman that looked like her?," Mrs. Mitchell said. "She was so magnetic. She was so pretty."
Vivian Mitchell died before Scott's trial began in June 2004.
10:30 AM
The Medinas leave their home for their three-day trip. They make a call at 10:32, right after they leave home (this time is not listed as a time-range of 15 minutes since it is verified by cell records).
10:30 AM
Scott logs onto his computer at work and sends an email reply to his boss. Computer forensics show Scott continuously logged onto his work computer for 26 minutes between 10:30 and 10:56.
He checks e-mail, sends e-mail, and looks up instructions on how to assemble a wood working tool called a mortiser that he just received via UPS. He works on building the mortising woodworking machine. Because the temperature is only 40 degrees, rather than golf, Scott decides to go fishing in his 14-foot Gamefisher aluminum fishing boat, which he bought used from a private owner on December 8th (it was the fourth boat that Scott had owned). This is his first time putting the boat, which he stored at his warehouse, on the water.10:35-10:50 AM
Mail carrier Russell Graybill delivers a package to the Peterson home, and he notices that their side gate is open.
Graybill doesn't hear McKenzie barking, which the dog does every day he delivers mail if, of course, the dog is home (whether the dog is inside or outside the home).
Some packages that Graybill delivered on December 24th were tracked via bar code (the Petersons' package was not), so he was able to narrow down the time he arrived at the Peterson home to the specific time frame of 10:35-10:50 a.m.
Some packages that Graybill delivered on December 24th were tracked via bar code (the Petersons' package was not), so he was able to narrow down the time he arrived at the Peterson home to the specific time frame of 10:35-10:50 a.m.
Several neighbors reported seeing this package sticking out of the Petersons' mailbox on the afternoon of December 24th (their mailbox was on their front gate).
Graybill made handwritten notes about his route on December 24th, which he started earlier than normal because it was a holiday.
Graybill gave his statement and turned over his handwritten notes to police on the morning of December 27th.
In discovery materials given to them by the prosecution in 2003-2004, Scott's trial defense team failed to find Graybill's handwritten notes about the side gate being open and McKenzie not barking when he arrived at the Peterson home between 10:35 and 10:50 a.m. on December 24th, so this was not brought up by the defense team at trial, and the prosecution avoided questioning Graybill about it. [The first 5,000 pages of discovery were given to trial defense counsel in May of 2003, and the discovery material continued to come in bit by bit for the next year, and was still coming in up until the end of the trial (there were more than 40,000 pages of discovery).]
In 2015, Scott's post-conviction counsel found Graybill's handwritten notes among discovery materials and included them in the Habeas petition filed in November 2015.
10:45 AM (VAN)
As Stanislaus County Hospital employee Diana Campos is taking a smoke break, she sees a pregnant women with a medium-size Golden Retriever (with a white mark across its chest) on a leash being verbal assaulted by two men on the trail around Moose Park and Kewin Park.
Graybill made handwritten notes about his route on December 24th, which he started earlier than normal because it was a holiday.
Graybill gave his statement and turned over his handwritten notes to police on the morning of December 27th.
In discovery materials given to them by the prosecution in 2003-2004, Scott's trial defense team failed to find Graybill's handwritten notes about the side gate being open and McKenzie not barking when he arrived at the Peterson home between 10:35 and 10:50 a.m. on December 24th, so this was not brought up by the defense team at trial, and the prosecution avoided questioning Graybill about it. [The first 5,000 pages of discovery were given to trial defense counsel in May of 2003, and the discovery material continued to come in bit by bit for the next year, and was still coming in up until the end of the trial (there were more than 40,000 pages of discovery).]
In 2015, Scott's post-conviction counsel found Graybill's handwritten notes among discovery materials and included them in the Habeas petition filed in November 2015.
10:45 AM (VAN)
As Stanislaus County Hospital employee Diana Campos is taking a smoke break, she sees a pregnant women with a medium-size Golden Retriever (with a white mark across its chest) on a leash being verbal assaulted by two men on the trail around Moose Park and Kewin Park.
The three people she sees together on the trail are walking in a direction away from Covena Avenue. The dog is barking constantly, and the woman has to pull at the dog with the leash. One of the men, wearing a beanie cap, tells the woman, "Shut the fucking dog up."
The woman has short, dark, straight shoulder-length hair and is about 6-7 months pregnant. She is wearing a white top and what appears to be stretch pants.
One of the males is in his late thirties, 5' 7", medium build, wearing a dark beanie, dirty dark shirt, and dirty blue jeans. The second man is also late thirties, 5' 7", medium build, short brown hair, wearing a Levi jacket with a tear and blue jeans.
Campos watches them for about five minutes but doesn't think too much of it until she sees the flyer on December 26th and recognizes Laci as the woman.
10:45 AM
Frank and Martha Aguilar are driving from their home at 215 Covena Avenue and heading north on La Loma Avenue.
10:45 AM
Frank and Martha Aguilar are driving from their home at 215 Covena Avenue and heading north on La Loma Avenue.
As they are driving, they see a pregnant woman walking towards them with a dog on a leash. The woman is walking a mid-sized dog, long hair dog.
Mrs. Aguilar goes to the same doctor as Laci, and she is sure it is Laci and McKenzie that she sees walking on La Loma.
Laci may have left the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue after being verbally assaulted by the two men.
10:45-11:00 AM (VAN)
Perhaps because of the verbal assault by the two men in the park, Laci walks back out of the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue (she also may have chosen this entrance because there is a restroom there).
Laci turned around and exited the park via the Moore Park entrance after being confronted by the two men (Campos said Laci and the two men were heading in a direction away from Covena Avenue). This would explain why the Aguilars saw Laci walking south on La Loma as they were driving northward on La Loma, toward downtown Modesto, from their home, also on Covena Avenue.
Scott leaves his warehouse about 11:18 to drive to the Berkeley Marina.
Scott thought it took him an hour and a half to get to the marina, maybe a little longer because he was pulling a trailer. Supporting Scott’s statement, Yahoo maps shows it is one hour and 36-minute drive to the Berkeley Marina from Scott's warehouse.
11:40 AM (VAN)
Diane Jackson sees three men with a safe standing by an older tan van parked in front of the Medina home. One rear van door is open, the other ajar.
The burglars themselves said (37:30 mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson) they put the safe in the front yard using the Medinas' hand truck.
12:45-1:00 PM
Scott arrives at Berkeley Marina. Scott purchases a boat launch ticket at 12:54 and launches his boat.
On the evening of December 24, Scott gave the receipt to the police when they asked him if he had any proof he had been at the marina. On December 27, the police interviewed a city worker who had seen Scott at the marina on December 24.
Scott told police he motored north for probably two miles, and that he was near a little island that had a bunch of trash on it. He saw a big sign that said "No Landing" and there were some broken piers. He assumed it would be a decent shallow area. He had forgotten some new lures he had purchased from Big 5 in his truck, so he used some fresh water jigs from his tackle box. He trolled a bit and then headed back to the marina because he was getting wet.
Scott's Big 5 bag containing his new lures was found by the police in his truck the evening of December 24, confirming his statement that he had left them there. The fishing pole Scott purchased on December 20 had a fresh water jig on it, and the tag for the pole was in the bottom of the boat. Scott was, in fact, fishing while out on the bay.
When Scott arrived back at the marina, he said he talked to a couple of guys about fishing and that a couple maintenance guys got a good laugh from him trying to back his trailer down the ramp to load the boat.
Detective Rick Armendariz interviewed maintenance worker Mike Ilvestri on December 27. He confirmed seeing Scott’s vehicle and that the driver was having trouble backing the trailer in to get the boat out of the water.
Fitting Scott's description, the island described turned out to be Brooks Island. Evidence photos show the trash, the piers and the "No Landing" sign. Prosecution witnesses also confirmed the area to be shallow.
Using the media, the Modesto Police Department widely publicized this fishing trip from Berkeley Marina to Brooks Island as Scott's alibi.
2:00-4:00 PM (VAN)
Tom Harshman, a former reserve police offer who lives in Modesto, sees something that really concerns him near the corner of Scenic Drive and Claus Road as he is driving with his wife between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on December 24.
Scott pulls over for gas at a Chevron in Livermore. Bank records show this purchase was at 3:25 p.m.
It is a 50-minute drive from the Chevron to his warehouse per Yahoo maps (2186 Las Positas Court, Livermore to 1027 Emerald, Modesto) placing him back at the warehouse around 4:15 p.m.Laci may have left the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue after being verbally assaulted by the two men.
10:45-11:00 AM (VAN)
Perhaps because of the verbal assault by the two men in the park, Laci walks back out of the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue (she also may have chosen this entrance because there is a restroom there).
Laci turned around and exited the park via the Moore Park entrance after being confronted by the two men (Campos said Laci and the two men were heading in a direction away from Covena Avenue). This would explain why the Aguilars saw Laci walking south on La Loma as they were driving northward on La Loma, toward downtown Modesto, from their home, also on Covena Avenue.
(Laci, spooked by the men, could have decided it would be safer for her to return to the street and finish her walk from there.)
Laci heads in the direction of her home on Covena Avenue via Encina Avenue and Edgebrook Drive (she left the park trail and returned to the street to finish the walk back home).
Driving school instructor Leora Garcia was driving around Laci's neighborhood, training a student driver the morning of December 24th. She saw a van pulled to the side of the road. She saw it near the parking lot for Moose Park that is located underneath Stanislaus County Hospital (where Campos worked).
Laci heads in the direction of her home on Covena Avenue via Encina Avenue and Edgebrook Drive (she left the park trail and returned to the street to finish the walk back home).
Driving school instructor Leora Garcia was driving around Laci's neighborhood, training a student driver the morning of December 24th. She saw a van pulled to the side of the road. She saw it near the parking lot for Moose Park that is located underneath Stanislaus County Hospital (where Campos worked).
It was a white van with paint peeling off the sides near the roof and a weird wooden rack on top. She was able to read part of the partial license plate. It had Texas plates with a rainbow frame. Something about the van frightened her. When she saw the van she was making the loop underneath the bridge on La Loma Avenue. As the van sped off in front of her, she stopped her car. It was then that she saw a women's coat caught in the passenger door. A strange feeling came over her and she was very scared.
11:00 AM
Mike Chiavetta sees McKenzie near the park's edge at Edgebrook Drive and Covena Avenue, where he often lets his dog off his leash so he can run around. He is not certain the women he sees with McKenzie is Laci, or not, because his focus is on the dog, and he remembers it is a Golden Retriever and Lab mix (he described the women with McKenzie as "a round person with black leggings and a white smock").
Laci had gone back onto the trail from the trail head between 1125 and 1205 Edgewood Drive or at the trail head on Covena Avenue to let McKenzie run around, which is when Chiavetti would have seen them.
11:00 - 11:15 AM (VAN)
Laci and McKenzie return home as the burglary is in progress at the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home at 523 Covena Avenue.
Apparently, after walking McKensie around the neighborhood and then putting him in the side yard and closing the gate upon arriving home, Laci did not make it back inside her house. She may have noticed the large package protruding from the mailbox and decided to retrieve it before going inside. And, before getting to the mailbox, she must have noticed the activity across the street at the Medina home and walked across the street to inquire about what was going on, which resulted in her abduction to prevent her from calling the police about the burglary in progress.
It is important to note that when Scott arrived home around 4:45 p.m.:
1. The gates to the yard (front and side) were closed,
2. McKenzie was still on his leash in the fenced yard, and
3. The French doors from which both Scott and Laci left earlier (Scott between 9:50 and 10:05 a.m. and Laci between 9:55 and 10:20 a.m.) were unlocked.
Also, when Scott arrived home, the large package delivered by the mail carrier between 10:35 and 10:50 a.m. still was protruding out of the mailbox on the front gate (Scott retrieved it after he got home).
Scott's post-conviction counsel came to the conclusion that Scott likely accidentally left the side gate open when he left around 10:00 a.m.
Laci, just before she finished mopping the area in front of the French doors, put the leash on the dog and opened the French doors to let him go outside (so he wouldn't leave tracks in the wet floor in front of the door), or she may have gone outside with the dog, and ran back inside for some reason, leaving the dog in the yard.
The dog wandered out of the open side gate.
The next-door neighbor saw the dog standing in the road in front of the Peterson home and returned the dog to the fenced yard using the side gate, which was ajar.
Then Laci came out and took the dog for a walk.
When Laci returned from her walk, she put the dog back in the yard using the side gate, closed the gate, and walked toward the front gate to retrieve the large package the mail carrier had delivered.
At this point, before getting the mail, she walked across the street and had some kind of confrontation with the burglars.
What happened to Laci is directly linked to this confrontation with the burglars on December 24.
The cops say the burglary took place around 6 a.m. on December 26 (when reporters and news trucks lined Covena Avenue) because that's what the burglars told them. They changed the date so that nobody would think the burglary was connected to the disappearance of Laci Peterson.
When first questioned, some of the first words out of Steven Wayne Todd's mouth, without being asked about Laci Peterson, was "I had nothing to do with the pregnant women" (39-minute mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson). Rather than follow-up and ask the burglar about the statement he just volunteered, the detective told him he wasn't there to talk to him about the pregnant girl; he was there to talk to him about the burglary. This was because tunnel vision had convinced the Modesto Police Department that Scott was responsible for the disappearance of his wife, and the cops didn't want the media or anyone else focused on the possible burglary connection to this missing person's case.
A couple of weeks before Scott's trial ended, the defense team received a letter from an inmate at the Modesto county jail (who they refer to simply as "Mr. R"). The inmate said Steven Todd was involved in Laci's disappearance. He wrote: "I heard Laci confronted Steven Todd during the burglary, and he responded angrily and she was kidnapped" (39-minute mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson).
On January 2, 2003, Steven Wayne Todd, 36, and Donald Glenn Pearce, 44, were arrested for the burglary committed at the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home [police received a tip from a confidential informant]. They stole two handguns, power tools, a Gucci watch, a 2 1/2" x 2' 1/2" safe containing cash, at least $50,000 worth of jewelry – including large-carat rubies and diamonds – and other belongings.
11:20 AM
11:00 AM
Mike Chiavetta sees McKenzie near the park's edge at Edgebrook Drive and Covena Avenue, where he often lets his dog off his leash so he can run around. He is not certain the women he sees with McKenzie is Laci, or not, because his focus is on the dog, and he remembers it is a Golden Retriever and Lab mix (he described the women with McKenzie as "a round person with black leggings and a white smock").
Laci had gone back onto the trail from the trail head between 1125 and 1205 Edgewood Drive or at the trail head on Covena Avenue to let McKenzie run around, which is when Chiavetti would have seen them.
11:00 - 11:15 AM (VAN)
Laci and McKenzie return home as the burglary is in progress at the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home at 523 Covena Avenue.
Apparently, after walking McKensie around the neighborhood and then putting him in the side yard and closing the gate upon arriving home, Laci did not make it back inside her house. She may have noticed the large package protruding from the mailbox and decided to retrieve it before going inside. And, before getting to the mailbox, she must have noticed the activity across the street at the Medina home and walked across the street to inquire about what was going on, which resulted in her abduction to prevent her from calling the police about the burglary in progress.
It is important to note that when Scott arrived home around 4:45 p.m.:
1. The gates to the yard (front and side) were closed,
2. McKenzie was still on his leash in the fenced yard, and
3. The French doors from which both Scott and Laci left earlier (Scott between 9:50 and 10:05 a.m. and Laci between 9:55 and 10:20 a.m.) were unlocked.
Also, when Scott arrived home, the large package delivered by the mail carrier between 10:35 and 10:50 a.m. still was protruding out of the mailbox on the front gate (Scott retrieved it after he got home).
Scott's post-conviction counsel came to the conclusion that Scott likely accidentally left the side gate open when he left around 10:00 a.m.
Laci, just before she finished mopping the area in front of the French doors, put the leash on the dog and opened the French doors to let him go outside (so he wouldn't leave tracks in the wet floor in front of the door), or she may have gone outside with the dog, and ran back inside for some reason, leaving the dog in the yard.
The dog wandered out of the open side gate.
The next-door neighbor saw the dog standing in the road in front of the Peterson home and returned the dog to the fenced yard using the side gate, which was ajar.
Then Laci came out and took the dog for a walk.
When Laci returned from her walk, she put the dog back in the yard using the side gate, closed the gate, and walked toward the front gate to retrieve the large package the mail carrier had delivered.
At this point, before getting the mail, she walked across the street and had some kind of confrontation with the burglars.
What happened to Laci is directly linked to this confrontation with the burglars on December 24.
The cops say the burglary took place around 6 a.m. on December 26 (when reporters and news trucks lined Covena Avenue) because that's what the burglars told them. They changed the date so that nobody would think the burglary was connected to the disappearance of Laci Peterson.
When first questioned, some of the first words out of Steven Wayne Todd's mouth, without being asked about Laci Peterson, was "I had nothing to do with the pregnant women" (39-minute mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson). Rather than follow-up and ask the burglar about the statement he just volunteered, the detective told him he wasn't there to talk to him about the pregnant girl; he was there to talk to him about the burglary. This was because tunnel vision had convinced the Modesto Police Department that Scott was responsible for the disappearance of his wife, and the cops didn't want the media or anyone else focused on the possible burglary connection to this missing person's case.
A couple of weeks before Scott's trial ended, the defense team received a letter from an inmate at the Modesto county jail (who they refer to simply as "Mr. R"). The inmate said Steven Todd was involved in Laci's disappearance. He wrote: "I heard Laci confronted Steven Todd during the burglary, and he responded angrily and she was kidnapped" (39-minute mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson).
On January 2, 2003, Steven Wayne Todd, 36, and Donald Glenn Pearce, 44, were arrested for the burglary committed at the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home [police received a tip from a confidential informant]. They stole two handguns, power tools, a Gucci watch, a 2 1/2" x 2' 1/2" safe containing cash, at least $50,000 worth of jewelry – including large-carat rubies and diamonds – and other belongings.
Both men were charged with two felony burglary counts. Pearce pleaded no contest in February 2003 to a reduced charge of receiving stolen property. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Todd pleaded guilty to one burglary count in February 2003 and was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for that charge and two other burglary counts from a separate incident.
In January 2003, Adam Tenbrink, during a phone conversation with his brother Shawn Tenbrink, who was incarcerated in a California state prison (California Rehabilitation Institute at Norco east of Los Angeles), said that his close friend, Steven Todd, one of two men convicted of the burglary of the Medina home, admitted that on December 24th Laci walked across the street, confronted Steven Todd and the other men during the burglary, and they threatened her. Before Adam could say anything more, Shawn stopped him from talking. Shawn responded: "Shut up! Shut up! This could be monitored. We're not going to talk about that."
This conversation was being recorded by a watch commander at the prison, Lt. Aponte. Aponte called in the tip to the Modesto Police Department on January 22, 2003. He had to call twice before he got a phone call back. Aponte said he gave the Modesto Police Department a copy of the tape (he couldn't remember the name of the officer). The Modesto Police Department denies ever talking to Aponte or receiving the tape.
In January 2003, Adam Tenbrink, during a phone conversation with his brother Shawn Tenbrink, who was incarcerated in a California state prison (California Rehabilitation Institute at Norco east of Los Angeles), said that his close friend, Steven Todd, one of two men convicted of the burglary of the Medina home, admitted that on December 24th Laci walked across the street, confronted Steven Todd and the other men during the burglary, and they threatened her. Before Adam could say anything more, Shawn stopped him from talking. Shawn responded: "Shut up! Shut up! This could be monitored. We're not going to talk about that."
This conversation was being recorded by a watch commander at the prison, Lt. Aponte. Aponte called in the tip to the Modesto Police Department on January 22, 2003. He had to call twice before he got a phone call back. Aponte said he gave the Modesto Police Department a copy of the tape (he couldn't remember the name of the officer). The Modesto Police Department denies ever talking to Aponte or receiving the tape.
The Aponte Tip:
The MPD "lost" the recording of the phone call between the two brothers, Adam and Shawn Tenbrink, that Lt. Aponte turned over to them.
Lt. Aponte gave a signed statement to defense investigators which said the prisoner had been interviewed by MPD, and that MPD had received a copy of the taped phone conversation.
From the DMNT: Lt. Aponte said a detective called him back and arrangements were made for the detective to interview Shawn. Lt. Aponte believes that it was after he spoke to the detective that he listened to the recorded conversation between Shawn and his brother Adam. To the best of his recollection, Shawn/Adam talked to Adam/Shawn about Laci Peterson missing and Adam mentioned that Laci happened to walk up while Steven Todd was doing the burglary and Steven Todd made some type of verbal threat to Laci.
Lt. Aponte did not recall the name of the detective; however, when asked about the names Craig Grogan, Al Brocchini, Mark Smith and Owens, Lt. Aponte said Grogan sounded familiar. Lt. Aponte said he recalls the names [blacked out] and Steven Todd from the recorded telephone conversation. The telephone call lasted about 3-4 minutes.
The detective from MPD came down to Norco [California] Rehabilitation Center and interviewed Shawn within the first couple of weeks from his first call to the MPD hotline.
Post-conviction counsel’s investigator Jacqi Tully attempted to interview Steven Todd over the telephone. He was angry and said, “Fuck Scott Peterson.”
Tully also attempted to interview Adam Tenbrink. At one point, Adam Tenbrink agreed to speak with Tully at a later date, but then refused to come to the door.
Tully interviewed Shawn Tenbrink. He confirmed he was an inmate at CDC Norco in January 2003. He also confirmed having a phone conversation with his brother Adam in which Adam told him he knew who burglarized the house across the street from the Petersons' home. Shawn could not recall whether Adam informed him that Steven Todd had burglarized the house with other people.
Tully also attempted to interview Adam Tenbrink. At one point, Adam Tenbrink agreed to speak with Tully at a later date, but then refused to come to the door.
Tully interviewed Shawn Tenbrink. He confirmed he was an inmate at CDC Norco in January 2003. He also confirmed having a phone conversation with his brother Adam in which Adam told him he knew who burglarized the house across the street from the Petersons' home. Shawn could not recall whether Adam informed him that Steven Todd had burglarized the house with other people.
11:20 AM
Scott leaves his warehouse about 11:18 to drive to the Berkeley Marina.
Scott thought it took him an hour and a half to get to the marina, maybe a little longer because he was pulling a trailer. Supporting Scott’s statement, Yahoo maps shows it is one hour and 36-minute drive to the Berkeley Marina from Scott's warehouse.
