Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
According to CNN, on November 12, 2004, a jury convicted Scott Peterson of first-degree murder of his wife, Laci Peterson. The same jury also found him guilty on a count of second-degree murder for the death of their unborn son, Conner. The verdict came after a months-long spectacle of a highly publicized trial. On March 16, 2005, the convicted murderer received a death sentence.
During his trial, prosecutors alleged that Scott was having an affair with another woman, Amber Frey, at the time. They claimed that his murder motive was to escape married life and upcoming fatherhood, per People Magazine. His wife, Laci Peterson, was eight months pregnant when she went missing on Christmas Eve in 2002. Four months later, her body washed ashore in San Francisco Bay, a mile from where the fetus was found.
At the time, crucial evidence that prosecutors used against Scott included phone call recordings between him and Frey, which the latter recorded on police orders. They also used blood evidence police found on the couple’s bedspread and the door of the defendant’s truck. Reportedly, Scott alleged that the blood evidence likely came from the manual labor he did. The prosecution had also alleged that he tried to flee the country to Mexico.
More than a decade later, in 2020, the Supreme Court in California overturned Scott’s sentence. A judge then sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and he is serving a life sentence without parole. However, the Los Angeles Innocence Project, a non-profit that works to exonerate those wrongly convicted, is now representing him. The organization is investigating his “claim of actual innocence.”
Several documentaries and true-crime episodes have previously chronicled the infamous case. These documentaries include The Murder of Laci Peterson and Scott Peterson: An American Murder Mystery.
Is there new evidence in the Scott Peterson case?
In the latest update on Scott Peterson’s conviction, the Los Angeles Innocence Project is re-examining the case. Earlier this year, in January, the organization told People Magazine that they are now representing and “investigating his [Scott’s] claim of actual innocence.”
ABC News further reported on the matter, stating that Scott Peterson has long maintained his innocence in the murders of his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner. Previously, the convicted murderer also claimed that he received an unfair trial based on possible jury misconduct.
Per the outlet, the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s new legal filings mention “newly discovered evidence” in connection with the murders. The filings suggest that this new evidence “now supports Mr. Peterson’s longstanding claim of innocence and raises many questions into who abducted and killed Laci and Conner Peterson.”
Attorneys for the organization alleged that Scott Peterson’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated. His attorneys further sought multiple items they claim they could not locate “after a thorough search.” Reportedly, these items include evidence from a December 2002 burglary, the same day Laci Peterson went missing.
The said robbery occurred in a house across the street from where the Petersons lived in Modesto, California. Other items include Laci Peterson’s missing Croton watch and a van fire from December 25 of that year in the Airport District on December 25, 2002.
Moreover, the attorneys are also seeking several witness interview documents. LA Innocence Project’s director Paula Mitchell said she has encountered “numerous witnesses” who were hesitant or showed “outright unwillingness” to provide information. Mitchell claimed that this is due to the case’s high-profile nature.
People Magazine stated that LA Innocence Project attorneys are now hoping to conduct new DNA testing on a blood-stained mattress. The organization believes that this mattress, which authorities found on December 25, 2002, in a burned-out orange van near the Petersons’ home, may contain crucial evidence. The tests will determine whether the said mattress consists of Laci Peterson’s blood as it can link her murder to the burglars.
Scott’s defense attorney, Pat Harris, told the outlet, “We are very excited to have the incredible attorneys at the L.A. Innocence Project [LAIP] lend their considerable expertise to helping prove Scott Peter’s Innocence.”
On Tuesday, March 12, Scott Peterson made a virtual court appearance about two decades after his murder conviction. USA Today stated that this hearing was the latest update in his fight to get his conviction overturned. The outlet mentioned that the judge in the hearing scheduled the next two hearings on April 16 and May 29. Scott will once again make virtual appearances during both hearings.
CBS reported that in filing a motion requesting evidence, LAIP director Paula Mitchell said, “The Los Angeles Innocence Project filed motions in January asking the Court to order further discovery of evidence and allow new DNA testing to support our investigation into Mr. Peterson’s claim of actual innocence. Today’s hearing was just the first step in a long process. We have not commented on our motions, and we will continue to present our case in court – where it should be adjudicated.”
Mitchell further stated, “We were very, very specific. We spent a lot of time trying to suss out what, frankly, are very alarming deficiencies in the discovery that was provided to the defense at the time of trial. Those are the items that we are requesting. The nature of the request is not a fishing expedition. They’re very precise and very specific.”
Scott’s attorney, Paula Canny, spoke to reporters outside court after the recent hearing. Canny said, “What if he’s not guilty, okay? What if he had an affair and was a crappy husband? What if he didn’t kill her? If that [DNA] testing shows what they think it’s going to show – it’s a whole new ballgame, so to speak.”
People Magazine had previously reported that Scott Peterson’s sister-in-law, Janey Peterson, also supports his claim of innocence. Janey told the Today show, “There was no evidence that he [Scott Peterson] had anything to do with what happened to Laci.”
Janey believes Laci confronted the burglars trying to rob a house across the street the morning she disappeared. However, the said burglars have denied culpability in the crime. Moreover, police have previously cleared them during an initial investigation. But Janey thinks they killed her pregnant sister and framed Peterson for the murder.
Janey Peterson alleged that Laci Peterson’s murder occurred after Christmas Eve 2002. “There’s evidence that was completely ignored that shows Laci was alive after [Scott] left for the day,” she said. Scott, who maintains his innocence, had also claimed that an unknown assailant killed his wife. He alleged it happened while she was walking their dog on the morning of Christmas Eve. Scott claimed that he had already left to go on a solo fishing trip.
According to the California Department of Corrections, Scott Peterson is serving his sentence in the Mule Creek State Prison.
