Lots of things keep happening in the world and in our lives. So it is not unlikely that some of you may have forgotten about Laci Peterson.
Laci went missing on 12-24-02 from her home in Modesto, California. Her remains and that of her son, Conner, were found on 4-14-03 washed ashore from San Francisco Bay. On 4-18-03 her husband and child’s father, Scott Peterson, was arrested for their murders. Five years ago today.
After Laci went missing news coverage of the search was carried nationally day and night- for months. During that time Scott went through the motions of the search and kept in close contact with Laci’s mother, Sharon, and Laci’s family. He called Sharon “mom”. Throughout much of this time he was also seeing Amber Frey.
Scott had met Amber on 11-20-02. He told her he was single. He was confronted by her friend on 12-6-03. At first he denied being married and then said he had lost his wife.
On 12-7-03 Scott searched the internet classifieds for a boat.
On 12-8-03 he checked the currents in San Francisco Bay.
On 12-9-03 he bought a boat.
On 12-8-03 he checked the currents in San Francisco Bay.
On 12-9-03 he bought a boat.
When Scott was arrested he had dyed his hair; he had $15000 in cash, survival gear, and changes of clothing. It appeared that he was fleeing the area.
Legal proceedings take a long time. The first hearing was on 10-29-03 and the final ruling upholding the death sentence was on 3-16-05. Of course, Scott maintains his innocence and he has several websites to that effect.
I wonder if Scott has read Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. If not, he has enough time now to do so.
Curiously, Laci’s boyfriend immediately prior to Scott later shot his next girlfriend in the back. Scott’s mother’s father had been murdered 57 years earlier almost to the day that Scott murdered Laci.
Modesto was also in the national spotlight for months prior to Laci’s disappearance. Perhaps you recall Chandra Levy, another young, petite brunette. She went missing on 4-30-2001. She was an intern who had been having an affair with Democratic congressman Gary Condit who represented Modesto and the surrounding area. He was married and 30 years her senior.
Chandra’s body wasn’t found for over a year later on 5-22-02.
Chandra’s mother, Susan, later helped in the search for Laci.
Chandra’s killer has never been found. Susan Levy believes that Gary Condit knows more than he has said.
Chandra’s birthday is 4-14 – the same date that Laci and Conner were found.
April 18, 2008 at 11:33 am
“… Of course, Scott maintains his innocence and he has several websites to that effect …”
Why of course? He IS innocent – Laci was murdered by a woman for her baby. You can’t tell that?