11:40 AM (VAN)
Diane Jackson sees three men with a safe standing by an older tan van parked in front of the Medina home. One rear van door is open, the other ajar.
The burglars themselves said (37:30 mark in episode 6 of A&E's six-part series, The Murder of Laci Peterson) they put the safe in the front yard using the Medinas' hand truck.
Evidence proving Diane Jackson witnessed the burglary, along with other supporting facts, would most likely have raised a substantial amount of reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. But because Diane Jackson was prohibited from taking the stand, or no other solid documentation was provided, the premise couldn’t be presented as fact.
And going back to the early days of the investigation, it’s clear that this evidence was leading in a direction other than Scott Peterson. For whatever reason, the evidence was not being followed, ignored by the investigators – either negligently or purposefully – and forcing them to explain the two events as unrelated, separate incidences. In the process, unnecessary details were introduced and accepted – details that should have been shaved off by Occam’s Razor.
And going back to the early days of the investigation, it’s clear that this evidence was leading in a direction other than Scott Peterson. For whatever reason, the evidence was not being followed, ignored by the investigators – either negligently or purposefully – and forcing them to explain the two events as unrelated, separate incidences. In the process, unnecessary details were introduced and accepted – details that should have been shaved off by Occam’s Razor.
12:45-1:00 PM
Scott arrives at Berkeley Marina. Scott purchases a boat launch ticket at 12:54 and launches his boat.
On the evening of December 24, Scott gave the receipt to the police when they asked him if he had any proof he had been at the marina. On December 27, the police interviewed a city worker who had seen Scott at the marina on December 24.
Scott told police he motored north for probably two miles, and that he was near a little island that had a bunch of trash on it. He saw a big sign that said "No Landing" and there were some broken piers. He assumed it would be a decent shallow area. He had forgotten some new lures he had purchased from Big 5 in his truck, so he used some fresh water jigs from his tackle box. He trolled a bit and then headed back to the marina because he was getting wet.
Scott's Big 5 bag containing his new lures was found by the police in his truck the evening of December 24, confirming his statement that he had left them there. The fishing pole Scott purchased on December 20 had a fresh water jig on it, and the tag for the pole was in the bottom of the boat. Scott was, in fact, fishing while out on the bay.
When Scott arrived back at the marina, he said he talked to a couple of guys about fishing and that a couple maintenance guys got a good laugh from him trying to back his trailer down the ramp to load the boat.
Detective Rick Armendariz interviewed maintenance worker Mike Ilvestri on December 27. He confirmed seeing Scott’s vehicle and that the driver was having trouble backing the trailer in to get the boat out of the water.
Fitting Scott's description, the island described turned out to be Brooks Island. Evidence photos show the trash, the piers and the "No Landing" sign. Prosecution witnesses also confirmed the area to be shallow.
Using the media, the Modesto Police Department widely publicized this fishing trip from Berkeley Marina to Brooks Island as Scott's alibi.
2:00-4:00 PM (VAN)
Tom Harshman, a former reserve police offer who lives in Modesto, sees something that really concerns him near the corner of Scenic Drive and Claus Road as he is driving with his wife between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on December 24.
He sees a young pregnant woman who closely resembles Laci squatting by a fence, urinating, with a tall white man hovering over her. Harshman sees the woman’s face when she is up against the fence – that’s what he is concentrating on – and he sees a scared look on her face. The man then forces the woman into a tan van, and someone else is inside the vehicle.
Harshman's description of the van is similar to Jackson's description of the van used in the commission of the Medina burglary. He describes the van as an older white van with three windows and a tan stripe on the side, approximately a foot wide.
The woman Harshman sees has dark hair and is wearing black pants and a red shirt (perhaps a jacket?).
Harshman's description of the van is similar to Jackson's description of the van used in the commission of the Medina burglary. He describes the van as an older white van with three windows and a tan stripe on the side, approximately a foot wide.
The woman Harshman sees has dark hair and is wearing black pants and a red shirt (perhaps a jacket?).
The man he sees with the pregnant woman is a white male, in his forties, and is wearing a ball cap.
After driving past this scene, Harshman is so upset that he turns around and goes back to the spot, hoping to find the van still there and hoping to get more information about the license plate number, but the van is gone.
2:15-3:25 PM
Scott leaves the marina and calls Laci at home and on her cell phone. He also calls friend Greg Reid and his parents (he is stuck in some traffic).
Scott estimated being at the bay for about 90 minutes. From the time Scott bought the ticket to when his cell phone records show him leaving the area is about 78 minutes.
Confirming his statements, Scott’s message was retrieved from Laci’s voicemail by detective Al Brocchini the evening of December 24:
"Hey, Beautiful. I just left you a message at home. It's 2:15. I'm leaving Berkeley. I won't be able to get to Vella Farms to get the basket for Papa. I was hoping you would get this message and go on out there. I'll see you in a bit, sweetie. Love you. Bye."
Scott’s cell phone records confirm all of the calls.
Kristen and Greg Reid, friends of the Petersons, said the couple seemed happy even five years into their marriage. Greg met Scott Peterson about a year earlier through the Rotary Club. The two men became friends, and they would talk a few times a week and periodically meet for drinks. Kristen and Laci, who were both pregnant, developed a friendship through their husbands. Greg said he never saw anything that would indicate the Petersons were having any kind of marital trouble, and he said Scott never mentioned his affair with Amber Frey, a single mom from Fresno. "They were fun to be around," Greg said on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America on April 23, 2003. "They both seemed extremely excited, as we were. We were both having our first babies at the same time or quite close to the same time. We were both planning on basically raising them together since we both lived here in Modesto and in the same neighborhood."
3:25-4:15 PM
After driving past this scene, Harshman is so upset that he turns around and goes back to the spot, hoping to find the van still there and hoping to get more information about the license plate number, but the van is gone.
2:15-3:25 PM
Scott leaves the marina and calls Laci at home and on her cell phone. He also calls friend Greg Reid and his parents (he is stuck in some traffic).
Scott estimated being at the bay for about 90 minutes. From the time Scott bought the ticket to when his cell phone records show him leaving the area is about 78 minutes.
Confirming his statements, Scott’s message was retrieved from Laci’s voicemail by detective Al Brocchini the evening of December 24:
"Hey, Beautiful. I just left you a message at home. It's 2:15. I'm leaving Berkeley. I won't be able to get to Vella Farms to get the basket for Papa. I was hoping you would get this message and go on out there. I'll see you in a bit, sweetie. Love you. Bye."
Scott’s cell phone records confirm all of the calls.
Kristen and Greg Reid, friends of the Petersons, said the couple seemed happy even five years into their marriage. Greg met Scott Peterson about a year earlier through the Rotary Club. The two men became friends, and they would talk a few times a week and periodically meet for drinks. Kristen and Laci, who were both pregnant, developed a friendship through their husbands. Greg said he never saw anything that would indicate the Petersons were having any kind of marital trouble, and he said Scott never mentioned his affair with Amber Frey, a single mom from Fresno. "They were fun to be around," Greg said on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America on April 23, 2003. "They both seemed extremely excited, as we were. We were both having our first babies at the same time or quite close to the same time. We were both planning on basically raising them together since we both lived here in Modesto and in the same neighborhood."
3:25-4:15 PM
Scott pulls over for gas at a Chevron in Livermore. Bank records show this purchase was at 3:25 p.m.
Scott makes another call to Laci's cell phone at 3:52 p.m. but does not leave a message.
4:15-4:30 PM
Based on travel time from Livermore, Scott arrives back at his warehouse at 4:30 p.m. and drops off the fishing boat.
4:45 PM
Scott arrives home and finds McKenzie in the fenced yard with his leash on (nobody ever asked the question: "If Laci was dead when Scott left around 10 a.m., why would Scott put McKenzie on a leash, put him in the yard, and leave the gate open for him to run loose in the neighborhood?).
Scott removes McKenzie's leash and puts it on the patio table. Laci's vehicle is in the driveway.
Scott, thinking Laci is home because her vehicle is in the driveway, enters the home using the French doors from which he left. The French doors are unlocked (there are two sets of French doors, both without deadbolt locks).
Laci is not home, and Scott assumes that Laci's mom picked her up and that Laci is with her mom (there is nothing out of place and no signs of a struggle or burglary).
(Speaking with his sister-in-law Janey from San Quentin State Prison, Scott said: "The only unusual things were the leash [on the dog] and the door being unlocked. I assumed she was at her mom's.")
Scott's clothes are wet, so he undresses and puts them in the washer. He first removes the dirty cleaning rags from the washer that the housekeeper had left from the day before. He adds soap and starts the washer. He often does this when he gets home because he works with chemicals.
Scott gets the pizza box out of the refrigerator (leftover from the night before), pours a glass of milk, and heads to the shower, with a piece of pizza in hand. Scott takes a shower.
After showering, Scott checks his home phone messages and hears a message from Laci's stepfather, Ron Grantski, asking Scott and Laci to bring whipped cream when they came over for the Christmas Eve gathering.
5:17 PM
Scott calls Laci's mother, Sharon. She tells him that she did not pickup
Laci and that Laci is not with her. Sharon asks if McKenzie was in the yard when he got home. Scott says yes and remembers that the leash was on the dog.5:18 PM
The search for Laci begins.
Over the next half hour, Scott exchanges two more calls with Laci’s mother Sharon and stepfather Ron (Sharon and Ron had been together since 1977, although they actually never married).
Scott knocks on neighbors' doors, calls neighbors and friends, and heads to the park with McKenzie.
Sharon tells Scott they will begin calling hospitals so he can check the park.
5:47 PM
Laci's stepfather Ron calls 911 and reports Laci as missing.
Ron Grantski testified that he was fishing at the exact same time as Scott on December 24th, and, like Scott, it was a last minute thing. Ron didn't tell anyone he was going fishing.
Ron left home at 6:30 and drove to Lodi to pick up his paycheck, and then he went to Los Banos to check on a shopping center project that was near completion. He said from there, around 11:00 or so, he left to go fishing in Oakdale, which was after he learned Sharon was going to the movies (Sharon went to the movies with Sandy Rickard, and they didn't invite Laci, assuming she would be too uncomfortable). He said he got home from fishing in Oakdale around 3:00 or 3:30. He said Sharon was already home, and she asked Ron to call Laci to bring whipping cream to the Christmas Eve gathering at Sharon and Ron's house.
GRANTSKI: from Lodi to,
DISTASO: So,
GRANTSKI: I drive a lot, so I keep track of stuff like that.
DISTASO: So basically Modesto is right in the middle of these two places?
GRANTSKI: Right.
DISTASO: More or less. And you swung by Los Banos, you checked the job site there.
GRANTSKI: Yeah.
DISTASO: What time do you think that that was? If you don't know the exact time, that's okay, but,
GRANTSKI: Probably around 11:00, 11:30, 12:00. I wished everybody a Merry Christmas and said I would see them afterwards.Ron admitted that Scott could have been offended by what he asked him in the driveway at the house on December 24th, about it being so late to go fishing, when Ron left about the same time as Scott did (Scott wanted to test his new boat on the bay and do a little fishing).
DISTASO: And then you left the job site. And on the way home did you do any fishing?
GRANTSKI: Yeah. I, I believe I called Sharon and, you know, that was a Tuesday. A lot of people had to kind of work part of the day or you had to get things ready, and I, I told her I was getting ready, and she said she was going to the show, I believe with Sandy, so I figured well, I've got a few hours, so I decided to drive and go fishing.
DISTASO: While you were there [at Scott and Laci's home on December 24th], did you have any contact with Scott Peterson?
GRANTSKI: Only very briefly. I, we were standing out in the front under a tree, and I was talking with a couple officers and Scott come walking up. And I said, you know, said, "Hi." Scott said, "Hi." I said, "How was your golf today?" He said, "No, I didn't play golf, I went fishing." And I, being the smart behind I am, I said, "Well, what time did you go fishing?" He said, "Oh, about 9:30." And I said, I said, "9:30?" I said, "That's when I come home from fishing, that's not when I go." And he turned around and walked away. I was just kidding, but I felt bad that I had said that.
Ron said neither Scott nor Laci mentioned that Scott had purchased a fishing boat when Sharon and Ron had dinner at their house on December 15th, even though the topic of fishing came up (Sharon, for the first time, had gone fishing with Ron earlier that day).
Ron testified that he told Scott, "If you have anything to do with this, you'd better tell," and Scott said: "My world is done without Laci and my
child. We all want her back. I'm sorry you guys think I had something to do with it. The only important thing is getting her back."
Geragos referred to a report, but Grantski said he didn't remember Scott saying that.
Ron said Scott was a very non-emotional person, never lost his temper, never got angry, but he was extremely emotional on more than one occasion after Laci disappeared.
Geragos asked Ron about the fishing places he went to: Ron said they were private and secluded because a fisherman like him doesn't want others to know his fishing spot.
Geragos asked if someone was going to dump a body, wouldn't he pick someplace secluded and private rather than public like the Berkeley Marina with boats and people around. Ron Grantski gave no response.
6:11 PM
Detective Evers arrives at the park, where Scott is with McKenzie, looking for Laci.
6:20 PM
Officers Letsinger, Spurlock and Evers perform the first walk-through of the Peterson home.
DISTASO: So you went over to Laci's house and the Sopranos came on at 6:00 because they have satellite, right?
GRANTSKI: Right.
DISTASO: Okay. And did you, did you talk, or did either you or Sharon talk about going fishing that day?
GRANTSKI: She, I brought it up. You know, I like to kid quite a bit. I brought it up That can you believe it, I finally got Sharon to go fishing with me. Well, not really fishing. She went watching with me. And that's pretty much, I might have said a few other things, but I don't remember.
DISTASO: Okay. And did, at that time a, were Laci and Scott Peterson, the defendant, were they present during this conversation?
GRANTSKI: Yes.
DISTASO: Okay. Did either, while you were talking about fishing that night, did either party mention that Scott Peterson had just recently bought a boat?
GRANTSKI: Not, not a thing.
DISTASO: Okay. Did, did, at any time up until the 24th of December, did either Scott Peterson or Laci Peterson talk to you or mention that Scott Peterson had bought a boat there in the month of December?
GRANTSKI: No. Not at all. I, I mentioned at times I wished I had a boat, but I couldn't really afford one, so I had a float tube. That's what I have.
DISTASO: All right. Let me ask you about that. So had you mentioned to Laci or Scott that, because you're fishing, that you would like to have some kind of boat to use?
GRANTSKI: Yeah. There are times I would like,
DISTASO: Okay.
GRANTSKI: to catch some better fish, probably different areas, so
DISTASO: And the type of fishing you do is either from the bank,
GRANTSKI: It's always pretty much from a bank. Once in a while, you know, I go out with a friend with a boat or in a float tube. I go out in a float tube.
DISTASO: All right. Just for, I know what a float tube is because we've talked, but just for the jury, who are not fisher people, a float tube is, you know, a, like a big rubber ring and you kind of fit it in and you wear fins and you kick out in the water.
GRANTSKI: I wear fins and a wet suit and I mean,
DISTASO: Waders?
GRANTSKI: Waders. And you put your fins on and it's got a place to put your gear.
DISTASO: And you can kind of kick out off shore?
GRANTSKI: Yeah, just kick out off shore.
DISTASO: Okay.
GRANTSKI: It's very relaxing.
DISTASO: So was the fact that you were a very avid fisherman, was that fact known to Scott Peterson and Laci?
GRANTSKI: Oh, yeah.
DISTASO: I mean, that wasn't a secret?
GRANTSKI: Oh, no. Scott knew.
DISTASO: What was that?
GRANTSKI: Scott knew.
DISTASO: Okay. And, now, as part of your, of fishing, you said that you keep a, how many fishing poles do you have? Do you have any idea?
GRANTSKI: Eight or ten.
DISTASO: Okay.
GRANTSKI: Different, depending on the type of fishing I go, so
DISTASO: All right. Do you do all types of fishing?
GRANTSKI: I do. I have some heavy gear for ocean or big fish, but,
DISTASO: Like for saltwater fishing?
GRANTSKI: Yes.
DISTASO: What's the main type of fishing that you do, though?
GRANTSKI: Freshwater. I go reasonably close to the house, so within an hour and 20 minutes at the farthest, I would guess.
Ron had asked Scott on numerous occasions if he wanted to go fishing with him, but only once did Scott accept the invitation, and that was in 2000 or 2001 (Ron did not have a fishing boat; he only had a float tube, so he primarily fished from the shoreline).
Scott never asked Ron to join him on a fishing trip. Apparently, Scott and Ron were cordial with one another but not close by any means and, because of this, Scott didn't want Ron to know he had bought a fishing boat since he didn't plan to ask him to join him on any fishing trips.
Scott never asked Ron to join him on a fishing trip. Apparently, Scott and Ron were cordial with one another but not close by any means and, because of this, Scott didn't want Ron to know he had bought a fishing boat since he didn't plan to ask him to join him on any fishing trips.
GERAGOS: Okay. Now, the, you had, Mr. Distaso had asked you some questions. You went fishing on Christmas, on December 24th, the same day?The police met with the Sharon and Ron on January 15. On the 16th, they provided Sharon with tape recording equipment from Radio Shack. Sharon and Ron talked to Scott by phone that same day.
GRANTSKI: Correct.
GERAGOS: Okay. And you went at what time?
GRANTSKI: Probably about, like I said, somewhere around 12:00, 12:30 in the afternoon.
GERAGOS: Almost exactly the time that Scott Peterson went fishing?
GRANTSKI: Correct.
GERAGOS: Okay. And,
GRANTSKI: 90 miles closer, but,
GERAGOS: It was closer to your work, but you were working that day, he wasn't, as far as you know, right?
GRANTSKI: That's correct.
GERAGOS: Okay. And he had a boat and you did not, correct?
GRANTSKI: Correct.
GERAGOS: Okay. And you went fishing, did you tell anybody in advance that you were going fishing?
GRANTSKI: I can't remember. I don't know if I did.
GERAGOS: Did you tell anybody at work that you were going fishing?
GRANTSKI: No.
GERAGOS: Okay. Did you tell anybody the night before, Hey, I'm going fishing tomorrow?
GRANTSKI: No.
GERAGOS: Did you call up anybody and say, well, did you call up Scott and say, Do you want to go fishing with me tomorrow?
GRANTSKI: No, I got tired of doing that.
GERAGOS: Okay. Well, he had gone fishing with you once, correct?
GRANTSKI: Correct.
GERAGOS: And you were aware that he had gone fishing as recently as Thanksgiving, a month before?
GRANTSKI: I believe.
GERAGOS: Okay. And you knew he had gone to Mammoth with his family and had gone fishing?
GRANTSKI: Yes.
GERAGOS: You knew that he had gone, actually, you knew that he had an interest in fishing before you did, isn't that correct?
GRANTSKI: Well, I don't know what that means. What do you mean before I did?
GERAGOS: When, when did you start fishing?
GRANTSKI: Oh, I was probably 15.
GERAGOS: Okay. And when did you start going on a regular basis?
GRANTSKI: About ten years ago.
GERAGOS: About ten years ago?
GRANTSKI: Yeah.
GERAGOS: And were you aware that Scott had fished virtually his entire life?
GRANTSKI: No. I was aware that he had been fishing. I, you know, I didn't get into the, you know, time frame, so
GERAGOS: Okay. How much time would you say, in the year 2002, how many times would you say you saw Scott?
GRANTSKI: In 2002? Maybe 50.
GERAGOS: Okay. How much, and how many of those times did just you and he do something together?
GRANTSKI: Probably about ten or 15 times. I mean not, him and I together?
GERAGOS: Just the two of you.
GRANTSKI: Oh, no. Only once.
GERAGOS: Only once. The fishing?
GRANTSKI: Right.
Ron testified that he told Scott, "If you have anything to do with this, you'd better tell," and Scott said: "My world is done without Laci and my
child. We all want her back. I'm sorry you guys think I had something to do with it. The only important thing is getting her back."Geragos referred to a report, but Grantski said he didn't remember Scott saying that.
Ron said Scott was a very non-emotional person, never lost his temper, never got angry, but he was extremely emotional on more than one occasion after Laci disappeared.
Geragos asked Ron about the fishing places he went to: Ron said they were private and secluded because a fisherman like him doesn't want others to know his fishing spot.
Geragos asked if someone was going to dump a body, wouldn't he pick someplace secluded and private rather than public like the Berkeley Marina with boats and people around. Ron Grantski gave no response.
6:11 PM
Detective Evers arrives at the park, where Scott is with McKenzie, looking for Laci.
6:20 PM
Officers Letsinger, Spurlock and Evers perform the first walk-through of the Peterson home.
Summary of Letsinger's Description: Going into the courtyard, he noticed the mops and bucket next to the door, and it looked like water had dripped recently on the stone. He saw the pizza box on the counter still with some pieces in it and a rug scrunched accordion-style against the doorjamb of the door in the living room. He noticed several dirty, wet rags on the washing machine. The rest of the room almost was like a model home. Everything was in place. The chairs and rugs were all set. The magazines on the coffee table were all laid out. He said that's what made the rug and the rags stick out. He went into the second bedroom and noticed some duffel bags on the closet shelf and one on the floor, upside down.
Jon Evers: "I came through the courtyard, through the front door. I stood right here. I stood right here, watched this hallway while Officer Spurlock and Officer Letsinger went this direction, and cleared this part of the house. When they were done, they came up. We then went up the hallway towards the rear of the house, looked in the bathroom, looked in the master bedroom, looked in this, in the second bedroom, and then the third bedroom, which was a nursery. Checked in there. Came back out, and then we got out here in the backyard, looked around this patio area, checked the pool, walked around the back, checked the spa (the hot tub in the backyard), and came down the side of the house and then checked around there. And then that was it."
After concluding this walk-through, the three officers had a five-minute conversation with Sergeant Duerfeldt inside the house, near the front door. Duerfeldt had not yet met Scott Peterson and didn't know who he was. Based on this discussion, Duerfeldt called Lt. Able and explained that he wanted a homicide detective to respond.
6:30 PM
Three officers perform a second walk-through of the Peterson home.
Duerfeldt calls Sgt. Carter, who is the supervisor of the crimes against persons unit. Carter gives him Brocchini's name as the next homicide detective in rotation. Duerfeldt calls Brocchini, who was in the foothills with his family.
While waiting for Brocchini, Officer Evers said he and Scott went through the house, room by room, with Evers asking, "Do you see anything unusual, anything out of place," and in all of the rooms Scott said, "No." Evers opened the refrigerator to see if there was any new food that Laci might have bought. And Scott said, "No, that it didn't look like there was anything new."
