The Murder of Laci Peterson – Everything You Need to Know

On April 14, 2003, a decomposing body of a woman was found washed up on the shore of San Francisco Bay. A day before, it was a body of a baby that had been found on the shore only a mile away. After investigation, the bodies were found to belong to a woman, Laci Peterson, who was 8 months pregnant when she went missing on December 24, 2002, and that of the baby she was carrying.

Many years after the deaths, the event is not finally buried as her husband who was sentenced to death for the murder is still fighting his last legal battles to be freed, claiming he is innocent. Here’s everything you need to know about the events surrounding the tragedy.

Who is Laci Peterson?

Laci Denise Peterson is an American who was born on May 4, 1975 in Modesto, California. His parents, Sharon Ruth Anderson and Dennis Robert Rocha separated barely a year after his birth. She had two siblings, Brent Rocha, and a half-brother, Amy.

Laci attended Thomas Downey High School and after she graduated, she moved to California Polytechnic State University. It was while at Cal Poly that she met Scott Peterson. In 1996, the two were already engaged, and in 1997 they got married. It was even before Laci finished his education.

Although they tried for children, Laci did not agree until 2002 shortly before scheduling fertility tests.

The Murder of Laci Peterson – Everything You Need to Know

The story goes that on December 24, 2002, ScottPeterson returned home in the absence of his wife who was then eight months pregnant. Believing she had gone to see her mother, he dialed the number but was told she was not there. Sensing that something might be wrong, her father called the police to report that she was missing.

While the search began in earnest to locate 27-year-old pregnant Laci, police did not have husband Scott, who was then 30, as a suspect. In fact, some had suspected him as a suspect in the case, but Laci’s family dismissed all allegations as he had been very cooperative throughout the process.

With over one thousand five hundred people actively involved in his search, nothing has come of it yet. However, everything changed on April 13, 2003, 4 months after the disappearance when the body of a well-preserved male fetus washed up on the shores of San Francisco and the next day that of a female was found. The body of the woman found without forearms and the missing left leg is believed to be that of Laci Peterson.

Based on medical examiner reports, Laci suffered injuries, including two cracked ribs, even before she died and her son left her womb after her womb decayed.

The person who immediately became the suspect was a fertilizer saleswoman who was also her husband, Scott Peterson. The main reasons he became a suspect weren’t because the bodies were found exactly where Scott had gone fishing, but also because he was supposed to be the last person to see it and because of the many extramarital affairs he had.

A few days after the bodies of Laci Peterson and her baby were found, Scott was arrested near a golf course in La Jolla. Although he claimed he left to catch up with his brother and father for a game, he dyed his hair from dark brown to blonde and he had nearly 15,000 in cash and other things with him to suggest that he was on the run, including camping gear and four cell phones. Because of all this, the police had reason to suspect that he was fleeing to Mexico.

Scott Peterson was arraigned on April 21, 2003, and on November 12, 2004, he was convicted of the first and second degree murders of his wife and their son, Conner. The motive for the crimes was allegedly to allow Amber Frey to marry whom he was having an affair with. Since then, Scott has always maintained that he was innocent of the crimes. Although his family believes him, not many others believe him. Do you?

Scott has filed various appeals to have the conviction overturned, but so far nothing has worked for him. His legal team has been working since 2018 to have the sentence overturned.

Following the murder of Laci Peterson, the Laci and Conner Act (Unborn Victims of Violence Act) was passed by the United States Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on April 1, 2004.