The Laci Peterson Murder Case

On December 24, 2002 an American woman named Laci Denise Peterson was the subject of highly
publicized murder case after she disappeared while eight months pregnant with her first child. Scott
Peterson husband of Laci Peterson was involved of her disappearance. Her husband has an extramarital
affair with a woman whose named Amber Frey a massage therapist. Amber Frey reported to the police
about their relationship. The recordings revealed that in the days after Laci went missing, he claimed to
Frey that he had traveled to Paris to celebrate the holidays, in part with his new companions Pasqual
and Francois.

According to the prosecutors alleged that Scott’s motive for two murders was to escape married life and
upcoming fatherhood. Prosecutor surmised that he killed Laci due to increasing debt and a desire to
become single again. Detective Craig Grogan a Modesto police’s lead detective on the Peterson case and
one of the prosecution’s strongest witnesses. Tied together testimony from more than three months of
questioning, including memorable 41-point explanation of why he thought Laci Peterson’s body would
be found in San Francisco Bay. Detective Allen Brocchini and Detective Jon Buehler Modesto Police
Department detectives. Brocchini conducted extensive interviews with Scott Peterson. Buehler worked
with Amber Frey to record the phone conversations with Scott Peterson that became vital evidence. A
single hair was found in the boat of Scott Peterson. FBI biologist forensic examiner Doctor Constance
Fisher conducted mitochondrial DNA testing on a two centimeter segment of one hair fragment.
Dr.Fisher determined that the mtDNA sequence in the fragment from the pliers was the same as the
reference sample received from Sharon Rocha.

The death of Laci and her fetal son led to the United Congress passing the Unborn Victims of Violence
Act, which is also known as Laci and Corner’s Law Judge. Al Girolami of Stanislaus County Superior Court
moved his trial to San Mateo County because so many people in Stanislaus had made up their minds
about Peterson’s guilt. His trial began on June 1, 2004. On November 12, 2004, the reconstituted jury
convicted Peterson of first-degree murder with special circumstances for killing Laci, and second-degree
murder for killing the fetus she carried. The penalty phase of the trial began on Novemeber 30, and
concluded December 13, when the jury recommended that Peterson be sentenced to death.

Reference:

- www.absnews.go.com https://edition.cnn.com
- https://www.thoughtco.com www.rollingstone.com www.wikipedia.com