The Biggest Revelations in Peacock’s Face to Face With Scott Peterson Docuseries

As a seasoned investigative journalist with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the Scott Peterson case has always been a puzzling one for me. It’s not every day that you come across a case with such high-profile intrigue and a man who seems to have more secrets than a Swiss bank vault.

In the chill of December 24th, 2002, I found myself ensnared in a chilling mystery. Laci Peterson, a radiant 27-year-old expectant mother, vanished from her shared home in Modesto, California. This tranquil town was about to be anything but, as the woman was eight months pregnant with her and her husband’s, Scott Peterson, first child.

Four months on, I found myself stunned as the remains of Laci and our unborn son, whom we were to name Conner, appeared along the shores of San Francisco Bay. Not long after, Scott Peterson – my husband who claimed he saw Laci before departing for a fishing trip at Berkeley Marina, approximately 90 miles west of Modesto – was apprehended and indicted for the murders of both Laci and Conner.

In a new documentary series titled “Face to Face with Scott Peterson“, scheduled for release on August 20th, Scott Peterson, who was found guilty of murder in 2004 and is serving a life sentence without the chance of parole, provides his first on-camera interviews since 2003. The series includes discussions with Scott’s sister-in-law Janey Peterson, former Modesto Police Department lead detective Al Brocchini and detective Jon Buehler, Scott’s former defense attorney Lara Yeretsian, and former ABC News Producer Mike Gudgell. Additionally, the series directed by Shareen Anderson, who also worked on A&E’s 2017 docuseries “The Murder of Laci Peterson“, delves into advancements in the case since the Los Angeles Innocence Project took it up in early 2024.

As a true crime enthusiast who has delved into countless investigations over the years, I must say that the saga of Laci Peterson’s murder and Scott Peterson’s connection to the Innocence Project is one that stands out as particularly intriguing. Recently, the latest developments in the case have surfaced in the show Face to Face, shedding new light on this tragic tale.

When was Scott Peterson arrested for the murder of Laci?

Shortly following the discovery of Laci and Conner’s bodies, Scott Peterson was apprehended close to a golf course in San Diego on April 18, 2003. He was indicted for two murder charges, maintaining his innocence by pleading not guilty to both. At that moment, Peterson asserted he returned home from fishing to find the couple’s pet dog on a lead in the backyard and no trace of Laci.

Before Scott Peterson stood trial in 2004, there was a massage therapist from Fresno named Amber Frey who asserted that they were in a romantic relationship with him and he had confided in her that he wasn’t wed.

In June 2004, a trial lasting five months started in San Mateo County. The prosecution claimed that Peterson had staged his wife’s disappearance following the disposal of her body at the Berkeley Marina on Christmas Eve. On the other hand, his legal team contended that Laci was killed during a burglary instead.

Ultimately, a jury decided that Peterson was guilty of first-degree murder for killing Laci and second-degree murder for her unborn child. The jury suggested the death penalty for Peterson, which Judge Alfred Delucchi approved in 2005.

What has happened to Scott’s case since his conviction?

In 2020, the California Supreme Court overruled Peterson’s death penalty because of a “string of clear and substantial flaws in the jury selection process.” Although they maintained his guilty verdict for murder, two months later, the state’s Supreme Court mandated a re-evaluation, sending the case back to the San Mateo County Superior Court. Their task was to decide if Peterson deserved another trial.

The California Supreme Court further stated that a juror named Richelle Nice, during her service, engaged in “biased behavior” by not revealing past legal matters. In 2000, she was connected to a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against her former boyfriend’s ex-partner, whom she alleged had stalked and harassed her. Additionally, she had a disagreement with her ex-boyfriend that led to his arrest, an event she failed to mention when asked in 2005 whether she had ever been a victim of a crime.

Besides mailing numerous letters to Scott while he was incarcerated, Nicely has been alleged by the defense as acting as a “covert juror” and trying to capitalize on her role in the 2005 trial jury. This refers to someone who deliberately conceals their biases to get selected for the jury panel, ultimately resulting in a verdict of guilt.

Since then, Nice has given interviews to shows such as 20/20, Dr. Oz, and E! True Hollywood Story, participated in the documentary The Murder of Laci Peterson, co-wrote a book titled We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case with six other panelists, and also made an appearance on Face To Face. In February 2022, she told the court that she did not reveal two specific events because she didn’t view herself as a victim of a crime.

In 2021, Birgit Fladager, District Attorney of Stanislaus County, declared she wouldn’t re-try the sentencing part of Peterson’s case, effectively sending him to spend life in prison without any chance of parole. This decision stood even when Peterson requested a new trial in 2022.

How did the Los Angeles Innocence Project become involved with Scott’s case?

Last summer, I reached out to the LA Innocence Project, asking their legal team to delve into my situation.

In conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Paula Mitchell from the L.A.I.P., stated that Peterson presents an “argument of true innocence backed by freshly uncovered evidence.” The nonprofit referenced a mattress found in a burning van near Peterson’s residence shortly after Laci’s disappearance as a reason for conducting a new forensic investigation.

Mr. Peterson has been anticipating the delivery of police records, audios, and videos for two decades now, as per Mitchell’s statement. “We’re looking forward to initiate our probe,” he continued.