The three officers noted that the rug in front of the family room door that leads to the backyard was pushed all the way against the door. Scott said the dog or cat must have been playing there, and he used his toe to pull it away from the door and straighten it out.
Spurlock said he asked Scott what type of fish he went fishing for that day, and Scott didn't say, but held up his hands about 7-8 inches apart. Spurlock asked him what kind of bait he used, and Scott said a silver lure. Spurlock asked Scott where he keeps his fishing equipment, and Scott said at the shop (the warehouse). Spurlock testified that when he questioned Scott about the fishing, Scott threw down his flashlight and said the "f word." However, none of the officers reported this behavior in their reports, and it didn't appear in any of the discovery materials given to the defense team. Scott did give Evers the marina parking receipt, which was subsequently given to Brocchini and booked into evidence.
9:30 PM
Detective Brocchini and Officer Evers perform a third walk-through of the Peterson home.
Detective Brocchini and Officer Evers perform a third walk-through of the Peterson home.
Detective Allen Brocchini, the responding detective, arrived at the Peterson home about 9:30 p.m. (9:55 according to Sgt. Duerfeldt). Scott was outside with some family and neighbors. After being briefed by Evers and other police officers at the scene, Brocchini did a 10-minute walk through with Evers, who pointed out things that were suspicious to him.
10:00 PM
Detective Brocchini, Officer Evers and Scott perform a fourth walk-through of the Peterson home.
Detective Brocchini, Officer Evers and Scott perform a fourth walk-through of the Peterson home.
The fourth walk-through by detective Brocchini was 45-minutes. Brocchini noted Laci’s purse in the closet, with Laci's wallet, keys, sunglasses, and other items of personal property inside. Laci's cell phone was in her Range Rover (parked in the driveway). It was plugged in to the cigarette lighter, but it was not charged and would not stay powered on.
It is unclear if Laci had another house key, one not on her chain of keys, that she used when she left the home to walk the dog, or if the couple hid a key outside that Laci may have used when she left for walks. Or perhaps Laci did not always lock the side French doors when she went for a walk.
Entrance to the park that Laci could have taken if she entered the park after walking the loop from La Sombra to Buena Vista and back to La Loma (Mitchell sighting).
Laci may have left the park via the Moose Park entrance off of La Loma Avenue after being verbally assaulted by two men (Campos sighting); Campos saw three people—two medium-build men yelling at a pregnant woman with a dog on a leash—walking together along the trail, in a direction away from the Covena Avenue address.
When law enforcement presumed that Scott Peterson was guilty and did not thoroughly investigate evidence that would point to other individuals, a wrongful conviction was probable. This became a certainty because of a biased media and a prosecutor bent on a conviction no matter what dishonest tactics he had to use. Rick Distaso made false, misleading and improper statements in the trial of Scott Lee Peterson.
If you do not believe the defense witnesses saw Laci walking in the neighborhood, who do you think they saw? There are 11 people who said they saw someone who looked like Laci walking a dog who looked like McKenzie sometime between 10 and 11 a.m. on December 24. These sightings form a well defined route within a mile of her home.
The prosecution for the most part did not interview the witnesses who claimed to have seen Laci.
Instead, they interviewed other dog walkers in the neighborhood, trying to imply that anyone who said they saw Laci must have seen someone else.
The following are neighborhood dog walkers who were interviewed by the prosecution (most of them testified at trial).
Scott Peterson Trial - Gloria Gomez Interview January 29th, 2003
“Laci sightings were not a priority.” This shocking statement was made by lead detective Craig Grogan during his testimony in the case against Scott Peterson. Unfortunately, the statement is very accurate. The only Laci and/or McKenzie sightings followed up by the Modesto Police were completed within the first 72 hours after Laci went missing. All tips regarding sightings of Laci and/or McKenzie were ignored by MPD after December 27, 2002.
The investigation and prosecution of Scott Peterson cost Stanislaus County CA $4.13 million dollars.
The following are neighborhood dog walkers who were interviewed by the prosecution (most of them testified at trial).
- Elizabeth Guptill, pregnant walker with son in jogging stroller, no dog, didn’t walk in December
- Janet Kenworthy, Park walker with white Huskie mix (she didn’t testify), worked on 24th, thinks husband walked the dog that day
- Jill Lear, pregnant walker with Australian Shepherd, didn’t walk 24th
- Joan Lee, pregnant walker with chocolate Lab and Husband, didn’t walk 24th
- Melba Martinez, La Loma walker with 2 Golden Retrievers, didn’t remember if she walked 24th
- Dianne Merenda, blond, not pregnant, Park walker with Golden Retriever, didn’t walk 24th
- Patricia Mewhinney, long blonde hair, Park walker w/German Shepherd/Black Lab mix, drove and then walked on 24th east from Phoenix
- Amy Neumann, pregnant walker with apricot standard Poodle, not walking in December
- Jordan Visola-Prescott, pregnant neighborhood walker with black/white Border Collie/Lab mix and Red Flyer red wagon with daughter in it, 99% sure she didn’t walk on the 24th
- Kim Westphal, not pregnant, long brown hair, neighborhood walker with Golden Retriever and a friend, 14766 : Kim Westfall (Westphal); she was walking with a friend on 12-24 at 11:30
- Michelle Dean (Merced Co. DA, Laci look-alike with Golden Retriever named McKenzie), did not walk on December 24
Scott Peterson Trial - Gloria Gomez Interview January 29th, 2003
“Laci sightings were not a priority.” This shocking statement was made by lead detective Craig Grogan during his testimony in the case against Scott Peterson. Unfortunately, the statement is very accurate. The only Laci and/or McKenzie sightings followed up by the Modesto Police were completed within the first 72 hours after Laci went missing. All tips regarding sightings of Laci and/or McKenzie were ignored by MPD after December 27, 2002.
The investigation and prosecution of Scott Peterson cost Stanislaus County CA $4.13 million dollars.
It is impossible to understand why virtually none of this money was spent following leads to find Laci while she was still alive.
Within three days after they were notified that Laci was missing, the MPD detectives decided that Laci was dead and that Scott had murdered her.
Approximately 24 hours after the Laci Peterson tipline opened on December 26, the MPD was ignoring tips that proved Laci was alive at the time Scott Peterson left home on December 24.
These were the only people contacted by MPD about the sightings:
Mike Chiavetta
• Interviewed by motorcycle policeman (Officer Nicolai) on 12/25/02
Victoria Pouches
• Contacted by Officer Beffa 12/25/02
Chris Van Sandt
• Spoke with Detective Brocchini by phone 12/25/02
John and Karma Souza
• Interviewed by Detective Phil Owen on 12/27/02 (taped phone call)
Diane Campos
• Personal interview with Phil Owen on 12/27/02
Scott’s defense attorneys did not have access to the Modesto Police Department tip sheet until May 2003. However, they did learn about some of the other sightings. Tony Freitas called a defense investigator on January 20, 2003. Homer Maldonado called Sharon Rocha and Brent Rocha. An article about Vivian Mitchell appeared in the Modesto Bee on February 27, 2003. Martha Aguilar lived only two blocks from the Petersons’ house on Covena. The defense also learned about Gene Pedrioli and Grace Wolf through sources other than the MPD.
Grogan’s testimony and the questions asked by Birgit Fladager imply that following up on the sightings was an impossible task. Take a good look at People’s Exhibit 267-3.
The following are the questions asked of mail carrier Graybill by the prosecutor. They were very carefully worded to avoid mention of the open gate.
HARRIS: Had you had any interactions with McKenzie prior to the 24th?
GRAYBILL: I, as I remember it, there were times when the dog was out with her owner and he would take control of the dog and put the dog in the backyard whenever the mailman came by.
[...]
HARRIS: Okay. So just to go back through that, there would be times where the defendant or someone would be out with the dog as you're walking down the street towards 523. Can you describe what would happen as you would walk down there and if the dog was out?
GRAYBILL: The dog would guard the territory. The dog knew its boundaries, so . . .
HARRIS: Let me stop you. What do you mean by that?
GRAYBILL: Well, like one day there was no one there. The dog knew its boundaries, so . . .
HARRIS: What do you mean by that?
GRAYBILL: Well, like one day there was no one there, okay? The dog was out, all right? And the dog would not let me cross the property. Because you walk, there's no sidewalks. You skirt the grass, on all the houses. So as I would walk up to the house, the dog would be out, and it would be barking at me. But if I stayed in the middle of the street and kept walking right down the middle of the street, the dog would not come off the edge of the property. It would stay on its grass and let me proceed. And I could go up to the next house, at 517, and deliver the mail and the dog didn't have a problem with that. But Golden Retrievers are like that. They'll stay in their territory.
HARRIS: Specifically on December 24th of 2002, did you have any problem with the dog or the dog come out and keep you off the property?
GRAYBILL: No. I had no problems on December the 24th. It was a normal day.
HARRIS: And as far as you can recall were you able to deliver the mail at 523 Covena?
GRAYBILL: Yes, I was.
HARRIS: So you continued down the route, and at some point in time you get back to your truck?
GRAYBILL: Yes.
HARRIS: As you, since you're talking to us about it, being aware of dogs and stuff, as a postman do you try to pay attention to what's going on in the street for your safety?
GRAYBILL: You're constantly on guard for what might come out at you at any given moment, yes.
HARRIS: Was there anything out of the ordinary or anything out of the usual or anything that caused you to pay attention?
GRAYBILL: There was nothing out of the ordinary.
HARRIS: No other questions.
On January 2, 2003, about a day before Connor died, according to Dr. Phillipe Jeanty, Steven Wayne Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce were arrested for the burglary of the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home.
On April 17, 2003, four days after Connor's body was discovered along a shoreline area of Bayside Court in the city of Richmond, Steven Wayne Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce were booked into Stanislaus County Jail, as reported on April 21, 2003 (Laci's body was found on April 14th, on the beach, near the water, at Point Isabel park):
On April 13 and April 14, 2003, the remains of Connor and Laci were found on two different beaches along San Francisco Bay.
In the image above, the star marks the area near Brooks Island where Scott went fishing on December 24, the heart with the yellow strip marks the spot where Connor's body was found, and the heart near Point Isabel marks the spot where Laci's body was found:
The Albany Bulb may have been the location where the bodies were first placed at the Bay in the second or third week of January 2003.
In the image above, you can see the location of the Albany Bulb and Point Isabel where Laci's body was found (the Bay Trail runs for miles along the shoreline).
Matt Dalton conducted a flotation experiment in the summer of 2003 (see green insert in the image above). Items let go from Albany Bulb ended up almost exactly where Laci's body was found at Point Isabel.
However, it is probable Connor's body and Laci's body didn't float to where they were found but were placed there.
No waterway existed from any direction to carry Conner to where he was found. Connor's body could have been placed there by the killers, who drove there in a vehicle and carried it to the marshy area by the beach.
Laci's body (covered by a yellow tarp in the images below) could have floated from Albany Bulb to where it was found at Point Isabel, but that's not the only possibility: her body could have been placed there by the killers, who drove there in a vehicle and carried it to the rocks near the shoreline.
On February 11, 2003, a "suspicious man on raft south of Bay Bridge" was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard by the captain of the Alameda-based tugboat Polaris:
The State of California argued that Scott strangled or suffocated Laci either on the night of December 23 or the morning of December 24, 2002, in their home at 523 Covena, Modesto, CA.
He wrapped her in a blue tarp, removed her from the house to his Ford pickup truck, put some market umbrellas on top of her, and transported her to his warehouse.
Once at the warehouse, he unwrapped her from the tarp and put her into the boat, tied weights around her, and attached the boat cover so she could not be seen.
His next stop was the Berkeley Marina, the small boat launch ramp. He stuffed the boat cover around Laci and motored out towards Brooks Island. There he dumped Laci's pregnant body into the Bay, expecting it to never surface.
Then, on April 13 and April 14, respectively, Conner and Laci "washed ashore" near the same spot where Scott said he was fishing. Their bodies were found near the shoreline.
The Berkeley Marina and the route Scott took to go fishing is a popular area for boating, sailing, wind surfing and fishing. It is shallow water.
No evidence that Laci and Conner were ever in the Bay
The MPD and multiple other agencies spent 30 or more days searching in the Bay before the bodies were found and 25 days after, using the most sophisticated diving teams and sonar detection systems, and still did not produce a single piece of evidence that Laci and Conner were ever in the Bay. The Ralston theory was rejected by other experts and not presented as evidence at Trial.
Laci's clothes
Contrary to the State's argument, Laci was not found in the clothes she was wearing the day before. The tan pants, the blouse, and the shoes were all found in the house and identified by Amy Rocha.
Geragos stripped the State of another piece of "evidence." In his direct examination of Dodge Hendee, Harris emphasized the two pair of black maternity stretch pants that were found in a bag in the nursery. The search warrant included black stretch maternity pants, authorizing the officers to seize every pair they found. These were the only two pair seized.
Laci's Walk
Credible witnesses independently reported seeing Laci walking in the neighborhood along the same route and during the same time period. These sightings are corroborated in time and location by McKenzie's aggressive barking and the McKenzie sighting in the park.
Laci Sightings Were not a Priority
The truth is, the lead detectives were not looking for a live Laci – Al Brocchini concluded she was dead on the night of the 24th, and Craig Grogan arrived at the same conclusion on Christmas Day.
These were the only people contacted by MPD about the sightings:
Mike Chiavetta
• Interviewed by motorcycle policeman (Officer Nicolai) on 12/25/02
Victoria Pouches
• Contacted by Officer Beffa 12/25/02
Chris Van Sandt
• Spoke with Detective Brocchini by phone 12/25/02
John and Karma Souza
• Interviewed by Detective Phil Owen on 12/27/02 (taped phone call)
Diane Campos
• Personal interview with Phil Owen on 12/27/02
Scott’s defense attorneys did not have access to the Modesto Police Department tip sheet until May 2003. However, they did learn about some of the other sightings. Tony Freitas called a defense investigator on January 20, 2003. Homer Maldonado called Sharon Rocha and Brent Rocha. An article about Vivian Mitchell appeared in the Modesto Bee on February 27, 2003. Martha Aguilar lived only two blocks from the Petersons’ house on Covena. The defense also learned about Gene Pedrioli and Grace Wolf through sources other than the MPD.
Grogan’s testimony and the questions asked by Birgit Fladager imply that following up on the sightings was an impossible task. Take a good look at People’s Exhibit 267-3.
The following are the questions asked of mail carrier Graybill by the prosecutor. They were very carefully worded to avoid mention of the open gate.
HARRIS: Had you had any interactions with McKenzie prior to the 24th?
GRAYBILL: I, as I remember it, there were times when the dog was out with her owner and he would take control of the dog and put the dog in the backyard whenever the mailman came by.
[...]
HARRIS: Okay. So just to go back through that, there would be times where the defendant or someone would be out with the dog as you're walking down the street towards 523. Can you describe what would happen as you would walk down there and if the dog was out?
GRAYBILL: The dog would guard the territory. The dog knew its boundaries, so . . .
HARRIS: Let me stop you. What do you mean by that?
GRAYBILL: Well, like one day there was no one there. The dog knew its boundaries, so . . .
HARRIS: What do you mean by that?
GRAYBILL: Well, like one day there was no one there, okay? The dog was out, all right? And the dog would not let me cross the property. Because you walk, there's no sidewalks. You skirt the grass, on all the houses. So as I would walk up to the house, the dog would be out, and it would be barking at me. But if I stayed in the middle of the street and kept walking right down the middle of the street, the dog would not come off the edge of the property. It would stay on its grass and let me proceed. And I could go up to the next house, at 517, and deliver the mail and the dog didn't have a problem with that. But Golden Retrievers are like that. They'll stay in their territory.
HARRIS: Specifically on December 24th of 2002, did you have any problem with the dog or the dog come out and keep you off the property?
GRAYBILL: No. I had no problems on December the 24th. It was a normal day.
HARRIS: And as far as you can recall were you able to deliver the mail at 523 Covena?
GRAYBILL: Yes, I was.
HARRIS: So you continued down the route, and at some point in time you get back to your truck?
GRAYBILL: Yes.
HARRIS: As you, since you're talking to us about it, being aware of dogs and stuff, as a postman do you try to pay attention to what's going on in the street for your safety?
GRAYBILL: You're constantly on guard for what might come out at you at any given moment, yes.
HARRIS: Was there anything out of the ordinary or anything out of the usual or anything that caused you to pay attention?
GRAYBILL: There was nothing out of the ordinary.
HARRIS: No other questions.
On January 2, 2003, about a day before Connor died, according to Dr. Phillipe Jeanty, Steven Wayne Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce were arrested for the burglary of the Medina home, directly across the street from the Peterson home.
On April 17, 2003, four days after Connor's body was discovered along a shoreline area of Bayside Court in the city of Richmond, Steven Wayne Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce were booked into Stanislaus County Jail, as reported on April 21, 2003 (Laci's body was found on April 14th, on the beach, near the water, at Point Isabel park):
A burglary across the street from Laci Peterson's home had nothing to do with the Modesto woman's disappearance, police confirmed Friday. The announcement coincided with police saying they had arrested two suspects in the burglary and determined that they were not involved in the missing-person case.
Detective Doug Ridenour said the men were booked late Thursday, April 17, at Stanislaus County Jail. Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold would not comment on whether the two men who pleaded guilty to charges related to a burglary at a home in the Petersons' neighborhood would be called to testify.
Police arrested burglary suspects Steven Wayne Todd, 36, and Donald Glenn Pearce, 44, on Jan. 2 after receiving an anonymous tip [from a confidential informant], according to police documents and the two were far more cooperative than suspects usually are with police.
"It was bad luck on their part," Det. George Stough said. (Steven Todd) said he was scared that he was going to be associated with Laci's disappearance."
State parole officers received a tip from someone who directed police to Todd and Pearce, Stough said. They gave numerous statements and facts that checked out, convincing police that the two men were telling the truth.
Todd told investigators that he traveled the La Loma area often and recognized a home that looked empty the morning after Christmas. He said he and Pearce entered the home about 4 a.m. and stayed for about 3 1/2 hours, Stough said. Police listed the time of the burglary at the home of Susan Medina on Covena Avenue in the La Loma neighborhood at 6:30 a.m. Dec. 26.
Attorneys for both sides refused to say whether there was evidence Todd and Pearce were in the neighborhood before that.
Both men were charged with two felony burglary counts.
Pearce pleaded no contest in February to a reduced charge of receiving stolen property. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Todd pleaded guilty to one burglary count in February and was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for that charge and two other burglary counts from a separate incident.
One of the "Case Facts" on the Peterson Family website is "Opportunity."
The following is what they have to say:
The following is what they have to say:
We cannot address all the other facts of this case until we first address where Laci and Conner's bodies were found. No matter how many facts we feature that point toward Scott's innocence, the question will always be asked, "But what about the bodies?" The following quotes from jurors show how critical this topic is:
Juror #1, Greg Beratlis on Larry King Live, December 14, 2004:
"There's no bodies, it don't work. I spoke yesterday and I explained that if these bodies had been found any where else other than San Francisco Bay and, for that matter, right where Scott Peterson had described he had been fishing on Christmas Eve, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Juror #9, Julie Zanartu on Hannity and Colmes with guest host Beckel, March 17, 2005:
BECKEL: What was the single most important piece of evidence that made you decide that he was guilty?
ZANARTU: Exactly where he was fishing was where the bodies turned up. That was the bottom line.
Juror #8, John Guinasso on Larry King Live, March 16, 2005:
KING: What, if anything, was the determining factor in this case, John?
GUINASSO: It's probably the most obvious, and that is where the bodies washed up. I can personally say for myself, if they would never have washed up, I could never have convicted Scott Peterson.
Scott's family wrote on the website:
Searches of Other Bodies of Water
Kevin Bertalotto, DA's Office, testified about the various waterways in the Modesto area with boat launch ramps where Scott could have gone fishing on December 24. He was asked to identify the distance for about a dozen places, all much shorter than the 90-mile jaunt to Berkeley Marina.
However, Scott, who preferred saltwater fishing, had wanted to test out his fishing boat on the Bay – December 24th was the first time he had the boat on the water (he purchased it used from a private owner about two weeks earlier, and the owner had told him that he hadn't run the motor in a while so he couldn't guarantee that it worked).
The following is an excerpt of the testimony of Kevin Bertalotta, an investigator for the district attorney's office of Stanislaus County, regarding freshwater bodies of water in the area, two which were searched (Don Pedro Reservoir and Lake Tulloch).
The Bodies Were Discovered on the Shore, Not Floating in the Bay
Almost four months after Laci disappeared, Laci and Conner were found by pedestrians on the shores of the San Francisco Bay.
Scott's family wrote:
The following are summaries of the autopsies of Connor and Laci based on the trial testimony of Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Peterson.
Conner's Autopsy
History: The history provided to Peterson was that of a body found on the shore. Peterson did not know this was Conner and the female body had not yet been found. Consequently, the typical forensic pathology question in this type of case is: is this a stillborn baby or a live-born baby? Initially, then, Peterson was not concerned with explaining Conner's state of decomposition compared to Laci's because Laci wasn't yet known about.
External Exam: The external exam revealed no clothing, since it was a fetus. There was some material associated with the body, particularly some clear plastic tape (a lot like wrapping tape or boxing tape), one and a half loops of plastic tape around the neck of the fetus, with a knot near the left shoulder. The skin beneath the tape was not injured, and there was approximately a 2-centimeter gap between the neck and the tape when pulling the tape so it was firm against one side of the neck. Peterson removed the tape by cutting it and gave it to a criminalist. Peterson concluded the association between the body and the tape was coincidental – the tape simply ended up on the body. There was also some material over the left ear, adhering to the head, which Peterson believed to be kelp or other vegetative material. However, when it was removed, the ear remained folded over and there was a purple discoloration on Conner, which Peterson said is more consistent with the iodine in kelp than with bruising. (Peterson is not the person who removed this material from Conner's ear). Conner was decomposing, in general terms. He weighed 1160 grams (approximately 2. 5 pounds). A crown-of-head measurement could not be taking because the head was collapsing. Crown-heel length was 48 centimeters (approximately 19 inches). Based on these measurements, Conner could have reached full-term [full-term is defined as 38-41 weeks]. The skin was quite soft, in keeping with maceration, an effect on tissue soaking in fluid. No vernix on the body. The bones in the skull were overriding, which happens as the brain liquefies. There was a tear near the right shoulder that exposed skeletal muscle and the structures beneath. The tear extended onto the abdominal wall and portions of the small and large intestines protruded through the tear. There was no scalloping, no curved marks around the edges. Concluded it was simply from tissue falling apart or being pulled apart due to tidal action, it wasn't due to animal feeding. A portion of the colon protruded from the anus. There was a portion of the umbilical cord present, measuring a half centimeter (less than a 1/4 inch), and the edge was ragged, like it fell apart or pulled apart. It was not cut.