According to Peterson’s statement in the L.A.I.P.’s court filings made in November 2023, he expressed his belief that the extra details provided would help clarify what transpired regarding his family and demonstrate his innocence, implying he had no involvement in the gruesome crimes against his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. Notably, Peterson was erroneously convicted of murdering Laci and Conner back in 2004.

The L.A.I.P. will concentrate on several crucial bits of fresh information. These comprise potential witnesses who might have spotted Laci taking her dog for a walk following Scott’s departure for fishing, a burglary happening near the Peterson residence at approximately the same time Laci vanished (the robbers, subsequently apprehended and questioned by police, assert they had no involvement in Laci’s disappearance), and a suspicious van equipped with a blood-stained mattress that burst into flames less than a mile from the Petersons’ home a day after Laci went missing. Furthermore, the L.A.I.P. suggests a Croton watch, possibly belonging to Laci, was sold at a pawn shop a few days following her disappearance.

What are the new revelations from Face To Face?

The documentary “Face To Face” primarily explores details surrounding the Laci Peterson case, engaging with individuals from both the prosecution and defense teams. This program allows viewers to listen to Scott Peterson directly as director Shareen Anderson interrogates him on various topics such as his relationship with Amber Frey, his decision not to testify during his trial, the events leading up to his 2003 arrest (Peterson was detained approximately 30 miles from the Mexico border with $10,000 in cash and his brother’s ID), and his thoughts on the prosecution’s theory that he murdered Laci because he disliked the idea of being a father or maintaining a family life.

“Don’t trust me. Look at the evidence,” Peterson says in the series.

Beyond talking to several neighbors who assert they saw Laci taking the pet dog for a walk after Scott had already departed for fishing, Face to Face constructs a story that suggests Modesto police were overly fixated on Scott and neglected investigating other possibilities during the initial investigation. In a recent interview, current Scott Peterson contends that Modesto police harbored a bias against him, claiming “I don’t understand that argument [that I didn’t want to be a father], it’s not true.” Furthermore, former neighbors and an investigator employed by the Peterson family allege that Modesto Police showed a lack of thoroughness in their investigation.

Regarding his affair with Frey, who testified during the 2005 trial, Peterson explains that he didn’t disclose those details to the police because he wanted the search for Laci to persist. He goes on to say, “I can see why she later attempted to transform it into a deeper relationship and made assertions that it was something more significant. However, it was not. That’s a significant misunderstanding, I believe. And I acknowledge that I was mistaken about it. But I accept the truth in this matter. It’s a terrible truth.”

Regarding the reason why he possessed his brother’s ID and a large sum of money near the Mexico border following his arrest, Peterson explains that he had been visiting family in San Diego. Any suspicious driving behaviors that led to his apprehension by police (resulting in his arrest) were due to him allegedly confusing them for paparazzi. He further clarifies that he carried his brother’s ID to secure a discount at the golf range, stating, “I guess I was going to pull a small scam on the golf course.” Lastly, Peterson informs Anderson that he believed the police would acknowledge their error after his arrest.

Currently, Peterson expresses his thoughts aloud about the possibility of a different outcome if he had allowed his legal team to forgo time during his trial to present additional evidence supporting his claims of innocence. “I wouldn’t have waived time during my trial,” Scott reflects, “and I often ponder if that was the correct choice. They had evidence proving my innocence… However, being detained in a county jail was a harrowing experience… Now, looking back on some of the lessons we learned and insights we gained during the trial, I can’t help but wonder if a more cautious or patient approach might have altered the outcome.”

The show Face To Face is examining fresh evidence related to the case, suggesting it’s possible that Laci encountered a burglary occurring near her home in Modesto. Although Steven Todd and Donald Pearce, who were convicted burglars, claimed innocence regarding Laci’s case and had alibis for Christmas Eve, investigative journalists, Peterson’s sister-in-law Janey, and members of Peterson’s defense team (as interviewed on Face To Face) hint at a broader criminal network operating from Modesto’s high-crime Airport district that could be linked to Laci’s disappearance.

1. These assertions are supported by information provided by Modesto resident Tom Harshman, who states in the series he contacted the police twice in 2002 to report witnessing a pregnant woman being compelled into the back of a van. Unfortunately, the police did not investigate this lead further. John Buehler, a former Modesto detective at the time, admits they often received numerous unverified sightings and could not recall receiving Tom Harshman’s tip.

When inquired about the L.A.I.P. involving Peterson’s case, Buehler expresses to Face To Face that it’s “not entirely surprising.” On the other hand, former detective Al Broccini bluntly labels it as “nonsense… There is no question in my mind he committed the crime. [The] jury made the correct decision.”

According to Broccini, anyone who claimed to have observed Laci taking the dog for a walk was questioned. Buehler notes that eyewitness accounts can be quite personal and may not always be reliable. It’s possible for a witness to later say they saw Laci when in reality it was another person or a case of mistaken identity. Additionally, there were instances where individuals might have falsely claimed to have seen Laci because the case was high-profile and garnering media attention, or perhaps to be involved in something sensational that was making headlines at the time. These are some examples of situations we encountered.

“If we had the wrong guy in prison, we’d want to know about it,” Buehler concludes.

In May 2024, a judge largely refused the Los Angeles Investigative Police’s (L.A.I.P.) applications for DNA testing. The only evidence subjected to analysis will be the duct tape found on Laci’s body. If another person’s DNA is detected during this test, it could potentially lead to a new trial for Peterson.

2024-08-20 20:07

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