Internal Exam: There were no specific changes of either congenital abnormality or disease. The organs, in general, were soft and liquefied, in keeping with decomposition. The spleen and kidney could not be weighed because they were liquefied. There was more liquefaction inside the right side of the chest as opposed to the left because of the tear. The changes were simply the result of decomposition and immersion.
Estimated gestational age: Nine months, based on the crown to heel and the crown to rump measurement. However, the body was soft and decomposing. As tissues decompose, they tend to expand, and expanding tissues can affect the whole body. Peterson left the gestational age determination to Dr. Galloway, an anthropologist.
Live birth: Peterson could not rule out live birth.
Plastic bag found near Conner: Under cross, Peterson was asked if Conner had been placed in a bag and the tape was around the neck having been looped around once and knotted so that once placed in the water, the baby would have been in a protected environment – if that was consistent with Conner's decomposition and the tape around his neck. Admitted it was possible that Conner's body was protected in some other way, but did not consider it likely. Peterson was not aware of the plastic found near Conner when he did the autopsy.
Float test not performed: The float test is used to determine live birth, with the idea that if a baby is stillborn, it has never had a chance to draw a breath, and thus the lungs are heavy and simply will not float in water. On the other hand, if the baby is live born and has drawn breath, lungs are expanded, there is air, and they will float. Problem is there can be postmortem gas formation in the lung due to decomposition. Peterson does not rely on the float test and did not perform one.
Estimated time in water unprotected: Not more than a couple of days.
Estimate of Gestational Age
As part of the autopsy, Peterson took two measurements, the crown-rump length and crown-heel length. The crown-rump measurement of 32 cm indicated Conner's gestational age was 9 months. Peterson did not give the details of the crown-heel length in his testimony.*
*Peterson did provide both measurements in his preliminary testimony.
Laci's Autopsy
History: x-rays were taken prior to Peterson's arrival, which he examined, looking for evidence of foreign material, such as bullets, blades, that sort of thing. There were none.
External–Body: Peterson received the body in the prone position, which is unusual. The body consisted of a torso, portions of both upper extremities, portions of the lower extremities. Missing were the head and neck, the forearms and hands, and the left lower leg, the tibia, the fibula, and the foot.
In terms of the chest, the skin, the tissue beneath the skin, the fat, the muscle, all that was absent, and the collarbones, the clavicles, the breastbone, the sternum, the ribs were all exposed. The organs normally associated with the chest, the hear, the lungs, etc., were all absent. From the umbilicus (bellybutton) up, the abdominal wall was absent upward, exposing the bones of the chest, and a portion of the soft tissue was absent down to about the level of the umbilicus. From the waist down, beginning about the level of the umbilicus, the skin was absent, the fat was still present, and the fat had undergone a postmortem change called adipocere, which is a soap-like substance that's formed when fat is soaked in cold water. Her external genitalia were unremarkable, there was no evidence of injury. Much of the skin, subcutaneous tissue was present on the upper arms and on the thighs. The joints were exposed but no evidence of injury, no marks on the bones, such as a saw blade or knife might leave. Neither was there evidence of chewing. There were barnacles on the clothing, but none on the body.
External–Clothing: The clothing consisted of an underwire brassiere, with a label that said Bali 3630 C 40/90. The brassiere was in place and intact, secured by two hook-and-loop-type fasteners, and, as best as Peterson could tell, had not been disturbed. Additional clothing consisted of khaki-colored trousers, with a label that had the brand name Motherhood, size S for small. Beneath the trousers were panties, with a label with Jockey 7. The trousers had a peculiar shredding effect. The legs were basically reduced to thread, and within those threads, the calcification, or stone-like material, was deposited. The button closure was intact, the zipper was intact, and there were cloth draw cords inside, also intact. The buttocks of the panties was missing, and the front portion was intact. There was some duct tape on the left thigh. When Peterson turned the body over, he observed the duct tape was sticking to the front waistband of the trousers.
Explanation–Condition of Laci's body: Laci's body being in prone position and the damage to her body is consistent with a body that's free to move in the water or float – it's going to float face down. It's the center of gravity issue, due to the fact that the extremities are rather heavy and they are going to hang down. Left to its own devices, the body will float in the prone (face down) position. Bodies tend to sink, and at some point they tend to float up. This depends on the postmortem change, gas formation, etc. Bodies typically spend some of their time near the bottom and some of their time near the top. If they are near the bottom, they are open to effect by physical phenomenon, such as tides, currents, those sorts of things. A body will then be pulled over the bottom structures, rocks, sand, whatever else might be down there, which are destructive – an abrasive-type action on the body that will cause some of the changes Peterson observed in Laci. The forearms were absent, the lower leg was absent on the left because those portions were hanging down and more subject to that damage. Since the uterus is relatively heavy, the anterior abdominal wall and that upper portion, the fundus of the uterus, are also exposed to that type of damage.
Explanation–Condition of Conner compared to condition of Laci: Laci's body showed evidence of animal feeding, associated with exposure to the environment, while Conner's did not. Conner was decomposed, but no evidence of animal feeding. Conner was inside Laci when Laci's body was deposited in the water or ended up in the water, but over time the tidal action and animal feeding, as the abdominal wall wore away, eventually the upper part of the fundus of the uterus wore away, and at that time, the fetus was released. Peterson said it would be hard to provide the level of protection the uterus would provide through another means, such as a plastic bag.
Explanation–Cause of disarticulation: No bite marks or other positive evidence that animal feeding caused the disarticulation.
Explanation–mineral deposits on the pants: These were discrete deposits. How a body acts in the water, how it tends to submerge and then resurface, if this happened over a period of time, with alternate layers of wetting and drying, it could account for the minerals building up.
Estimate of time in the water: Months.
Cause of death: Undetermined. With respect to the body that was present, there were nothing to indicate cause of death: no tool marks, no bullets, no evidences of injury, nothing helpful from the toxicology report – nothing to indicate anatomic or chemical cause of death.
Toxicology report: Skeletal muscle tissue was tested for toxins. Caffeine was detected. Peterson did not know how long caffeine can remain in the skeletal tissue.
CourtTV obtained a copy of the autopsy report on Laci, which can be found at this link:
http://www.inreview.com/archive/topic/25517.html
The amount of misinterpretation in regards to this topic remains somewhat of a mystery to our family. When Laci went missing on December 24th we were alarmed to hear the police announce Scott's alibi to the public within 24 hours. We did not know where Laci was, who had her, or what their intent was. Within two days of Laci's disappearance, Scott's alibi had been so widely publicized that while we had great hope that Laci would be coming home, a small part of us feared that if someone had the intent to kill Laci they were being told right where to put her body.By December 28th, both the Modesto Police and the media were at the Berkeley Marina. Water searches of the San Francisco Bay began by December 30th. The search teams included the Coast Guard, Navy, agencies from at least four different counties, the FBI, dogs trained to smell the surface of the water for gases being emitted from decomposing bodies, in excess of 200 side-scan sonar searches, a robotic vehicle that drove along the bottom of the water, scuba divers and helicopters.
On February 3, helicopter searches were conducted around Brooks Island and along the shoreline of the Bay.
GERAGOS: Okay. One of the reasons that you were hovering with the helicopter over this area is because you thought you would be able to see anything or do a visual check and search by being ten feet above the water, correct?
CLOWARD: Correct. We wanted to check the banks of Brooks Island, which is why we were hovering along the water's edge.
GERAGOS: Okay. Then you went back up, did you go back up that afternoon after you did the first search of the banks of the island?
CLOWARD: Yes. We ended in, up in Napa, and then came back from Napa, working along the shoreline again, and then went out to Treasure Island.
In February Dr. Cheng was asked to determine where the bodies would have gone if they had been placed in the water along Scott’s fishing route.
GERAGOS: Okay. And could you point, or could you write on the map with red pen where they suggested that they thought the body may have been placed in the water?
JUDGE: Put an "X", Doctor Cheng. And draw a line to the margin and it put C1. Just put an X. Okay. Do you want to put just draw a line out to the margin?
CHENG: Somewhere over here.
GERAGOS: Okay and was that over off of the tip of Brooks Island?
CHENG: That's correct.
The most damning (and only) evidence against Peterson is the fact the bodies washed up near where he was fishing that day and the fact he told Amber Frey he “lost” his wife before she disappeared.
The police leaked his alibi to the media and then the media broadcast it to the world.
Anybody could have possibly planted the body there to frame him.
There is no blood splatter, no transfer DNA, no fluids, no fibers anywhere in his truck, his house, or his boat that indicates he murdered her and/or transported her body.
When someone is strangled to death the body will usually release the bladder. This causes urine to be transferred on the floor, clothing, and any any surface the body comes in contact with from then on. In the cases where the urine is cleaned up from a floor or carpet, there is then a much greater concentrated area of cleaner.
The police found no evidence of this whatsoever in his truck, boat, or the house.
Either the police did a terrible job searching for and collecting evidence or Scott did an exceptional job of making sure there was nothing for them to find.
Also, the prosecution presented no witnesses stating that Scott was abusive to Laci in any way or to any other woman for that matter.
The police like to make up stuff and railroad people because of what they think happened (confirmation bias).
It's clear that Lacy was a victim. She went out on her walk with the dog. She arrived home and put the dog in the fenced yard. She confronted the burglars across the street. She was taken by the men as they were loading the stolen safe into the van.
Searches of the shallow waters in the Bay turned up nothing.
During extensive searches of the Bay using divers, sophisticated side-scan sonar equipment and a REMUS, there was nothing of any evidentiary value recovered. They found a pier piling, buoy chain, anchor, broken crab trap, and a six-inch broken one-inch by one-inch wooden stick.
The water around Brooks Island is extremely shallow. At times it is three feet or less. The average depth in this area at low tide would be six to eight feet. Maybe at high tide you're talking about twelve feet, possibly. So you could navigate in this area fairly well with all the boats, but you couldn't get too close to the shoreline or certain areas around Brooks Island because the water is so shallow.
In spite of exhaustive searches of the bay before and after the bodies were found, there was no evidence whatsoever that the bodies had ever been in the bay along Scott’s fishing route before they were found on the shore.
The Modesto Police Department expended numerous resources to locate Laci's dead body in the Bay. The 51 total searches were divided into two phases: before and after the bodies were found.
During extensive searches of the Bay using divers, sophisticated side-scan sonar equipment and a REMUS, there was nothing of any evidentiary value recovered. They found a pier piling, buoy chain, anchor, broken crab trap, and a six-inch broken one-inch by one-inch wooden stick.
The water around Brooks Island is extremely shallow. At times it is three feet or less. The average depth in this area at low tide would be six to eight feet. Maybe at high tide you're talking about twelve feet, possibly. So you could navigate in this area fairly well with all the boats, but you couldn't get too close to the shoreline or certain areas around Brooks Island because the water is so shallow.
In spite of exhaustive searches of the bay before and after the bodies were found, there was no evidence whatsoever that the bodies had ever been in the bay along Scott’s fishing route before they were found on the shore.
The Modesto Police Department expended numerous resources to locate Laci's dead body in the Bay. The 51 total searches were divided into two phases: before and after the bodies were found.
Bay Searches
The Bay searches involved several agencies besides the MPD and utilized divers, side-scan sonars, and a REMUS device. Based on expert opinion, MPD developed a rectangular highest probability section of the Bay and set out to literally map that entire area. Many say that the sites where the bodies were found is the strongest evidence against Scott, but the testimony certainly raises reasonable doubt that Laci could have been in the Bay those four months and not been detected.
Witnesses who testified about the Bay searches were convinced that a very thorough search was completed, and yet no homemade anchors (the State claimed Scott made homemade anchors and used them to weight down Laci's body), body parts, or other evidence of Laci's presence were found.
The Prosecution tried to steer the jury away from this obvious conclusion, that Laci's body was never in the Bay before it was discovered along the shoreline, by pointing out the poor visibility. However, as Geragos noted, if the sophisticated equipment could locate items as small as beer bottles, why couldn't it find the evidence necessary to prove Scott dumped Laci in that Bay?
Dates of searches of the Bay before the bodies were discovered were under the direction of Ron Cloward:
December 28, 30
January 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 18, 24, 28
February 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 20, 21, 23, 26
March 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27, 29
Geoffrey Baehr, Head Diver, marina search and rescue team, was captain of one of the boats with the side-scan sonar that conducted 15-17 searches of the Bay in late December, January, February, March, April, and May. His boat conducted searches in the areas of the pier pilings in the Berkeley Marina, from Brooks Island to Point Isabel (had to discontinue that search because not enough water depth), the Richmond shipping channel, and the Southamptoan Shoal. Baehr described the difficulties they faced with the black water, wind, waves, currents, and surge. He also described the process of searching a grid.
Geragos contrasted the side-scan sonar with the Hydroid system that was used later, and which Geragos said literally mapped the Bay floor of the high probability area, finding very small items. Baehr said an 5.8 foot item showed only as an 1/4 inch object on the screen of the side sonar computer, so it could never "see" such small items.
Baehr would not state that nothing of evidentiary value was found because he said he was not the one who determined evidentiary value.
The Bay searches involved several agencies besides the MPD and utilized divers, side-scan sonars, and a REMUS device. Based on expert opinion, MPD developed a rectangular highest probability section of the Bay and set out to literally map that entire area. Many say that the sites where the bodies were found is the strongest evidence against Scott, but the testimony certainly raises reasonable doubt that Laci could have been in the Bay those four months and not been detected.
Witnesses who testified about the Bay searches were convinced that a very thorough search was completed, and yet no homemade anchors (the State claimed Scott made homemade anchors and used them to weight down Laci's body), body parts, or other evidence of Laci's presence were found.
The Prosecution tried to steer the jury away from this obvious conclusion, that Laci's body was never in the Bay before it was discovered along the shoreline, by pointing out the poor visibility. However, as Geragos noted, if the sophisticated equipment could locate items as small as beer bottles, why couldn't it find the evidence necessary to prove Scott dumped Laci in that Bay?
Exhibits Introduced
EXHIBIT 132: PHOTO OF THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY SIGN IN THE BOAT.
EXHIBIT 133: PHOTO OF SHOPPING BAG WITH BLACK PANTS AND PAPER BAG, #37 SIGN.
EXHIBIT 134: PHOTO DET. HENDEE WITH OLIVE LEAF WREATH ON HIS HEAD.
EXHIBIT 134: PHOTO DET. HENDEE WITH OLIVE LEAF WREATH ON HIS HEAD.
EXHIBIT KKK: NOT USED.
EXHIBIT LLL: DIAGRAM OF PROPOSED SEARCH AREA
EXHIBIT MMM: DIAGRAM OF OVERALL SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT NNN: DIAGRAM OF ENTIRE TARGET AREA
EXHIBIT OOO: MISSION 1 SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT PPP: 2 PGS. SEARCH QUADRANTS
EXHIBIT QQQ: MISSION 1 FILTERED TARGET MAP POSITIONS
EXHIBIT RRR: MISSION 2 SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT SSS: 2 PGS. MISSION 2 FILTERED TARGET MAP POSITIONS.
EXHIBIT LLL: DIAGRAM OF PROPOSED SEARCH AREA
EXHIBIT MMM: DIAGRAM OF OVERALL SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT NNN: DIAGRAM OF ENTIRE TARGET AREA
EXHIBIT OOO: MISSION 1 SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT PPP: 2 PGS. SEARCH QUADRANTS
EXHIBIT QQQ: MISSION 1 FILTERED TARGET MAP POSITIONS
EXHIBIT RRR: MISSION 2 SURVEY AREA
EXHIBIT SSS: 2 PGS. MISSION 2 FILTERED TARGET MAP POSITIONS.
EXHIBIT TTT: MISSION 3 SURVEY AREA, (5 PAGES)
EXHIBIT UUU: MISSIONS 4, 5, 6, & 7, (16 PAGES)
EXHIBIT UUU: MISSIONS 4, 5, 6, & 7, (16 PAGES)
Dates of searches of the Bay before the bodies were discovered were under the direction of Ron Cloward:
December 28, 30
January 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 18, 24, 28
February 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 20, 21, 23, 26
March 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27, 29
Geoffrey Baehr, Head Diver, marina search and rescue team, was captain of one of the boats with the side-scan sonar that conducted 15-17 searches of the Bay in late December, January, February, March, April, and May. His boat conducted searches in the areas of the pier pilings in the Berkeley Marina, from Brooks Island to Point Isabel (had to discontinue that search because not enough water depth), the Richmond shipping channel, and the Southamptoan Shoal. Baehr described the difficulties they faced with the black water, wind, waves, currents, and surge. He also described the process of searching a grid.
Geragos contrasted the side-scan sonar with the Hydroid system that was used later, and which Geragos said literally mapped the Bay floor of the high probability area, finding very small items. Baehr said an 5.8 foot item showed only as an 1/4 inch object on the screen of the side sonar computer, so it could never "see" such small items.
Baehr would not state that nothing of evidentiary value was found because he said he was not the one who determined evidentiary value.
Dates of searches of the Bay after the bodies were discovered were under the direction of Dodge Hendee:
April 13, 14
May 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
July 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13
September 11, 12, 18 19
October 3, 4, 17
The searches discussed in most detail were after April 14, when Laci was found at Point Isabel.
April 13, 14
May 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
July 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13
September 11, 12, 18 19
October 3, 4, 17
The searches discussed in most detail were after April 14, when Laci was found at Point Isabel.
Hendee testified to a meticulously thorough search of the Bay in the high probability area, using special dive teams and sophisticated sonar equipment. He is to be commended for this very thorough search and for the way he sought out the best resources available, all over the nation. But, no anchors were found and no body parts (an anchor was found on January 9th, but not an anchor that like anchors the State claimed Scott made and used to weight down Laci's body).
The Prosecution spent considerable time establishing with Hendee that the anchor Scott had in his boat was made using the plastic pitcher on the trailer, including showing the picture of Brocchini putting the boat anchor into the pitcher in an apparently perfect fit. With that established as "fact," D. Harris had Hendee testify about the five circular void spots in the white powder on the trailer – all intended to convince the Jury that Scott made four other anchors, and those four anchors were used to weight down Laci.
The Prosecution spent considerable time establishing with Hendee that the anchor Scott had in his boat was made using the plastic pitcher on the trailer, including showing the picture of Brocchini putting the boat anchor into the pitcher in an apparently perfect fit. With that established as "fact," D. Harris had Hendee testify about the five circular void spots in the white powder on the trailer – all intended to convince the Jury that Scott made four other anchors, and those four anchors were used to weight down Laci.
Geragos disabused the jury of any such idea. He showed how the anchor did not perfectly fit into the pitcher, and he demonstrated the finger-width gap between the anchor and the pitcher. He noted the dimple on the inside bottom of the pitcher that was noticeably missing from the bottom of the anchor. He asked Hendee to verify that the experts confirmed that the anchor was not made in that pitcher. He suggested Hendee "saw" the circular rings because he believed the boat anchor was made in that pitcher.
Searches of Other Bodies of Water
Kevin Bertalotto, DA's Office, testified about the various waterways in the Modesto area with boat launch ramps where Scott could have gone fishing on December 24. He was asked to identify the distance for about a dozen places, all much shorter than the 90-mile jaunt to Berkeley Marina.
However, Scott, who preferred saltwater fishing, had wanted to test out his fishing boat on the Bay – December 24th was the first time he had the boat on the water (he purchased it used from a private owner about two weeks earlier, and the owner had told him that he hadn't run the motor in a while so he couldn't guarantee that it worked).
The following is an excerpt of the testimony of Kevin Bertalotta, an investigator for the district attorney's office of Stanislaus County, regarding freshwater bodies of water in the area, two which were searched (Don Pedro Reservoir and Lake Tulloch).
DISTASO: Let me show you a map of People's 217. Do you recognize what's depicted on the map, those particular waterways?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, I do.
DISTASO: And are those the waterways that you drove out to and measured the distance from Mr. Peterson's home to each of those individual locations?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, I did.
DISTASO: Did you go from his home to the boat launching facilities at each of those locations?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, I did.
DISTASO: Let me just put this up on the screen. And how is it that you measured, how is it that you measured the distance? Did you
BERTALOTTO: Well
DISTASO: Yeah, go ahead.
BERTALOTTO: I just used the tripometer in my assigned work car, so obviously it's an approximation, but that's the way I did it.
DISTASO: And let's just kind of go through them, go through them, starting on the left-hand side. From, Mr. Peterson's home to the Mossdale launching or crossing launch ramp, where is that located?
BERTALOTTO: That's on Highway 120 where it merges into Highway 205 where it crosses the San Joaquin River, there's, excuse me, a launch access there.
DISTASO: Okay. And there's somewhere you can launch a boat?
BERTALOTTO: Yes.
DISTASO: And how far in miles just from your car driving out there was it?
BERTALOTTO: 26.4.
DISTASO: And if you go up, going up to the top of the map there, how far from Mr. Peterson's home to the Woodward Reservoir launch ramp?
BERTALOTTO: 23.7.
DISTASO: And let's go straight, straight east. Straight east from Mr. Peterson's home, if you were to drive down Highway 132, can you come to a place called the Fox Grove fishing access to the Tuolumne River?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, it's off Albers Road.
DISTASO: Does that have a boat launching ramp there?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, it does.
DISTASO: How far was that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: 9.8 miles.
DISTASO: Is there another location at Turlock Lake in that area of Stanislaus County?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, sir, there is.
DISTASO: How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: 23.7 miles. Same distance.
DISTASO: And again, looking straight above that, the Modesto Reservoir, that's another lake there in Stanislaus County?
BERTALOTTO: Yes.
DISTASO: Does that have a boat launching area there?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, it does.
DISTASO: How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: 19.2 miles.
DISTASO: Going down fairly far south, in Merced County, is there another lake, Yosemite Lake, a small lake?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, there's a small lake there.
DISTASO: Does that have a boat launch?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, it does.
DISTASO: How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: 58 miles.
DISTASO: And keep, keep going east there. It looks like Lake McSwain is another location?
BERTALOTTO: Yes.
DISTASO: How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: To the boat launch there is 49.7.
DISTASO: And going up to Lake McClure, that's another lake right across the county line; is that right?
BERTALOTTO: It's in Merced County.
DISTASO: Okay. How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home to the boat launch ramp at that facility?
BERTALOTTO: At Barrett's Cove, which is the nearest one on that lake, is 45.4.
DISTASO: And Don Pedro Reservoir, another lake in the area, how far was it to the closest boat launch ramp?
BERTALOTTO: Yeah, that was Blue Oak. That was the closest.
DISTASO: Says on there 37.2; is that correct?
BERTALOTTO: That's correct.
DISTASO: Okay. And Lake Tulloch, which is right across the Tuolumne County line from Stanislaus County to the north, if I can read that right it looks like it says 37.1 miles?
BERTALOTTO: Yes. That's to the south shore launch ramp. And it was 47.2 to the north shore launch ramp.
DISTASO: There's two launch ramps at that particular –
BERTALOTTO: Yes. They're accessed off different roads.
DISTASO: And the last one that's on the map there is Tuttletown Reservoir, New Melones. How far is that from Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: I believe it was 58.8 miles.
DISTASO: And is that every single possible place you could go fishing –
BERTALOTTO: No.
DISTASO: in Stanislaus County?
BERTALOTTO: No.
DISTASO: Or the surrounding counties?
BERTALOTTO: No.
DISTASO: Okay. Is this a sample of the boat launch ramps and facilities that are available near Mr. Peterson's home?
BERTALOTTO: It's pretty, pretty much just a random sampling of east, slightly north, slightly south, popular fishing areas for people in the Modesto area, Stanislaus County.
DISTASO: Nothing further, your Honor.
[...]
HARRIS: You are also aware that on the day of the 24th, Mr. Grantski had gone fishing; is that correct?
DISTASO: Objection, your Honor. That is beyond the scope of direct.
JUDGE: It's beyond the scope.
HARRIS: The distance Mr. Grantski went to go fishing that day is relevant.
JUDGE: No, I don't think so. Where Mr. Grantski went fishing I don't think is relevant. The issue is, the issue is how far these other alternative places to go fishing are from the Covena residence. I'm going to sustain the objection.
HARRIS: The different areas around here, the different places you went, these are the different lakes? These are all freshwater lakes?
BERTALOTTO: They are.
HARRIS: There aren't any saltwater lakes in the area, right?
BERTALOTTO: No.
HARRIS: So if you want to go to a salt water, to go saltwater fishing, the Berkeley Marina and The Bay would be the closest saltwater area, correct?
BERTALOTTO: Yeah probably.
HARRIS: And, in fact, have you ever gone saltwater fishing?
BERTALOTTO: A few times.
HARRIS: You have gone?
BERTALOTTO: Un-hun.
HARRIS: Did you drive over to The Bay to go saltwater fishing?
BERTALOTTO: No.
HARRIS: You have gone saltwater fishing other places?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, sir.
HARRIS: So just because the lakes were closest, that didn't necessarily mean to choose your fishing spot you chose to go further than the closest possible place to go fishing, correct?
DISTASO: Objection, your Honor. Relevance as to what the investigator did.
JUDGE: Sustained.
HARRIS: The specific lakes that you are talking about here that are in the area, which is the largest one?
BERTALOTTO: The Don Pedro probably has the largest shoreline. But, you know, there is a lot of arms, and so forth. You can see the distance around that lake is probably –
HARRIS: This is Don Pedro?
BERTALOTTO: Yeah. I think it's about a hundred eighty miles when it's up at spillway level.
HARRIS: How many boat launch ramps does that have?
BERTALOTTO: Blue Oak, Flaming Meadow, Moccasin. That's all.
HARRIS: There is three that you can launch from?
BERTALOTTO: Yes.
HARRIS: Fairly large lake?
BERTALOTTO: Un-hun.
HARRIS: On that lake is a marina?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, sir.
HARRIS: How large is the marina?
BERTALOTTO: Four docks. Probably berths around 200 boats there.
HARRIS: This is, this would be the largest area lake close to Modesto?
BERTALOTTO: Well, talking about shoreline. I don't know, you know, acre feet and so forth. I don't know how much area.
HARRIS: Don Pedro, Don Pedro and Lake Tulloch?
JUDGE: Tulloch.
HARRIS: Got it.
HARRIS: Tulloch [and Don Pedro] were both places that were searched in the effort to find Miss Peterson, correct?
BERTALOTTO: I'm not certain of that. I wasn't involved in the search aspect of the investigation.
HARRIS: Okay. Are you familiar with the depths of these lakes at all?
BERTALOTTO: I know Don Pedro is over 600 feet deep in the main channel by the dam. That's the only one I know about.
HARRIS: In fact, Don Pedro is deeper, itself, is deeper than The Bay, the bay area, specifically around the Berkeley Marina?
BERTALOTTO: I don't know how deep The Bay is. I understand it's pretty deep out by the bridge.
HARRIS: But it's not anywhere near 600 feet deep?
BERTALOTTO: I don't know that, sir.
HARRIS: The places that we're dealing with, most of these lakes around here that you are dealing with, specifically the, point you to a couple. The lakes here, the Reservoir Launch Ramp, which is the closest, I believe. 19.2. I'm sorry. There is actually one from Fox Grove Fishing Access. Did you recall the mileage?
BERTALOTTO: Tuolumne River, Fox Grove Fishing Access.
HARRIS: That's about 9.5 miles?
BERTALOTTO: Uh-huh.
HARRIS: The one we are dealing with the Reservoir Launch Ramp is about 19.2?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, sir.
HARRIS: Is that right? Okay. And there is one, if I'm right, this is Turlock, right?
BERTALOTTO: That is Turlock. That's actually
HARRIS: That's about 23.7?
BERTALOTTO: Yes, sir.
HARRIS: Do any of those lakes that are the closest to Modesto, do any of those lakes have marinas?
BERTALOTTO: No. They have launch ramps. I think Modesto Reservoir might have a little bait shop and store near the launch ramp. As far as a marina per se, I don't think so.
HARRIS: Okay. Any of those lakes, any of the lakes that I just pointed out have hotels near them, large hotels near them?
BERTALOTTO: Talking about all the lakes, or just those three?
HARRIS: Just the ones I pointed out.
BERTALOTTO: No.
HARRIS: Any of them have large, let's say about four mile jogging and walking areas for dogs?
BERTALOTTO: I don't know about that.
HARRIS: They are fairly remote, are they not?
BERTALOTTO: They are rural. They are in the country.
HARRIS: And they are not anywhere nearly as crowded as the Berkeley Marina. You have been to the Berkeley Marina, correct?
BERTALOTTO: I have been there.
HARRIS: None of these places are anywhere nearly as crowded as the Berkeley Marina, are they?
BERTALOTTO: They are pretty crowded with fishermen, so forth. Depends on the time of the year. I mean the traffic backs up to those launch ramps for a long time during the summer with watercraft, and skiers, and so forth.
HARRIS: Would that be similar on December 24th?
BERTALOTTO: I doubt it.
HARRIS: None of them have, for example, about 400, 500 berths, boat berths to keep a boat at, do they?
BERTALOTTO: Not at those lakes, no.
HARRIS: And you have been to the Berkeley Marina. You have, you, are you aware of the traffic driving around, just the people driving around, none of them have near the traffic, I'm talking about car traffic, around, do they?
BERTALOTTO: Well, I have been over there where, it was pretty isolated. I mean there is very few trailers in the parking lot, and very few people. Just depends on the time of the year, what people are fishing for, and so forth.
HARRIS: Okay. That's all I have.
JUDGE: Any redirect?
DISTASO: No, your Honor.
JUDGE: All right, Inspector Bertalotto, thank you.
The Bodies Were Discovered on the Shore, Not Floating in the Bay
Almost four months after Laci disappeared, Laci and Conner were found by pedestrians on the shores of the San Francisco Bay.
Scott's family wrote:
Before their bodies were positively identified, our family was contemplating that our worst fears may have come true: Laci and Conner may be dead and if so, someone had placed their bodies where Scott had been the day she went missing. With their bodies being found at the bay, where Scott was, the police had probable cause to arrest him.
Scott's arrest, the jury verdict and the prosecution's ever changing theories hinged on this one thing: that Laci and baby Conner were eventually found in the vicinity of where Scott had been the day she disappeared.
What was so obvious to our family seemed to evade some of the most sought after legal minds on television. These brilliant legal minds deduced that Scott must be guilty because there was no other logical explanation for how Laci and Conner could have been found at the bay unless Scott put them there. They scoffed at the idea that someone would plan to kill Laci and frame Scott, and they found it highly unlikely that if Laci were a random victim of murder that she would be coincidentally disposed of where her husband was fishing that day. Their theories seemed to focus on the assumption that Laci had been murdered on December 24th and her body disposed of the same day.
Had so much time gone by that no one remembered how quickly Scott's alibi had been publicized?
Why were people assuming that she had been murdered on Christmas Eve? Why were people assuming her body was put in the bay on Christmas Eve?
No one in our family felt it likely that someone premeditated Laci's murder with the intent to frame Scott. We also did not think it likely that someone had murdered her on Christmas Eve and coincidentally drove to the bay to dump her body.
We saw other more logical options, but these seemed to escape discussion.
What was obvious to our family and friends was confirmed by countless others. One individual wrote our family and commented that when he heard Scott's Christmas Eve location publicized on TV he thought to himself, "The guy doesn't stand a chance now." Others yet called the Modesto Police tip line and indicated that publicizing Scott's whereabouts could result in the perpetrators dumping her body there in an effort to frame him.
The prosecution, in their rebuttal closing argument, argued that Laci would have to have been alive for a day for someone to take advantage of knowing Scott's alibi and dumping her in the bay.
Is there some evidence that she was not alive December 25th?
If she was killed on the 24th, is it not possible that her body could have been moved to the bay?
The prosecution also asked, "Who would drive 90 miles to dump a body?," like it made total sense for Scott to drive 90 miles, but not anyone else.
Well we would ask, "Would the sales manager of a fertilizer company, who knew the farm land of the central valley like the back of his hand, drive 90 miles to the busiest marina on the San Francisco Bay, where he'd never been before, go dump his pregnant wife's body out of a boat he'd never had in the water before in broad daylight? Or would someone who had the chance to get away with murder drive 90 miles to do so?"
The San Jose Mercury News reported on December 14, 2004 that Juror Greg Beratlis tried to grasp the defense theory that Peterson was framed, but he couldn't believe that any one else would have gone to such trouble to hide her body. Why is this so unbelievable? If someone is evil enough to commit murder, wouldn't they be evil enough to go to the trouble of blaming someone else?
Is that the real problem, that it's unbelievable? Well we'd have to agree. The last three years have been quite unbelievable. But why is it easier to believe that a man with no history of violence, much less anger, is capable of murdering his wife and unborn son and leaving no evidence than it is to believe that Laci was abducted and murdered?
Statistically, it is not likely that (1) someone with no history of anger or violence would commit this type of crime, and (2) it is not statistically likely that someone could commit this crime and leave no evidence in the home, the yard, the truck, the boat, the warehouse, or on himself and do it in broad daylight with no eye witnesses. What are the chances that both of these things could happen in the same crime? If you are one to focus on statistics, Scott would be the least likely suspect.
There is much evidence associated with Laci and Conner's bodies that suggests Scott is innocent, but we will address that in later issues. The one thing we want to point out in this issue is that Laci was alive Christmas Eve morning and was found dead on the shoreline on April 14th. Where she was in between those dates, and how she and Conner got where they were found is unknown.
The medical examiner, Dr. Peterson, estimated she had been dead “months,” placing Laci's time of death between December 24, 2002 and mid February 2003.
The search for Laci's body in the San Francisco Bay did not result in the bay being secured as a crime scene. Countless people were free to come and go from the bay at all hours of the day and night. Meanwhile, Scott's alibi and the fact that the bay was being searched was publicized almost daily. There was ample opportunity to place their bodies in the water or along the shoreline. So we submit to you:
It is a fact that someone other than Scott had the opportunity to put Laci and baby Conner's bodies where they were.
The following are summaries of the autopsies of Connor and Laci based on the trial testimony of Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Peterson.
History: The history provided to Peterson was that of a body found on the shore. Peterson did not know this was Conner and the female body had not yet been found. Consequently, the typical forensic pathology question in this type of case is: is this a stillborn baby or a live-born baby? Initially, then, Peterson was not concerned with explaining Conner's state of decomposition compared to Laci's because Laci wasn't yet known about.
External Exam: The external exam revealed no clothing, since it was a fetus. There was some material associated with the body, particularly some clear plastic tape (a lot like wrapping tape or boxing tape), one and a half loops of plastic tape around the neck of the fetus, with a knot near the left shoulder. The skin beneath the tape was not injured, and there was approximately a 2-centimeter gap between the neck and the tape when pulling the tape so it was firm against one side of the neck. Peterson removed the tape by cutting it and gave it to a criminalist. Peterson concluded the association between the body and the tape was coincidental – the tape simply ended up on the body. There was also some material over the left ear, adhering to the head, which Peterson believed to be kelp or other vegetative material. However, when it was removed, the ear remained folded over and there was a purple discoloration on Conner, which Peterson said is more consistent with the iodine in kelp than with bruising. (Peterson is not the person who removed this material from Conner's ear). Conner was decomposing, in general terms. He weighed 1160 grams (approximately 2. 5 pounds). A crown-of-head measurement could not be taking because the head was collapsing. Crown-heel length was 48 centimeters (approximately 19 inches). Based on these measurements, Conner could have reached full-term [full-term is defined as 38-41 weeks]. The skin was quite soft, in keeping with maceration, an effect on tissue soaking in fluid. No vernix on the body. The bones in the skull were overriding, which happens as the brain liquefies. There was a tear near the right shoulder that exposed skeletal muscle and the structures beneath. The tear extended onto the abdominal wall and portions of the small and large intestines protruded through the tear. There was no scalloping, no curved marks around the edges. Concluded it was simply from tissue falling apart or being pulled apart due to tidal action, it wasn't due to animal feeding. A portion of the colon protruded from the anus. There was a portion of the umbilical cord present, measuring a half centimeter (less than a 1/4 inch), and the edge was ragged, like it fell apart or pulled apart. It was not cut.
Internal Exam: There were no specific changes of either congenital abnormality or disease. The organs, in general, were soft and liquefied, in keeping with decomposition. The spleen and kidney could not be weighed because they were liquefied. There was more liquefaction inside the right side of the chest as opposed to the left because of the tear. The changes were simply the result of decomposition and immersion.
Estimated gestational age: Nine months, based on the crown to heel and the crown to rump measurement. However, the body was soft and decomposing. As tissues decompose, they tend to expand, and expanding tissues can affect the whole body. Peterson left the gestational age determination to Dr. Galloway, an anthropologist.
Live birth: Peterson could not rule out live birth.
Plastic bag found near Conner: Under cross, Peterson was asked if Conner had been placed in a bag and the tape was around the neck having been looped around once and knotted so that once placed in the water, the baby would have been in a protected environment – if that was consistent with Conner's decomposition and the tape around his neck. Admitted it was possible that Conner's body was protected in some other way, but did not consider it likely. Peterson was not aware of the plastic found near Conner when he did the autopsy.
Float test not performed: The float test is used to determine live birth, with the idea that if a baby is stillborn, it has never had a chance to draw a breath, and thus the lungs are heavy and simply will not float in water. On the other hand, if the baby is live born and has drawn breath, lungs are expanded, there is air, and they will float. Problem is there can be postmortem gas formation in the lung due to decomposition. Peterson does not rely on the float test and did not perform one.
Estimated time in water unprotected: Not more than a couple of days.
Estimate of Gestational Age
As part of the autopsy, Peterson took two measurements, the crown-rump length and crown-heel length. The crown-rump measurement of 32 cm indicated Conner's gestational age was 9 months. Peterson did not give the details of the crown-heel length in his testimony.*
*Peterson did provide both measurements in his preliminary testimony.
Laci's Autopsy
History: x-rays were taken prior to Peterson's arrival, which he examined, looking for evidence of foreign material, such as bullets, blades, that sort of thing. There were none.
External–Body: Peterson received the body in the prone position, which is unusual. The body consisted of a torso, portions of both upper extremities, portions of the lower extremities. Missing were the head and neck, the forearms and hands, and the left lower leg, the tibia, the fibula, and the foot.
In terms of the chest, the skin, the tissue beneath the skin, the fat, the muscle, all that was absent, and the collarbones, the clavicles, the breastbone, the sternum, the ribs were all exposed. The organs normally associated with the chest, the hear, the lungs, etc., were all absent. From the umbilicus (bellybutton) up, the abdominal wall was absent upward, exposing the bones of the chest, and a portion of the soft tissue was absent down to about the level of the umbilicus. From the waist down, beginning about the level of the umbilicus, the skin was absent, the fat was still present, and the fat had undergone a postmortem change called adipocere, which is a soap-like substance that's formed when fat is soaked in cold water. Her external genitalia were unremarkable, there was no evidence of injury. Much of the skin, subcutaneous tissue was present on the upper arms and on the thighs. The joints were exposed but no evidence of injury, no marks on the bones, such as a saw blade or knife might leave. Neither was there evidence of chewing. There were barnacles on the clothing, but none on the body.External–Clothing: The clothing consisted of an underwire brassiere, with a label that said Bali 3630 C 40/90. The brassiere was in place and intact, secured by two hook-and-loop-type fasteners, and, as best as Peterson could tell, had not been disturbed. Additional clothing consisted of khaki-colored trousers, with a label that had the brand name Motherhood, size S for small. Beneath the trousers were panties, with a label with Jockey 7. The trousers had a peculiar shredding effect. The legs were basically reduced to thread, and within those threads, the calcification, or stone-like material, was deposited. The button closure was intact, the zipper was intact, and there were cloth draw cords inside, also intact. The buttocks of the panties was missing, and the front portion was intact. There was some duct tape on the left thigh. When Peterson turned the body over, he observed the duct tape was sticking to the front waistband of the trousers.
On April 14, 2003, Laci's body was discovered wearing khaki capri pants. The pants were identical to those shown in Prosecution Exhibit 15-C (photo #3 in the image above). The specific pants on Laci's body when she was discovered were only known by the police.
On February 18, 2003, before Laci's body was discovered, Laci's half-sister Amy was brought to Scott and Laci's home by the Modesto Police Department as they executed the second search warrant. The police asked Amy to select the clothing Laci was wearing the evening of December 23rd, when she came to the salon. The police report states the following: "Amy looked in the closet at that location and selected a pair of tan or cream colored pants that were hanging in the closet. Those pants were clipped at the cuffs and hanging upside down. They did show evidence of being worn but were not soiled."
These pants were photographed during the search warrant – the two pair of pants laying on the bed in the image above (evidence marker "30"). Amy selected the pair on the left.Internal: Besides missing the chest organs, there was no liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, intestines. The uterus was present, the fetus, placenta and umbilical cord were absent. The uterus was still in normal anatomic position, its attachments to the pelvis still intact. It measured 23 centimeters (little over 9 inches) and weighed 263 grams (little more than 1/2 lb.). It was quite thin, measuring 2 millimeters in thickness at most. The fundus, or top part of the uterus, was essentially abraded and friable, which means soft and crumbly, with no evidence of animal feeding. No evidence of cut marks, not evidence of other specific tool marks, but what was there was thin and it had been more or less rubbed away, and it was empty. Down at the base of the uterus, in the pelvis, the birth canal was closed and appeared normal. There was some fraying of the right rib number 9 and the inner portions of the bone were exposed. There were also lateral fractures on the sides of left ribs 5 and 6. Peterson could not say with confidence whether these were antemortem (before death) or postmortem (after death) fractures.
On July 23, 2003, Amy was brought to the Modesto Police Headquarters to view a "pant line-up." She was asked to view three photographs of pants (Prosecution Exhibits 15-A, 15-B and 15-C in the image above). The pair identical to the pair Laci was wearing when her body was discovered was offered as a choice (Prosecution Exhibit 15-C) – not offered as a choice was the pair Amy selected at the house on February 18th.
On January 14, 2004, Prosecutor Rick Distaso claimed during Scott's 995 hearing that Laci was found in the pants that she was wearing the night before she disappeared. There were cameras in the court room that day and this false statement was widely broadcast.
On June 1, 2004, in his opening statement, Distaso insinuated that Laci was found in the pants she was wearing the night before she disappeared: "While they were there she (Laci) was wearing that black coat that we saw before, that cream colored scarf, and a pair of khaki maternity pants that you'll see in a minute. That's what Amy has always said, that's always the description that she's given that she was wearing ... You're going to hear that her body was recovered on April 14th wearing khaki colored pants."
On June 3, 2004, Amy Rocha testified under cross examination that all the clothes Laci was wearing on the evening of December 23rd were in the Petersons' home on February 18th and, therefore, not missing and not on her body when she was found.
This, as well as other evidence, shows that Laci got undressed the evening of December 23rd, went to bed, then got up the morning of December 24th and got dressed, but not in the khaki pants she wore the night before. All the witnesses who saw her walking the dog between 10:00 and 11:00 AM on December 24th said she was wearing black pants and a white top (Scott also told police on December 24th that Laci was wearing black pants and a white top when he left that morning).
Explanation–Condition of Laci's body: Laci's body being in prone position and the damage to her body is consistent with a body that's free to move in the water or float – it's going to float face down. It's the center of gravity issue, due to the fact that the extremities are rather heavy and they are going to hang down. Left to its own devices, the body will float in the prone (face down) position. Bodies tend to sink, and at some point they tend to float up. This depends on the postmortem change, gas formation, etc. Bodies typically spend some of their time near the bottom and some of their time near the top. If they are near the bottom, they are open to effect by physical phenomenon, such as tides, currents, those sorts of things. A body will then be pulled over the bottom structures, rocks, sand, whatever else might be down there, which are destructive – an abrasive-type action on the body that will cause some of the changes Peterson observed in Laci. The forearms were absent, the lower leg was absent on the left because those portions were hanging down and more subject to that damage. Since the uterus is relatively heavy, the anterior abdominal wall and that upper portion, the fundus of the uterus, are also exposed to that type of damage.
Explanation–Condition of Conner compared to condition of Laci: Laci's body showed evidence of animal feeding, associated with exposure to the environment, while Conner's did not. Conner was decomposed, but no evidence of animal feeding. Conner was inside Laci when Laci's body was deposited in the water or ended up in the water, but over time the tidal action and animal feeding, as the abdominal wall wore away, eventually the upper part of the fundus of the uterus wore away, and at that time, the fetus was released. Peterson said it would be hard to provide the level of protection the uterus would provide through another means, such as a plastic bag.
Explanation–Cause of disarticulation: No bite marks or other positive evidence that animal feeding caused the disarticulation.
Explanation–mineral deposits on the pants: These were discrete deposits. How a body acts in the water, how it tends to submerge and then resurface, if this happened over a period of time, with alternate layers of wetting and drying, it could account for the minerals building up.
Estimate of time in the water: Months.
Cause of death: Undetermined. With respect to the body that was present, there were nothing to indicate cause of death: no tool marks, no bullets, no evidences of injury, nothing helpful from the toxicology report – nothing to indicate anatomic or chemical cause of death.
Toxicology report: Skeletal muscle tissue was tested for toxins. Caffeine was detected. Peterson did not know how long caffeine can remain in the skeletal tissue.
CourtTV obtained a copy of the autopsy report on Laci, which can be found at this link:
http://www.inreview.com/archive/topic/25517.html
On April 13 and April 14, 2003, the remains of Connor and Laci were found on two different beaches along San Francisco Bay.
In the image above, the star marks the area near Brooks Island where Scott went fishing on December 24, the heart with the yellow strip marks the spot where Connor's body was found, and the heart near Point Isabel marks the spot where Laci's body was found:
On April 13, 2003, Michael Looby and his wife were walking their dog along the shoreline area of Bayside Court in the city of Richmond. They were looking for a place where their dog could swim. It was low tide and as they walked along the beach and over a rocky area toward the marsh, they saw a small baby’s body on the beach. It was apparent the baby was dead. The body was later identified as that of Conner Peterson. Conner’s left arm was attached, but his right was partially severed. Conner’s head was intact. There was a twine-like substance around his neck and what appeared to be vegetation stuck to the body. Conner’s body was badly decomposed.
HARRIS: Mr. Looby, I want to direct your attention back to April 13 of the year 2003 and ask you if you happened to be in the shoreline area around Bayside Court over in Richmond.
LOOBY: Yes.
HARRIS: What were you doing down there that day?
LOOBY: We were looking for a place for our dog to go swimming.
HARRIS: Let me back up. You say "We". Got to identify that. Were you with someone else?
LOOBY: My wife.
HARRIS: So you and your wife are down there, and you are something about a dog going swimming?
LOOBY: Yes.
HARRIS: Can you explain that to us?
LOOBY: Why we went down there?
HARRIS: Well,
JUDGE: He testified they were looking for a place to take his dog swimming. I assume you are going to take him to The Bay?
LOOBY: I knew there was a beach down there.
HARRIS: Let's go through that. Had you ever been to that area before?
LOOBY: I had been by the beach area riding my bicycle. Ridden bicycles down the bay trail that goes by that beach.
HARRIS: And so this particular day you are with your wife and with your dog. You are going to take your dog someplace for it to go swimming?
LOOBY: Un-hun.
On April 14, 2003, around 11:15 a.m., Alena Gonzalez was at the dog park at Point Isabel with her family and their dogs. Point Isabel was situated along the San Francisco Bay shoreline in the city of Richmond—part of the East Bay Regional Parks District. After the dogs were let off their leashes, they ran ahead. Gonzalez and her family followed behind. On the beach, near the water, Gonzalez observed another dog that appeared to be focused on something. Gonzalez realized it was a human body. The body, which was partially clothed, was later identified as that of Laci Peterson. Gonzalez had her father and sister stay with the body while Gonzalez went to call for police. When the fire and police departments responded, Gonzalez led them to Laci’s body, which was partially submerged in the water.
HARRIS: Miss Gonzalez, I want to direct your attention back to April 14th of 2003 and ask you if you happened to be around the area of Point Isabel, the park, as part of East Bay Regional Park System?
GONZALEZ: Yes.
HARRIS: Is there a dog park there?
GONZALEZ: Yes.
HARRIS: There was a dog park there at Point Isabel. What's a dog park?
GONZALEZ: A dog park is a place where people, who probably don't have big backyards, field to run their dogs, get to enjoy watching their dog socialize with other dogs off leash, and swim in the water.
JUDGE: Go swimming too. Okay.
HARRIS: On April 14th, did you and some other people happen to end up at Point Isabel at the dog park?
GONZALEZ: Yes.
The Albany Bulb may have been the location where the bodies were first placed at the Bay in the second or third week of January 2003.
In the image above, you can see the location of the Albany Bulb and Point Isabel where Laci's body was found (the Bay Trail runs for miles along the shoreline).
Matt Dalton conducted a flotation experiment in the summer of 2003 (see green insert in the image above). Items let go from Albany Bulb ended up almost exactly where Laci's body was found at Point Isabel.
However, it is probable Connor's body and Laci's body didn't float to where they were found but were placed there.
No waterway existed from any direction to carry Conner to where he was found. Connor's body could have been placed there by the killers, who drove there in a vehicle and carried it to the marshy area by the beach.
Laci's body (covered by a yellow tarp in the images below) could have floated from Albany Bulb to where it was found at Point Isabel, but that's not the only possibility: her body could have been placed there by the killers, who drove there in a vehicle and carried it to the rocks near the shoreline.
On February 11, 2003, a "suspicious man on raft south of Bay Bridge" was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard by the captain of the Alameda-based tugboat Polaris:
A predawn sighting of a man in a wetsuit steering a motorized raft toward the Bay Bridge on Tuesday sparked a massive multi-agency effort to explain a report that raised grave homeland-security concerns. The search began soon after 3 a.m., when the captain of the Alameda-based tugboat Polaris telephoned the U.S. Coast Guard to say his boat had nearly collided with a 10-foot Zodiac-style raft about a mile south of the Bay Bridge." This raft had no lights, which looked fairly suspicious," said Dale Kline, Seaway's general manager." The guy (on the raft) is either incredibly stupid or he was trying to hide something." Investigators did not find anything "homeland security" related at either the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge.
In this case, it should have been easy when the police searched the area from the Berkeley Marina to Brooks Island, where Scott drove his boat, to find Laci's body. They used side-scan sonar and found objects, including small objects, but they didn't find any bodies. It's basically impossible for Laci's pregnant body to have been there all along. Especially considering the prosecution alleged that eight concrete anchors were used to weigh the body down.
The Modesto Bee reported on January 4, 2003:
Scott's boat (images above and below) was a 13" freeboard; and the chop on San Francisco Bay was 1' on December 24, 2002. Any movement would have tipped the boat enough to allow water from the chop into the boat. Swamping! Then there are the alleged anchors. In the area around Brooks Island, you have from 3' to +5' of water, depending on the tides. That means the eight anchors the prosecution alleged Scott had would need to be fastened as close to the body as humanly possible, actually touching. Supposedly, eight anchors were tied to Laci's body. Quite a bulky package to say the least. No matter how you slice it, Scott had to have had the whole package, plus his own weight, on the side of the boat, at the point before the body was tossed overboard. This would NOT have even worked from either end of the boat. We are talking about the necessity for 400+ lbs to be in one area of that boat at once. Fishing in an aluminum boat, you do NOT rock the boat on even a calm lake, so you would certainly not do so on a choppy Bay.
The State's Theory
The Modesto Bee reported on January 4, 2003:
Police boats carrying cadaver dogs are scouring the Berkeley Marina this weekend, searching for Laci Peterson, 27, of Modesto, who has been missing since Christmas Eve. At a Saturday afternoon press conference, Sgt. Ron Cloward said 14 officers and 16 members of the California Rescue Dog Association are conducting a search, along with eight water-searching dogs, six land dogs, and six boats.
Scott's boat (images above and below) was a 13" freeboard; and the chop on San Francisco Bay was 1' on December 24, 2002. Any movement would have tipped the boat enough to allow water from the chop into the boat. Swamping! Then there are the alleged anchors. In the area around Brooks Island, you have from 3' to +5' of water, depending on the tides. That means the eight anchors the prosecution alleged Scott had would need to be fastened as close to the body as humanly possible, actually touching. Supposedly, eight anchors were tied to Laci's body. Quite a bulky package to say the least. No matter how you slice it, Scott had to have had the whole package, plus his own weight, on the side of the boat, at the point before the body was tossed overboard. This would NOT have even worked from either end of the boat. We are talking about the necessity for 400+ lbs to be in one area of that boat at once. Fishing in an aluminum boat, you do NOT rock the boat on even a calm lake, so you would certainly not do so on a choppy Bay.
The State of California argued that Scott strangled or suffocated Laci either on the night of December 23 or the morning of December 24, 2002, in their home at 523 Covena, Modesto, CA.
He wrapped her in a blue tarp, removed her from the house to his Ford pickup truck, put some market umbrellas on top of her, and transported her to his warehouse.
Once at the warehouse, he unwrapped her from the tarp and put her into the boat, tied weights around her, and attached the boat cover so she could not be seen.
His next stop was the Berkeley Marina, the small boat launch ramp. He stuffed the boat cover around Laci and motored out towards Brooks Island. There he dumped Laci's pregnant body into the Bay, expecting it to never surface.
Then, on April 13 and April 14, respectively, Conner and Laci "washed ashore" near the same spot where Scott said he was fishing. Their bodies were found near the shoreline.
The Berkeley Marina and the route Scott took to go fishing is a popular area for boating, sailing, wind surfing and fishing. It is shallow water.
In addition to the marina and pier, there is a trail that runs along the shoreline for walking and biking. There are also parks, including dog parks. Nearby attractions include Alcatraz, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, with boat tours to these attractions.
Nobody every reported seeing the bodies in the water or floating in water in the days leading up to them being discovered near the shoreline.
The Evidence proves Factual Innocence
More than enough evidence exists to prove that Scott had nothing to do with Laci's disappearance and did not murder Laci and Conner.
There is strong and certain evidence that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24. Since by the State's own admission, Scott is fully accounted for at all times during the investigation, if he did not put pregnant Laci into the Bay on or before December 24, he had no opportunity to do so.
Conner did not wash ashore
Substantial evidence exists, and was available to both the State and the Defense team, that Conner did not wash ashore. This proves that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.
Conner lived beyond December 24, 2002
Without exception, every person who observed Conner's body described him as a full-term baby or nine-months, thus confirming that he lived beyond December 24, 2002.
Nobody every reported seeing the bodies in the water or floating in water in the days leading up to them being discovered near the shoreline.
The Evidence proves Factual Innocence
More than enough evidence exists to prove that Scott had nothing to do with Laci's disappearance and did not murder Laci and Conner.
There is strong and certain evidence that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24. Since by the State's own admission, Scott is fully accounted for at all times during the investigation, if he did not put pregnant Laci into the Bay on or before December 24, he had no opportunity to do so.
Conner did not wash ashore
Substantial evidence exists, and was available to both the State and the Defense team, that Conner did not wash ashore. This proves that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.
Conner lived beyond December 24, 2002
Without exception, every person who observed Conner's body described him as a full-term baby or nine-months, thus confirming that he lived beyond December 24, 2002.
The measurements taken by Dr. Brian Peterson, the forensic pathologist who performed Conner's autopsy, confirm that Conner lived beyond December 24, 2002. The measurements taken by Dr. Alison Galloway, the forensic anthropologist tasked with determining Conner's age at the time of his death, confirm that Conner lived beyond December 24, 2002.
This proves that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.
Plastic Tape/Twine wrapped around Conner's neck
The twine did not wrap around Conner’s neck accidentally.
Sufficient testimony was given, from the criminologist and medical examiner, both State witnesses, to conclude that the twine could not have wrapped around Conner’s neck accidentally. As Dr. Cyril Wecht noted, "never in a million years."
Plastic Tape/Twine wrapped around Conner's neck
The twine did not wrap around Conner’s neck accidentally.
Sufficient testimony was given, from the criminologist and medical examiner, both State witnesses, to conclude that the twine could not have wrapped around Conner’s neck accidentally. As Dr. Cyril Wecht noted, "never in a million years."
This proves that Conner was handled outside the womb, and therefore, Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.
The material over Conner's left ear
Conner's left ear was permanently flattened against the head and a rectangular piece of material was over the ear. This could not have been kelp, as argued by the State, because Conner did not wash ashore. Nor would kelp have the strength or the sticking power to permanently flatten the ear.
The material over Conner's left ear
Conner's left ear was permanently flattened against the head and a rectangular piece of material was over the ear. This could not have been kelp, as argued by the State, because Conner did not wash ashore. Nor would kelp have the strength or the sticking power to permanently flatten the ear.
This is further evidence that Conner was handled outside the womb, and therefore, Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.
Evidence from Laci's Autopsy
Some of Laci's injuries or bodily conditions are not consistent with the State's theory: two ribs fractured at the time of death or shortly thereafter that is not consistent with a soft-kill, a shoulder bone injured well after death is not consistent with being in the Bay, and a missing neck is not consistent with any known disarticulation in aqueous environments.
No cadaver scent at any of the alleged crime scenes
Cadaver dogs did not discover any indication of Laci's dead body at any of the crime scenes, in spite of the State's argument that Laci had been dead 12 hours before Scott:
Evidence from Laci's Autopsy
Some of Laci's injuries or bodily conditions are not consistent with the State's theory: two ribs fractured at the time of death or shortly thereafter that is not consistent with a soft-kill, a shoulder bone injured well after death is not consistent with being in the Bay, and a missing neck is not consistent with any known disarticulation in aqueous environments.
Laci's body was found without her head and her first six neck vertebrae.
While the separation of her head and her first two neck vertebrae can be readily explained as due to decomposition in the Bay, the other neck vertebrae do not easily separate and generally remain with the spine while the rest of the body decomposes.
This evidence suggests the killer cut off Laci's head at the neck, prior to disposal, severing most of her neck vertebrae.
If Scott killed Laci, his removal of her head as well as her fetus complicates any prosecution scenario of the murder.
At the time of the autopsy, Dr. Peterson did not know the body was that of Laci Peterson.
There were a number of body parts missing: head, neck, forearms, and the left lower leg. Much of the soft tissue and internal organs were also absent from the body.
The only internal organ still in the body was the uterus. Peterson attributed the postmortem changes to a number of possible causes including the effects of the water, being acted on by bacteria, and feeding on the body by marine life.
During the first portion of the examination, Peterson reviewed the Xrays of Laci’s body. He looked specifically for any foreign material such as bullets or fragments of a knife. The X-rays disclosed no significant findings.
What remained of Laci’s body was clothed with a bra, underpants, and portions of what appeared to originally have been tan-colored slacks, which had deteriorated to the extent that they resembled shorts.
However, there still remained “some decayed fabric clumps” that were adhered to the lower portion of the right leg.
The clothing was in the normal position of wear. A criminalist who later examined Laci’s clothing found barnacles on what remained of Laci’s slacks. Laci’s clothing contained no rips or tears. Nor was there any blood or other biological fluids on the clothing.
As for the clothing that remained on Laci’s body, her bra was in the normal position of wear and remained secured by two hook and loop fasteners. What was left of the light-colored slacks was also in the normal position of wear. The button closure and zipper on the slacks was still in place, as was the drawstring cord in the waistband. The crotch of the slacks was shredded and stony mineral deposits were mixed in with fibers that remained.
There was duct tape on the front of the body, which adhered to the waistband of the slacks and around one leg, and which extended up to the zipper area of the slacks.
Underpants were on the body beneath the slacks, but the portion of the underwear covering the buttocks was missing.
The front portion was intact and part of the elastic band was in place around each leg.
During the course of his external examination of Laci’s body, Dr. Peterson observed that the only skin remaining was a small amount on the left thigh.
Skeletal muscle was exposed in some places; in other places there was still some fat beneath the skin.
From the waist up, there was very little soft tissue remaining, exposing bones, including ribs, vertebrae, and shoulder blades.
Body fat had undergone postmortem changes and was now adipocere. Dr. Peterson explained that adipocere resulted when body fat body was exposed to a cold, moist environment. The fat turned into a “crumbly white material” and appeared soapy.
After examining Laci’s remains, in addition to corroborating many of the findings made by Dr. Peterson, Dr. Galloway noted that the rib fractures were perimortem defects.
This meant that the two rib fractures, which Dr. Galloway described as “clean fractures” and which she distinguished from the “very frayed” portion of what remained of a third rib, could have occurred from the time period prior to Laci’s death before healing began, until the time postmortem when the bones lost their resiliency.
Cadaver dogs did not discover any indication of Laci's dead body at any of the crime scenes, in spite of the State's argument that Laci had been dead 12 hours before Scott:
1. moved her from the house,
2. wrapped her in a tarp,
3. put her into his Ford truck and then covered her with heavy patio umbrellas,
4. transported her to the warehouse,
5. put her into the boat to transport her to the Berkeley Marina and put the boat cover on to conceal her body, and
6. tucked the boat cover around her body before dumping her along the fishing route.
No evidence that Laci and Conner were ever in the Bay
The MPD and multiple other agencies spent 30 or more days searching in the Bay before the bodies were found and 25 days after, using the most sophisticated diving teams and sonar detection systems, and still did not produce a single piece of evidence that Laci and Conner were ever in the Bay. The Ralston theory was rejected by other experts and not presented as evidence at Trial.
Laci's clothes
Contrary to the State's argument, Laci was not found in the clothes she was wearing the day before. The tan pants, the blouse, and the shoes were all found in the house and identified by Amy Rocha.
Geragos stripped the State of another piece of "evidence." In his direct examination of Dodge Hendee, Harris emphasized the two pair of black maternity stretch pants that were found in a bag in the nursery. The search warrant included black stretch maternity pants, authorizing the officers to seize every pair they found. These were the only two pair seized.
Margarita Nava said Laci was wearing black pants on December 23rd, and Scott said she was wearing black pants on December 24th (as did the witnesses who saw her walking McKenzie between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. on December 24th).
However, Hendee testified today that the two pair of pants appeared to him to be clean and unused. Geragos pressed and he said they appeared new.
Geragos drove home the obvious conclusion – neither of these two pairs of pants were worn by Laci on either December 23rd or 24th.
10:08-10:18 window of opportunity for an abduction
The State argued that an abduction by any one other than Scott had to occur between 10:08-10:18 a.m. The 10:08 time comes from cell tower information for a voice-mail check, which is not reliable for indicating exact location. Multiple calls placed by Scott while standing in his front yard the night of the 24th were picked up by different towers. Karen Servas is the only witness to establish the 10:18 part of the time.
The State ignored valid leads that may have saved Laci's and Conner's lives:
The Medina Burglary
All evidence points to the Medina burglary as having occurred at the time Laci disappeared.
The State argued that an abduction by any one other than Scott had to occur between 10:08-10:18 a.m. The 10:08 time comes from cell tower information for a voice-mail check, which is not reliable for indicating exact location. Multiple calls placed by Scott while standing in his front yard the night of the 24th were picked up by different towers. Karen Servas is the only witness to establish the 10:18 part of the time.
The State ignored valid leads that may have saved Laci's and Conner's lives:
The Medina Burglary
The burglars, two who were identified and convicted after plea bargaining, Steven Todd and Donald Pearce, both lived in the airport district approximately two blocks from the Gallo Winery.
On or about December 26-27, a scent dog named Merlin led his handler from Laci Peterson’s house to the Gallo Winery property.
From Cindee Valentin's report of activity on December 26 (she owned the scent dog, Merlin):
Merlin trailed Laci's scent to the Gallo Winery in the airport district, on the night of December 26. He then continues heading west on Highland Drive. He gets to Santa Barbara Avenue. He goes several areas past that. I don't remember. It is stated in my report. And then he turned back and headed south on Santa Barbara Avenue. He crossed several intersections and came to the intersection of San Barbara Avenue and La Loma Avenue, at which point, he turned southeast on La Loma Avenue and continued to the intersection of La Loma and Yosemite Boulevard. At Yosemite Boulevard, he turned west and continued to Santa Rosa Avenue, at which point he turned south and headed down Santa Rosa Avenue. And I stopped him at the Gallo, inside of the Gallo property at the end of Santa Rosa Avenue.
Merlin, the trailing dog, led Valentin to the Gallo winery, very near the Airport district where Todd and Pearce lived and where stolen goods were recovered.
Diane Jackson reported seeing the burglary in progress on the morning of December 24.
Tom Harshman reported seeing Laci later that afternoon being forced into a van similar to the one Jackson saw.
Adam Tenbrink told his brother Shawn that Laci interrupted Todd and others during the burglary and Todd threatened her.
Todd and Pearce gave conflicting information about the timing of the burglary.
The Van
The Van
Police didn't seize the van suspected in the burglary of the home directly across the street from the Peterson home, and apparently didn't search it for forensic evidence that Laci had been inside (in fact, the police didn't say anything about the vehicle used in the burglary).
A van parked in front of the Medina home was seen by two witnesses at 9:30 AM, and was seen again, after the Medinas left at 10:30 AM, by another witness at 11:40 AM on December 24.
At 9:30 AM, the burglars were parked in front of the home, watching the Medinas load items into their vehicle for a three-day trip. They left in the van after they were spotted by two witnesses, and they then returned after the Medinas left at 10:30 AM.
Three men were seen in the front yard of the Medina home with a safe by the last witness at 11:40 AM on December 24.
Laci left for her walk with McKenzie shortly after 10:00 AM on December 24 (after Scott left and after a neighbor put McKenzie, who was on a leash, back into their yard and closed the gate – he had wandered out into the street in front of their home because Scott had left the gate open when he left a few minutes earlier).
Laci was seen by 11 witnesses talking a walk with McKenzie that day. All of them saw her in the 10:00 to 11:00 AM time period.
The route she took was about 2.5 miles long, and it would have taken her about an hour or more, depending on how long she stopped to allow McKenzie to sniff, etc.
The police said that suspects, who were charged with the burglary, were not involved in the missing-person case: "They gave numerous statements and facts that checked out, convincing police that the two men were telling the truth."
The police allowed the suspects to plead to reduced charges, and allowed them to claim they burglarized the home at 6:30 AM on December 26 (this would have been when media trucks were camped outside the area covering the missing-person's case).
Attorneys for both suspects refused to say whether there was evidence Todd and Pearce were in the neighborhood before that.
The police reported that the burglars said they used a white car in the burglary. The cops didn't investigate whether or not the burglars were linked to a van similar to the one spotted in Laci's neighborhood on December 24.
Laci's DNA and fingerprints could have been in this van.
Laci's DNA and fingerprints could have been on the safe stolen from the Medinas and put into this van.
Laci's DNA could have been on the Croton watch that was pawned six days after Laci went missing, but was never collected into evidence by the cops.
Laci's Walk
Credible witnesses independently reported seeing Laci walking in the neighborhood along the same route and during the same time period. These sightings are corroborated in time and location by McKenzie's aggressive barking and the McKenzie sighting in the park.
Laci Sightings Were not a Priority
The truth is, the lead detectives were not looking for a live Laci – Al Brocchini concluded she was dead on the night of the 24th, and Craig Grogan arrived at the same conclusion on Christmas Day.
This irresponsible and incompetent tunnel vision may well have cost Laci and Conner their lives.
People who reported sightings were not even called back. Many of them had to call their information in multiple times.
The State relied on junk science to convince the Jury of critical "facts" – facts without which the State had no case.
The State relied on junk science to convince the Jury of critical "facts" – facts without which the State had no case.
Dr. Devore used junk science to convince the Jury that Conner died on the night of December 23, and Dr. Cheng used junk science to convince the Jury that the bodies "washed ashore" from Scott's fishing location.
As with other appeals issues, the determining factor is the importance of the expert testimony to the State's case. In each of these instances, correct facts would have undoubtedly resulted in an acquittal. Each of these expert witnesses is well-qualified in his field, but not in the specific area of his testimony. Each is well published in his field, but not in the specific area of his testimony.
If it Wasn't Scott, Who Could it Have Been? Part 1
This is probably the most commonly asked question regarding Scott Peterson's case. The police sure lead us to believe that they did not receive any tips or information that would direct them anywhere other than Scott during their "investigation". The trial testimonies, however, told an entirely different story.
We will bring you an explanation from the detective's own testimonies of all the credible tips and leads that came in, which clearly point away from Scott having any involvement in Laci's disappearance. While it is not the defendant's responsibility, whatsoever, to show who did commit this crime, it was shocking to hear in trial just how many credible tips came in that, although they do not solve exactly what happened (because the "detectives" chose not to investigate these tips thoroughly, if at all), they shed light on plenty of other possibilities of what happened to Laci.
We will begin with the burglary that took place directly across the street from the Peterson house.
If it Wasn't Scott, Who Could it Have Been? Part 1
This is probably the most commonly asked question regarding Scott Peterson's case. The police sure lead us to believe that they did not receive any tips or information that would direct them anywhere other than Scott during their "investigation". The trial testimonies, however, told an entirely different story.
We will bring you an explanation from the detective's own testimonies of all the credible tips and leads that came in, which clearly point away from Scott having any involvement in Laci's disappearance. While it is not the defendant's responsibility, whatsoever, to show who did commit this crime, it was shocking to hear in trial just how many credible tips came in that, although they do not solve exactly what happened (because the "detectives" chose not to investigate these tips thoroughly, if at all), they shed light on plenty of other possibilities of what happened to Laci.
We will begin with the burglary that took place directly across the street from the Peterson house.
The neighbors were gone for two days, beginning the morning Laci disappeared.
The police and burglars would like us to believe the burglary occurred two days after she disappeared, but evidence and trial testimony clearly prove otherwise.
All of this information comes from trial testimony, mostly from "Detective" Craig Grogan.
The Medinas, who lived across the street from Laci and Scott at 516 Covena Ave, left their house around 10:32 a.m. on December 24th. They returned to their house on December 26th at around 4:30 p.m. to find that their house had been robbed while they were gone.
All of this information comes from trial testimony, mostly from "Detective" Craig Grogan.
The Medinas, who lived across the street from Laci and Scott at 516 Covena Ave, left their house around 10:32 a.m. on December 24th. They returned to their house on December 26th at around 4:30 p.m. to find that their house had been robbed while they were gone.
People immediately wondered if this burglary had something to do with Laci's disappearance, as she had been missing for two days now.
On January 2, 2003, nine days after Laci disappeared, two men, Steve Todd and Donald Pearce, were arrested for the burglary of the Medina's house.
On January 2, 2003, nine days after Laci disappeared, two men, Steve Todd and Donald Pearce, were arrested for the burglary of the Medina's house.
The men initially told the police that the burglary occurred on December 27th. When the burglars were told that the owners of the home returned the afternoon of the 26th and therefore could not have robbed the house on the 27th, they changed their story and said they actually committed the burglary between 3:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on December 26th.
With little to no questioning about this, the "detectives" took their new statement as truth and eliminated them as suspects or having anything to do with Laci's disappearance.
One burglar's account of what happened:
Steven Todd said he was returning home from his mother's house on Christmas Day. The way he would get home from her house was riding his bike through the park, down Covena Avenue by the Peterson house.
One burglar's account of what happened:
Steven Todd said he was returning home from his mother's house on Christmas Day. The way he would get home from her house was riding his bike through the park, down Covena Avenue by the Peterson house.
He said he noticed that 516 Covena seemed empty because "there was only one car in the driveway" and he "could see the mail sticking out of the mailbox" – therefore, assuming they had not yet picked up their mail from the day before.
He said he rode his bike from his house to the Medina house later that night (morning) around 3:00 a.m., stayed until 3:30 a.m., went back to his house, went back to the Medina house between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. (still on his bicycle), walked around the backyard and made some noises to be sure no one was home.
He said he used his foot to open the French doors and got a dolly to move the safe from the master bedroom out the front door of the residence to the porch area. He said he moved the safe behind several bushes on the porch, got on his bike and rode home.
He said he noticed an elderly female at a residence, located on the south side, outside feeding her cats.
He said he went to his friend, Donald Pearce, woke him up between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., and got Pearce to drive him back to the house to get the safe, using Pearce's mom's white car. Todd said they then returned home.
There are so many problems with this story – it's not even funny. Where do we begin?
The Timeline:
Let's start with the time that the burglars said they robbed the house.
There are so many problems with this story – it's not even funny. Where do we begin?
The Timeline:
Let's start with the time that the burglars said they robbed the house.
They claim, and these "detectives" believe them, that they robbed the house on the morning of December 26th, two days after Laci disappeared. Testimony from numerous witnesses reveals that the media had already taken interest in the case by noon on the 25th and were parked in front of Scott's and Laci's house.
Brent Rocha testified that, by the 26th, the media was "encamped" around the house. The volunteer center was set up at the house and a large number of family, friends, and volunteers were in and out of the home consistently since the evening of December 24th.
Are we really supposed to believe that Todd rode his bike through the park and eventually right by the Peterson home on Covena Ave on Christmas Day, and did not happen to notice the police cars, police tape, police on horses, police searching the creek in the park, media vehicles, and family, friends, and volunteers?
Are we really supposed to believe that Todd rode his bike through the park and eventually right by the Peterson home on Covena Ave on Christmas Day, and did not happen to notice the police cars, police tape, police on horses, police searching the creek in the park, media vehicles, and family, friends, and volunteers?
We're supposed to believe, since the "detectives" did, that this burglar, who already has a criminal history and is observant enough to notice the mail sticking out of the mailbox, missed all the chaos and police activity on the street?
And while we're talking about timeline, does it really sound reasonable that an elderly woman is feeding her cats outside at 3:30 in the morning?
The Bike:
Steve Todd claims he used only his bike and backpack to transport all the items he stole, except the safe.
The Bike:
Steve Todd claims he used only his bike and backpack to transport all the items he stole, except the safe.
He claims he had his friend use his small white car to transport the safe to his house.
The police went to Todd's and Pearce's home and found some of the items that were stolen from the Medinas.
Let's take a look at a list of just the items that were never recovered:
Fire Fyter Safe 2500
Antique Ivory Hand figure
pliers set
4 cycle gas trimmer
Rolling tool box
3/5 Drill
Small pliers
32 piece airtool
Craftsman reciprocating saw
Reciprocating blade
Craftsman sabre saw
sabre blade
Polaroid camera
Canon camera
photo lens
portrait lens
regular lens
power winder
finishing sander
Black & Decker drill
Louis Vuitton bag
FF Safe 2500 $189
Linx knife
trimmer line
drill bit
Bypass pruner
grip wrench
pliers set
tool –plier
automotive tool
2 poly rope
Bostich brad nailer
clutch driver
mechanic tool set
power bit
65 pc. Bit set
recon. Edger
stud sensor
24 inch tool box
tie nipper
B&D hedge trimmer
ratchet tie down
Polaroid 600
camera bag, canvas
camera accessory
new French door keys
Binocular, Bushnell
2 sm. Binocular
gun bag for Beretta
Trimmer, speed space
Jewelry box, walnut
Jewelry box, oak
Numerous tools in the tool box
Not only does this completely discredit Todd's story and reveal that he is being anything but truthful about his story, it brings into question: How did he transport all of these items to his house? And how long would it take to load and transport all these items – plus the items that weren't recovered?
Let's take a look at a list of just the items that were never recovered:
Fire Fyter Safe 2500
Antique Ivory Hand figure
pliers set
4 cycle gas trimmer
Rolling tool box
3/5 Drill
Small pliers
32 piece airtool
Craftsman reciprocating saw
Reciprocating blade
Craftsman sabre saw
sabre blade
Polaroid camera
Canon camera
photo lens
portrait lens
regular lens
power winder
finishing sander
Black & Decker drill
Louis Vuitton bag
FF Safe 2500 $189
Linx knife
trimmer line
drill bit
Bypass pruner
grip wrench
pliers set
tool –plier
automotive tool
2 poly rope
Bostich brad nailer
clutch driver
mechanic tool set
power bit
65 pc. Bit set
recon. Edger
stud sensor
24 inch tool box
tie nipper
B&D hedge trimmer
ratchet tie down
Polaroid 600
camera bag, canvas
camera accessory
new French door keys
Binocular, Bushnell
2 sm. Binocular
gun bag for Beretta
Trimmer, speed space
Jewelry box, walnut
Jewelry box, oak
Numerous tools in the tool box
Not only does this completely discredit Todd's story and reveal that he is being anything but truthful about his story, it brings into question: How did he transport all of these items to his house? And how long would it take to load and transport all these items – plus the items that weren't recovered?
Remember, Todd says it wasn't until the morning of the 26th between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. that he even entered the home, and was home by 6:30 a.m. to wake up his friend and get him to load up the safe.
We know from trial transcripts that people started arriving at the Peterson's home by 8:00 a.m. on the 26th to begin their search for Laci, and there likely was media still on the street from the night before.
We know from trial transcripts that people started arriving at the Peterson's home by 8:00 a.m. on the 26th to begin their search for Laci, and there likely was media still on the street from the night before.
How in the world did he transport all of those items without one person seeing him?
There is no doubt that a vehicle other than a bike was needed to transport this list of items – something more like a van.
There is no doubt that a vehicle other than a bike was needed to transport this list of items – something more like a van.
The "van" is a whole issue in and of itself and will be another article posted in the near future. For now, remember that a neighbor reported seeing a van at 11:40 a.m. with a dolly and three men in front of the Medina's house on December 24th, the morning Laci disappeared.
The Mailbox:
Simply, from the testimony of the Medinas and the mailman, we can actually place Steve Todd in front of Laci's house between 10:35 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. the morning she disappeared. (The "detectives" couldn't figure this out – we had to – after Scott is already sitting on death row.)
Susan Medina testified that as she and her husband were pulling out of their driveway at 10:32 a.m., on December 24th to go to Los Angeles, she had her husband put some outgoing mail in their mailbox. She testified that because she works from home, she has a special mailbox to help ensure that none of her mail would be stolen.
The outgoing letters would stick out of the mailbox, but once those were taken, the incoming mail would drop deep down into the mailbox. Incoming mail could not be seen. They had this specific mailbox due to the amount of transients walking down their street and she wanted to be sure her mail was safe (they had a problem with homeless people coming out of the park entrance on Covena Avenue and walking down Covena on their way to the Mission).
Medina testified that when she returned home on December 26th, she had 2 or 3 small letters in the mailbox which were not sticking out of the mailbox – you had to reach in and pull the mail out.
So, for Steven Todd to see mail sticking out of the mailbox would mean he saw their outgoing mail on December 24th.
The Mailbox:
Simply, from the testimony of the Medinas and the mailman, we can actually place Steve Todd in front of Laci's house between 10:35 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. the morning she disappeared. (The "detectives" couldn't figure this out – we had to – after Scott is already sitting on death row.)
Susan Medina testified that as she and her husband were pulling out of their driveway at 10:32 a.m., on December 24th to go to Los Angeles, she had her husband put some outgoing mail in their mailbox. She testified that because she works from home, she has a special mailbox to help ensure that none of her mail would be stolen.
The outgoing letters would stick out of the mailbox, but once those were taken, the incoming mail would drop deep down into the mailbox. Incoming mail could not be seen. They had this specific mailbox due to the amount of transients walking down their street and she wanted to be sure her mail was safe (they had a problem with homeless people coming out of the park entrance on Covena Avenue and walking down Covena on their way to the Mission).
Medina testified that when she returned home on December 26th, she had 2 or 3 small letters in the mailbox which were not sticking out of the mailbox – you had to reach in and pull the mail out.
So, for Steven Todd to see mail sticking out of the mailbox would mean he saw their outgoing mail on December 24th.
The mailman testified that he picked up and delivered mail to the Medinas' house sometime between 10:35 and 10:50 that day.
So, from Steven Todd's own statement, we know he absolutely did not see this "full mailbox" on Christmas Day, like he claims, but instead saw it sometime between 10:32 and 10:50 on the morning Laci disappeared, December 24, 2002.
An eye-witness to the burglary:
Perhaps the most compelling evidence that makes it obvious that the burglary occurred on December 24th is the tip from a neighbor who called to report seeing three men and a van in front of the Medinas' house at 11:40 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
An eye-witness to the burglary:
Perhaps the most compelling evidence that makes it obvious that the burglary occurred on December 24th is the tip from a neighbor who called to report seeing three men and a van in front of the Medinas' house at 11:40 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
She reported seeing a safe being removed from the house. Her information was deemed so credible by the police that that a flyer requesting information and offering a reward was made based on her information.
Laci's Jewelry and Estate:
Scott did not attempt to sell any of the jewelry that Laci inherited from her paternal grandmother, Helen Rocha, which was valued at $100,000.
Scott said Laci was wearing diamond earrings and a Croton watch the morning of December 24th.
Laci's Jewelry and Estate:
Scott did not attempt to sell any of the jewelry that Laci inherited from her paternal grandmother, Helen Rocha, which was valued at $100,000.
Scott said Laci was wearing diamond earrings and a Croton watch the morning of December 24th.
Laci's aunt, Robin Rocha, said that after Laci disappeared she inventoried Laci's jewelry and noticed the Croton watch and a pair of two-carat diamond earrings were missing.
Six days after Laci went missing, on December 31st, a Croton watch was pawned in Modesto.
Six days after Laci went missing, on December 31st, a Croton watch was pawned in Modesto.
A gold Croton watch with gems, fitting the description of the watch Laci Peterson was wearing the day she disappeared, was pawned by Deanna Renfro. The receipt from the pawn shop indicates that Deanna Renfro, who has a long criminal history, including at least one methamphetamine arrest, pawned the gold Croton watch for $20.
On December 24th, four days after Laci disappeared, a rape crisis counselor told police that an unidentified woman reported she had been raped by two men and two women in a brown van during a satanic ritual. According to the counselor's account, the victim said that, during the ritual, the group mentioned a Christmas day death, one she would read about in the papers.
On December 24th, four days after Laci disappeared, a rape crisis counselor told police that an unidentified woman reported she had been raped by two men and two women in a brown van during a satanic ritual. According to the counselor's account, the victim said that, during the ritual, the group mentioned a Christmas day death, one she would read about in the papers.
When police tracked down the van to a nearby campsite on December 30, among the four people in the van were Donny and Mary Renfrow.
The homeless family of Donnie Renfrow was living at a campsite in Woodward Reservior Park. Although their last names are spelled differently, Court TV sources indicated that Deanna Renfro is related to the Renfrows and may be Donny Renfrow's daughter.
The day after the police visited the campsite at Woodward Reservoir, Deanna Renfro pawned the Croton watch.
The day after the police visited the campsite at Woodward Reservoir, Deanna Renfro pawned the Croton watch.
The Modesto Police did not investigate Deanna's connection to the Medina burglars.
A background check would have shown links between the families of Deanna Renfro and those of Steven Todd, one of the convicted burglars, and the Tenbrink family.
During a recorded phone call in late January 2003 at California Rehabilitation Institute between brothers Adam and Shaun Tenbrink, Adam told Shawn that Steven Todd admitted that Laci had seen him breaking into the Medina home on December 24th.
In his cross examination of Robin Rocha, Geragos established that the Croton watch was not among Laci's jewelry when the police asked her to identify what was missing.
From Matt Dalton's book, Presumed Guilty (pages 69-70):
On cross examination, Geragos went into detail about the inheritance from Helen Rocha (Dennis Rocha's mother – Dennis is the father of Laci, Brent and Amy; Amy is the younger half-sister of Laci and Brent, Sharon Rocha's children – Sharon was Dennis' first wife; they separated after Laci's first birthday).
The witnesses who saw Laci and/or the van in Laci's La Loma neighborhood on December 24 all reported it as being white, tan or white with a tan stripe, not brown. But it was only a brown van owned by a homeless family that was searched by police for evidence that Laci had been inside.
The homeless family of Donnie Renfrow was living at a campsite in Woodward Reservoir Park.
The person who pawned a gold Croton identical to Laci’s watch, which she was wearing when she disappeared, was Deanna Renfro on December 31.
Although their last names are spelled differently, they are related.
DEFENSE IS FULL OF HOLESBy DAVID WRIGHT, NATIONAL ENQUIRERAugust 19, 2003Picture: Homeless family Donnie and Mary Ann Renfrow and their children, Rayoune and Sherry, at their campsite near Modesto (2 of the women and the older man have no teeth, they look really down and out)!An NE investigation has uncovered stunning info that blows a huge hole in Scott's murder defense.
On July 22, Scott's lawyers announced they had evidence in the Laci Peterson case that "totally exonerates" Scott and would lead to Laci's "true killers" – but their claims are pure fiction.
Scotty's attorney, Mark Geragos, has suggested that Laci was the victim of a Satanic cult whose members were spotted in a battered van near the Petersons' Modesto home, around the time of Laci's disappearance on Christmas Eve.But what Scott's lawyer said were bloodstains in the van is actually barbecue sauce. And a Satanic image on a window of the van is tinting that was scratched off by a child. What's more Scott's lawyers cited a "mystery woman's" claims of being abducted by a Satanic cult even though she had a history of mental problems, the NE has learned. And a source close to the case revealed that defense attorneys have been unable to locate the woman."Now that the so-called evidence in the van can be innocently explained, you can expect the defense team to abandon the Satanic cult theory faster than Liz Taylor abandons her husbands," said Craig Silverman, a former chief deputy district for Denver who has tried dozens of homicide cases.Defense attorney Geragos repossessed a 1987 van belonging to May Ann Renfrow, 64, to use as possible evidence in the case. But Mary Ann, her husband Donnie, 55, son Rayoune Miranda, 32 and daughter Sherry Moulton, 37, say that neither they nor their van had anything to do with Laci's murder."Obviously Mark Geragos was trying to clear his client – and using us to do," Mary Ann told the NE.
Cops first interviewed Mary Ann and her homeless family at their campsite at the Woodward Reservoir outside Modesto on Dec. 30. They were looking for a brown van in connection with Laci's disappearance and wanted to see the vehicle the family used to pull their trailer from one campsite to another."We told them our van had broken down on Dec. 22 and hadn't been repaired until the 29th," Rayoune told the NE. "They examined it thoroughly and, after we satisfied them that we'd never been in Laci's neighborhood, they went away. We didn't hear anything for nearly five months."Then, on May 21, police investigators came back to see Rayoune. They'd had a report that implicated him in the Dec. 14 rape of a woman, Rayoune said."The woman told a rape counselor she'd been subjected to Satanic rituals in a brown van, that her attacker had Satanic 666 tattooed on his neck, and that she overheard him talking with other people about the plans to kidnap a baby on Dec. 24th, Rayoune said. "I had to show them I didn't have a 666 tattoo, by pulling up my hair.""Eventually the police told us the woman was nuts and had accused quite a few other men of rape. But they said they had to follow up because Mark Geragos was now pushing the issue."After lead detectives in the Peterson murder case questioned family members, and cops collected hair and saliva samples, authorities took the family's van and trailer away for examination. They were eventually cleared in the murder.But the defense team's Satanic cult theory, began making the TV news, with Geragos pinning the blame for Laci's death on four or five people in a mysterious brown van.
"Mom was behind in her payments – she owed $600 – and Mark Geragos bought the van by making the payment," Rayoune recalled.One June 4 the family watched as CNN reporter Dave Mattingly declared, "a source on the defense team tells me that they are more certain than ever of their theory because of things they have found after they examined the van.""They claim to have found duct tape inside the van, as well as blood stains. They also claim to have found a Satanic image sketched in the glass of the van.""We couldn't believe our ears," Sherry said. "Of course there was duct tape – our trailer's canvas was ripped in several places and we used duct tape to hold it together to protect us form the cold. As for the bloodstains the police know the truth. When my son was helping one of the detectives move an ice chest in the van, they spilled a bottle of BBQ sauce. That's the stain the defense is talking about."And the satanic image?
"The van windows are tinted and my grandchildren tore at the tinting material with their fingers one day so they could see outside better. It left a strange pattern on the window-but there's nothing Satancic about it."The family has also been told, she said, that defense team investigators found the picture of the devil in the family trailer. Sherry showed an NE reporter a sticker of a sexy woman with bat wings and horns stuck to the trailer door."My kids got it out of a machine," she said adding that it's ridiculous for her family to be accused of being Satanists.Geragos or his investigators never talked to the family.The defense is operating under a gag order, but a source told the NE, "The defense has the van and it's being tested at a laboratory. Results are expected by the end of August."After cops returned the family's tattered trailer, a friend helped them tow it back to their campsite, where, despite the fact that they have been cleared, people drive past their campsite honking and hollering insults."Mr. Geragos has destroyed our Lives," Mary Ann said. "I don't know how he could be so cruel."
The Modesto Police did not investigate this woman or her connection to the Medina burglars.
A background check would have shown links between the families of Deanna Renfro and those of Steven Todd, one of the convicted burglars, and the Tenbrink family.
While cross examining Victoria Brooks, co-owner of Brooks Pawn & Jewelry in Modesto, Geragos introduced a pawn receipt for the Croton watch. Geragos intended to get more information about the pawn receipt into evidence, but Distaso objected. He did succeed in getting the receipt marked as an exhibit, and he posed a hypothetical question about the watch being pawned.
In his cross examination of Robin Rocha, Geragos established that the Croton watch was not among Laci's jewelry when the police asked her to identify what was missing.
From Matt Dalton's book, Presumed Guilty (pages 69-70):
Picture the Peterson neighborhood around the time of Laci’s disappearance. Six possible felonies were all occurring there between the evening of December 23 and afternoon of December 24.
We have questionable people from the airport district going door to door posing as neighbors and asking for money.
We have the burglary at the Medina home, a burglary resulting in generous plea bargains for Steven Todd and Donald Glen Pearce, both of the airport district as well.
A brown van was described in a possible attempted abduction the night of the twenty-third, a daytime burglary the morning of the twenty-fourth, and possibly the satanic rape and abduction days before Laci disappeared. The group in the van at the Woodward Reservoir was from the airport district of Modesto.
On the afternoon of December 24, a woman eight months pregnant was terrorized by two men in a car, five blocks from where Laci was last seen alive. She told me that she thought they were trying to “get” her. She got the license plate number of the vehicle, and it was registered to a residence in the airport district – a few blocks from where the other criminals lived.
That day was not calm. It was not peaceful and certainly not your typical day before Christmas in Modesto, California. However, none of what I discovered was apparently pursued as the case continued to build against Scott Peterson.Additional information about the pawning of the watch was provided by attorney Matt Dalton:
- Police were unable to find the Croton watch that, according to Scott, Laci had put on that morning.
- Police also couldn't find the earrings Scott said she was wearing.
- Police found Laci's Croton watch case, open and empty on her dresser.
- Close to Laci's house, on December 31, a woman pawned a yellow gold Croton watch, appearing to match the description of the one Laci was wearing.
- Information came from pawn ticket in discovery materials.
- Dalton noted the name on the pawn ticket (Deanna Renfro) was the same, except for the spelling, as the people who had the brown van and were camped out by the Woodward Reservoir (Donny and Mary Renfrow).
- Dalton was never able to locate the woman who had pawned the watch or determine if she was related to the people with the brown van.
- No police report was written about the pawned Croton watch: the police could quickly have obtained this information since pawnshop business is heavy regulated since – it is a conduit for stolen property.
- The pawnshop was 10 minutes from Laci's house.
- The pawnbroker wouldn't come out of the back to talk to Dalton.
- Dalton wrote the pawnbroker a note offering $300 for the watch, but the pawnbroker wouldn't respond.
- Laci had inherited the watch from her paternal grandmother.
- Laci and Scott had tried to sell it on E-bay.
- There is a video made by Laci and Scott that shows the watch.
- From the description of video in a police report: "In the images of the jewelry was the Croton gold and diamond watch, which was at this point in the investigation unaccounted for."
- Grogan watched the video for two minutes: he said the watch hand didn't move, so he concluded Laci wouldn't have been wearing it because it wasn't working.
On cross examination, Geragos went into detail about the inheritance from Helen Rocha (Dennis Rocha's mother – Dennis is the father of Laci, Brent and Amy; Amy is the younger half-sister of Laci and Brent, Sharon Rocha's children – Sharon was Dennis' first wife; they separated after Laci's first birthday).
The lion's share of the grandmother's jewelry was given to Laci and was valued at $50,000-100,000. Amy said she didn't know the total value of the jewelry. She said she and Laci went through the jewelry and decided what would be sold. Amy said Laci was in charge of the sales – some items were offered on Ebay and others sold to pawn shops.
In addition, Laci, Brent and Amy equally would be splitting the proceeds from the sale of the grandfather's house and half of the Rocha estate.
In addition, Laci, Brent and Amy equally would be splitting the proceeds from the sale of the grandfather's house and half of the Rocha estate.
Amy said Laci was aware she wouldn't receive the bulk of their inheritance until she reached age 30.
According to the testimony of Brent Rocha, Laci's Brother:
According to the testimony of Brent Rocha, Laci's Brother:
Brent was co-trustee of the Grandfather Rocha's two estates, with Dennis' sister Robin the other trustee. The house sold for approximately $485,000, and Laci's one-third share was $160,000 (split three ways among Brent, Laci and Amy).
The other estate was much more substantial. Total value was $2,367,000. It was divided 50/50 between Dennis and his sister Robin. Dennis's one-half was setup in the Dennis Rocha family trust, with Brent, Amy and Laci getting equal shares, but could not received until age 30.
There was no financial benefit to Scott without Laci and Connor. If Connor had lived, Scott, as Connor's guardian, would have overseen Connor's share.
With both Connor and Laci dead, Laci's share would be divided equally between Amy and Brent.
Brent disagreed with Geragos on the value of the jewelry Laci inherited, saying it was worth at most $20,000, and not enough to be worth insuring.
Jackie and Lee Peterson setup Scott in a packaging (shipping) business, which he sold and used the profits to set up their restaurant, The Shack, which was set up from scratch (not a purchase of an existing business).
Brent described how he and Rose (his wife) wondered how Scott and Laci could afford their lifestyle: they were buying a home, had newer vehicles, Scott had expensive liquors in his bar etc., while Brent and Rose were scraping to buy a home. However, Jackie and Lee put up the down payment for Scott and Laci's Covena home.
Brent was given tape recording equipment by the MPD in mid-January, and asked to record his conversations with Scott. One of the conversations he taped was a call on January 16, when Brent confronted Scott about Amber. Scott first denied it, and then admitted it after the National Enquirer article came out. He asked Scott, how do you know she has nothing to do with it? Scott said, no, no way, she couldn't have anything to do with it; she didn't know Laci existed. Brent asked, How do you know she didn't know Laci existed? Scott said he didn't tell her anything about Laci until after Laci went missing. He said he had called Amber to tell her Laci was missing.
Geragos asked Brent about how much work Scott had done to the house. Brent said it was already in good shape, but conceded the pool, Jacuzzi, and the barbecue were put in, as well as some remodeling on the bathroom and the floors.
In May 2003, against the advice of her attorney, Laci Peterson's mother Sharon Rocha entered the former home of her slain daughter and gathered her belongings. Sharon took everything from lamps to Christmas presents to furniture from the residence, which Scott's parents were maintaining and also paying the mortgage. Scott's family had planned to voluntarily turn over only some of the items that his wife's family wanted from the couple's home.
Sharon had submitted a 22-point list of items sought from the house. Jackie Peterson, Scott's mother, said Sharon later revised it to 16 points. Sharon also had asked for "Laci's fine china and stemware." Scott's mother said her son previously agreed to give some property to Laci's brother and half sister: for Brent Rocha, flower vase wall sconces that he had given to Laci as a gift; and for Amy Rocha, wicker furniture and lamps given to Laci by her paternal grandmother. Jackie said she and her family bought almost everything in the baby's room, including crib, rocking chair and ottoman, clothes, toys and a baby book – all given as gifts at a baby shower. She said Scott wanted to keep the baby's things.
Sharon also had asked for Laci's wedding dress. Jackie revealed that the dress was taken in a mid-January burglary at the house, during a weekend when Scott was in Los Angeles for a one-day search effort for his wife. A few days later, police said they had identified a suspect but did not report an arrest. They gave no name but described the suspect as someone known by the Petersons, and said the suspect was one of many people with access to the home. Jackie said her son got the wedding dress back, then had it cleaned and boxed. She was adamant about a glass memento box. She said she gave the glass box to her son and daughter-in-law for display of photos and seashells from their honeymoon in Tahiti. "That's a no way," Peterson said about giving the box to the Rochas.
In April 2006, Jackie lost a legal battle to Laci's parents over money from the 2005 sale of Scott and Laci’s house. Jackie said in court that she had continued to pay more than $35,000 for the mortgage and other expenses. An attorney for Sharon Rocha said creditors can only be reimbursed for debts that have accrued before a death, not after — and the probate judge agreed. Jackie suggested that Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge David Vander Wall look past the fact that she was appearing without a lawyer and that she might not have followed all the correct legal procedures. "They know I was making the payments, and the estate profited unfairly from these payments, she said. The house was neglected and rundown. I’m not looking to prolong the close of this or to profit from it. I just want to be reimbursed."
Judge Vander Wall was brief in his response. I don’t think there’s any basis for a creditor’s claim, he said. Sharon and Dennis Rochas, who are divorced, did not attend the hearing, but the decision enabled them to share $385,000 after administrative costs. The money included their $108,000 share of the profit on the couple’s house (the Petersons collected $100,000 from the sale in 2005), about $30,000 that Laci had in various savings and retirement accounts, and a $250,000 life insurance policy. Jackie Peterson had no comment after the hearing.
Jewelry plays mysterious role in Peterson murder case
By Harriet Ryan, Court TV
June 18, 2004
REDWOOD CITY, California (Court TV) – Did $100,000 in diamonds, sapphires and other gems play a role in Laci Peterson's murder?
Witnesses at her husband's capital trial suggested Thursday that, before she vanished, both Laci and her husband, Scott, were preoccupied with jewelry – not just the valuable baubles she had inherited from her grandmother, but also cheaper accessories they were pawning for quick cash.
Prosecutors, who called the witnesses, have not said how the jewelry fits into their theory that Scott Peterson killed his wife December 23, 2002. And the testimony from two jewelers, a pair of pawn brokers and the victim's aunt seemed to raise more questions than it answered.
Laci Peterson's aunt, Robin Rocha, testified that her niece received a stash of pricey watches, rings, necklaces and other items in November 2002 as part of the settlement of her grandmother's estate.
Two jewelers, Mary Anne Felix and Jeff Schumacher, said they appraised the inheritance at their Modesto store for "in excess of $100,000."
Sharon had submitted a 22-point list of items sought from the house. Jackie Peterson, Scott's mother, said Sharon later revised it to 16 points. Sharon also had asked for "Laci's fine china and stemware." Scott's mother said her son previously agreed to give some property to Laci's brother and half sister: for Brent Rocha, flower vase wall sconces that he had given to Laci as a gift; and for Amy Rocha, wicker furniture and lamps given to Laci by her paternal grandmother. Jackie said she and her family bought almost everything in the baby's room, including crib, rocking chair and ottoman, clothes, toys and a baby book – all given as gifts at a baby shower. She said Scott wanted to keep the baby's things.
Sharon also had asked for Laci's wedding dress. Jackie revealed that the dress was taken in a mid-January burglary at the house, during a weekend when Scott was in Los Angeles for a one-day search effort for his wife. A few days later, police said they had identified a suspect but did not report an arrest. They gave no name but described the suspect as someone known by the Petersons, and said the suspect was one of many people with access to the home. Jackie said her son got the wedding dress back, then had it cleaned and boxed. She was adamant about a glass memento box. She said she gave the glass box to her son and daughter-in-law for display of photos and seashells from their honeymoon in Tahiti. "That's a no way," Peterson said about giving the box to the Rochas.
In April 2006, Jackie lost a legal battle to Laci's parents over money from the 2005 sale of Scott and Laci’s house. Jackie said in court that she had continued to pay more than $35,000 for the mortgage and other expenses. An attorney for Sharon Rocha said creditors can only be reimbursed for debts that have accrued before a death, not after — and the probate judge agreed. Jackie suggested that Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge David Vander Wall look past the fact that she was appearing without a lawyer and that she might not have followed all the correct legal procedures. "They know I was making the payments, and the estate profited unfairly from these payments, she said. The house was neglected and rundown. I’m not looking to prolong the close of this or to profit from it. I just want to be reimbursed."
Judge Vander Wall was brief in his response. I don’t think there’s any basis for a creditor’s claim, he said. Sharon and Dennis Rochas, who are divorced, did not attend the hearing, but the decision enabled them to share $385,000 after administrative costs. The money included their $108,000 share of the profit on the couple’s house (the Petersons collected $100,000 from the sale in 2005), about $30,000 that Laci had in various savings and retirement accounts, and a $250,000 life insurance policy. Jackie Peterson had no comment after the hearing.
Jewelry plays mysterious role in Peterson murder case
By Harriet Ryan, Court TV
June 18, 2004
REDWOOD CITY, California (Court TV) – Did $100,000 in diamonds, sapphires and other gems play a role in Laci Peterson's murder?
Witnesses at her husband's capital trial suggested Thursday that, before she vanished, both Laci and her husband, Scott, were preoccupied with jewelry – not just the valuable baubles she had inherited from her grandmother, but also cheaper accessories they were pawning for quick cash.
Prosecutors, who called the witnesses, have not said how the jewelry fits into their theory that Scott Peterson killed his wife December 23, 2002. And the testimony from two jewelers, a pair of pawn brokers and the victim's aunt seemed to raise more questions than it answered.
Laci Peterson's aunt, Robin Rocha, testified that her niece received a stash of pricey watches, rings, necklaces and other items in November 2002 as part of the settlement of her grandmother's estate.
Two jewelers, Mary Anne Felix and Jeff Schumacher, said they appraised the inheritance at their Modesto store for "in excess of $100,000."
Felix said Laci Peterson told her that her husband wanted to know how much the pieces were worth.
"She said he would be very happy," Felix recalled.
The jewelers told jurors that the pregnant 27-year-old commissioned them to incorporate two of her grandmother's rings into her own wedding ring. The result, the jewelers said, was to be a diamond confection worth $55,000. The 2.5-carat center stone itself was valued at $30,000.
But in December 2002, at the same time she was meeting with the jewelers about the extravagant ring, Laci Peterson also made two visits to a pawn shop where she hocked gold chains, charms and other rings for $250. Scott Peterson accompanied her on the second of those December sales, and the pawn shop owner's wife testified that, while Peterson was affectionate toward his wife, rubbing her belly, she appeared uncomfortable.
"She was hesitant toward him," Victoria Brooks recalled.
Brooks said Laci Peterson told her that she was cleaning out her jewelry box and wanted to get rid of items she received from her grandmother. But Robin Rocha said that, when she inspected her niece's jewelry at the request of the police, she found only two pieces missing: a fancy gem-encrusted watch and a 2-carat pair of diamond earrings.
The trips to the pawn shop are even more mysterious in light of their timing. Laci Peterson made the first trip to Brooks Pawn in Modesto on December 10, when she handed over a gold chain for $140. The day before, her husband had plunked down $1,400 in cash for an aluminum fishing boat prosecutors believe he later used to dispose of her body.
Her second trip to the pawn shop, this time with her husband, occurred four days later on another date highly significant to the prosecutors' case.
"She said he would be very happy," Felix recalled.
The jewelers told jurors that the pregnant 27-year-old commissioned them to incorporate two of her grandmother's rings into her own wedding ring. The result, the jewelers said, was to be a diamond confection worth $55,000. The 2.5-carat center stone itself was valued at $30,000.
But in December 2002, at the same time she was meeting with the jewelers about the extravagant ring, Laci Peterson also made two visits to a pawn shop where she hocked gold chains, charms and other rings for $250. Scott Peterson accompanied her on the second of those December sales, and the pawn shop owner's wife testified that, while Peterson was affectionate toward his wife, rubbing her belly, she appeared uncomfortable.
"She was hesitant toward him," Victoria Brooks recalled.
Brooks said Laci Peterson told her that she was cleaning out her jewelry box and wanted to get rid of items she received from her grandmother. But Robin Rocha said that, when she inspected her niece's jewelry at the request of the police, she found only two pieces missing: a fancy gem-encrusted watch and a 2-carat pair of diamond earrings.
The trips to the pawn shop are even more mysterious in light of their timing. Laci Peterson made the first trip to Brooks Pawn in Modesto on December 10, when she handed over a gold chain for $140. The day before, her husband had plunked down $1,400 in cash for an aluminum fishing boat prosecutors believe he later used to dispose of her body.
Her second trip to the pawn shop, this time with her husband, occurred four days later on another date highly significant to the prosecutors' case.
On December 14 (timeline), the Petersons were scheduled to attend a Christmas party together, but according to witnesses, Scott Peterson told his wife he had to meet a business colleague.
Instead, he took his mistress, Amber Frey, to a Christmas formal and, according to prosecutors, told her that he wanted a future with her and that he planned to get a vasectomy.
That day, the Petersons gave Brooks and her husband, David, more chains, some charms and some rings. In return, the Petersons got $110. It is unclear why the couple was selling the jewelry in a pawn shop instead of a venue where they were likely to get more money.
Peterson, 31, earned about $60,000 a year as a fertilizer salesman. His wife was a substitute teacher until late in her pregnancy.
'She always wore it'
When Laci Peterson was reported missing, police found several pieces of jewelry laid out on a bureau in the couple's bedroom as if she had removed them for the night.
That day, the Petersons gave Brooks and her husband, David, more chains, some charms and some rings. In return, the Petersons got $110. It is unclear why the couple was selling the jewelry in a pawn shop instead of a venue where they were likely to get more money.
Peterson, 31, earned about $60,000 a year as a fertilizer salesman. His wife was a substitute teacher until late in her pregnancy.
'She always wore it'
When Laci Peterson was reported missing, police found several pieces of jewelry laid out on a bureau in the couple's bedroom as if she had removed them for the night.
Arranged neatly between her jewelry box and a wedding photo of the couple were the sapphire ring she was wearing while her wedding ring was redesigned, a diamond pendant necklace, and a diamond and gold watch. All were bequests from her grandmother.
Felix said that, on the dozen or so times Laci Peterson visited her store, she was always wearing the pendant.
"Every day. She always wore it," said the jeweler.
When the jeweler recommended she have it cleaned, she refused, saying she didn't like to take it off, Felix said.
The defense contends Laci Peterson was abducted, likely while walking her dog in a nearby park the morning of Christmas Eve, but prosecutors seemed to be hinting that she would never leave the house without her watch and jewelry.
As prosecutor Dave Harris flashed photos of the jewelry onto a large projection screen, most jurors scrawled in their notebooks. At the defense table, Peterson appeared to be following the testimony closely, whispering to his lawyers and jotting down notes.
His lawyer, Mark Geragos, noted that, after Peterson's wife went missing, he never called the jewelry store asking about the diamonds they were holding. Schumacher, the jeweler, said he phoned investigators and the jewelry was later turned over to Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha.
"The only people who contacted you about getting the jewelry were the police and Mrs. Rocha?" Geragos asked.
"Yes," Schumacher said.
As the jeweler recalled giving the jewelry to Rocha, she looked on from the front row, nodding.
The baby's progress
Also testifying Thursday was one of the three obstetricians Laci Peterson saw during the course of her pregnancy. Dr. Tina Etraki said she and the baby were healthy when she came into the office in August 2002. She also recalled a November phone conversation in which Laci Peterson said she became dizzy and nauseous while taking a morning walk.
"My recommendation was either to not exercise because she was having symptoms or to exercise later in the day," said Etraki. Prosecutors have implied Laci Peterson was too weak in her eighth month of pregnancy to walk the family dog.
But on cross-examination, Etraki acknowledged that Peterson, known to be headstrong, did not follow her recommendation.
Felix said that, on the dozen or so times Laci Peterson visited her store, she was always wearing the pendant.
"Every day. She always wore it," said the jeweler.
When the jeweler recommended she have it cleaned, she refused, saying she didn't like to take it off, Felix said.
The defense contends Laci Peterson was abducted, likely while walking her dog in a nearby park the morning of Christmas Eve, but prosecutors seemed to be hinting that she would never leave the house without her watch and jewelry.
As prosecutor Dave Harris flashed photos of the jewelry onto a large projection screen, most jurors scrawled in their notebooks. At the defense table, Peterson appeared to be following the testimony closely, whispering to his lawyers and jotting down notes.
His lawyer, Mark Geragos, noted that, after Peterson's wife went missing, he never called the jewelry store asking about the diamonds they were holding. Schumacher, the jeweler, said he phoned investigators and the jewelry was later turned over to Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha.
"The only people who contacted you about getting the jewelry were the police and Mrs. Rocha?" Geragos asked.
"Yes," Schumacher said.
As the jeweler recalled giving the jewelry to Rocha, she looked on from the front row, nodding.
The baby's progress
Also testifying Thursday was one of the three obstetricians Laci Peterson saw during the course of her pregnancy. Dr. Tina Etraki said she and the baby were healthy when she came into the office in August 2002. She also recalled a November phone conversation in which Laci Peterson said she became dizzy and nauseous while taking a morning walk.
"My recommendation was either to not exercise because she was having symptoms or to exercise later in the day," said Etraki. Prosecutors have implied Laci Peterson was too weak in her eighth month of pregnancy to walk the family dog.
But on cross-examination, Etraki acknowledged that Peterson, known to be headstrong, did not follow her recommendation.
Records indicate she phoned two days after the initial call and told a nurse practitioner that she experienced shortness of breath while walking.
"She didn't listen to your don't walk advice," Geragos asked. "Right," the doctor said.
"She didn't listen to your don't walk advice," Geragos asked. "Right," the doctor said.
Etraki also said that the most accurate ultrasound, one performed in July, indicated a due date of February 10, 2003. Laci Peterson was nearly 33 weeks pregnant when she disappeared, she said.
The age of the couple's unborn son is in dispute. The defense claims his remains are those of a full-term baby born alive.
The age of the couple's unborn son is in dispute. The defense claims his remains are those of a full-term baby born alive.
Testimony in the trial resumes Monday. The proceeding, now in its third week, is expected to last about six months.
Court Documents, Exhibits and Transcripts:
https://www.scottpetersonappeal.org/court-docs.html
Recommended Reading:Court Documents, Exhibits and Transcripts:
https://www.scottpetersonappeal.org/court-docs.html
- http://www.pwc-sii.com
- http://pwc-sii.com/Research/scenes/523covena.htm
- http://www.scottpetersonappeal.org/scotts-timeline.html
- http://pwc-consulting.blogspot.com
- http://pwc-consulting.blogspot.com/2008/05/laci-sightings-were-not-priority.html
- http://www.injusticeanywhereforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=2117&start=10200
- http://www.injusticeanywhereforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=2117&sid=983a85dcc3ea9cb1bef2b770dc3ed4c4&start=10000
- http://www.forumsforjustice.org/forums/showthread.php?3241-Another-witness-saw-dog
- http://www.scottpetersonappeal.org/scotts-timeline.html
- https://books.google.com/books?id=78odKhCYo84C&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=Diana+Campos+laci+peterson&source=bl&ots=u4V6ZxWSpo&sig=MJkNoeVRe-KnlkMbMK7oR7ITf5Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqwbWx9a3WAhVHVyYKHcE5AVI4ChDoAQgnMAA#v=onepage&q=Diana%20Campos%20laci%20peterson&f=false
- http://www.findlaci2003.us/alibi-witness.html
- https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2003/08/laci200308
- https://www.facebook.com/ScottPetersonAppeal/
