Laci Denise Peterson (born Rocha; May 4, 1975 — c. December 24, 2002) was an American woman who was the subject of a highly publicized murder case after she disappeared while eight months pregnant with her first child. She was reportedly last seen alive on December 24, 2002.
Her husband,
Scott Peterson
Scott Lee Peterson (born October 24, 1972) is an American convicted murderer. In 2004, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife, Laci, who was pregnant at the time, and the second-degree murder of their unborn son, Conner, in Mod ...
, was later convicted of
first-degree murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the ...
for her death, and
second-degree murder for the death of their unborn son Conner. Since his conviction, Peterson has been housed at
San Quentin State Prison. His death sentence was overturned on August 24, 2020.
He was re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on December 8, 2021.
Early life and marriage
Laci Denise Rocha was born May 4, 1975,
to Sharon and Dennis Robert Rocha, a dairy operator,
who had met in high school,
and owned a
dairy farm
Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed (either on the farm or at a dairy plant, either of which may be called a dairy) for eventual sale of a dairy product. Dairy farming has a history th ...
west of
Escalon, California
Escalon (Spanish: ''Escalón'', meaning "Step") is a city in San Joaquin County, California, United States. The population was 7,132 at the 2010 census, up from 5,963 at the 2000 census. Escalon is a Spanish word meaning "stepping stones." The na ...
.
[ Sharon named Laci after a pretty girl she met in high school. Laci's older brother, Brent Rocha, was born in 1971.][ Laci worked on the farm from a young age, and also enjoyed gardening with her mother, an activity from which she developed an appreciation for plant life that influenced her later life. Sharon and Dennis divorced when Laci and her brother Brent were young. Sharon and the children moved to ]Modesto
Modesto () is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,464 at the 2020 census, it is the 19th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the Sacramento-Stockton ...
, though the children visited the dairy farm on weekends.[ Sharon eventually married Ron Grantski, who helped raise Laci and Brent from the time Laci was two years old.]
Laci was a cheerleader in junior high
A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school ...
and high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
. After graduating from Thomas Downey High School, she attended California Polytechnic State University,[ where she ]majored
An academic major is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits. A student who successfully completes all courses required for the major qualifies for an undergraduate degree. The word ''major'' (also called ''conce ...
in ornamental horticulture
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
.[St. John, Kelly (March 7, 2004)]
"A PORTRAIT OF THE ACCUSED: In a rare interview, the family of Scott Peterson sheds light on the life and times of the 'perfect' son"
''San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...
''. While at California Polytechnic, Laci would sometimes visit a friend who worked at a restaurant in Morro Bay
Morro Bay (''Morro'', Spanish for "Hill") is a seaside city in San Luis Obispo County, California. Located on the Central Coast of California, the city population was 10,757 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,234 at the 2010 census. The town ...
called the Pacific Café. There, she met her friend's coworker, Scott Peterson, in mid-1994.[ Laci made the first move, sending Scott her phone number, and immediately after meeting him, she told her mother that she had met the man that she would marry. Scott later called Laci and they began dating, their first date being a deep-sea fishing trip on which Laci got seasick.][ As Laci's relationship with Scott grew more serious, he put aside his dreams of professional golf in order to focus on a business path.] The couple dated for two years,[ and eventually moved in together.][
While Scott finished his senior year, Laci took a job in nearby Prunedale. Prosecutors have stated that around this time, Scott engaged in the first of at least two ]extramarital affair
An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of ...
s, though they have not revealed a name or details of this first relationship. After her graduation, the couple married at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County (), officially the County of San Luis Obispo, is a county on the Central Coast of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 282,424. The county seat is San Luis Obispo.
Junípero Serra founded the Miss ...
's Avila Valley[Harris, Ashley (May 10, 2016)]
"9 Famous People Who Went to Arizona State University"
''Phoenix New Times
''Phoenix New Times'' is a free digital and print media company based in Phoenix, Arizona. ''New Times'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue ...
''. on August 9, 1997. Peterson graduated with a Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...
degree in agricultural business in June 1998.[ After their graduations, the Petersons opened a ]sports bar
Bar or BAR may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages
* Candy bar
* Chocolate bar
Science and technology
* Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment
* Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud
* Bar (un ...
in San Luis Obispo called The Shack.[ Business was initially slow, but eventually improved, especially on weekends.][ The Petersons decided to put The Shack up for sale when they moved to Laci's hometown of Modesto, California to start a family.][ In October 2000, they purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath bungalow house for $177,000 on Covena Avenue in an upscale neighborhood near East La Loma Park.][ They sold the Shack in April 2001.
Laci took a part-time job as a substitute teacher,][ and Scott got a job with Tradecorp U.S.A., a newly founded subsidiary of a European fertilizer company, in which Scott earned a salary of $5,000 a month before taxes.][Walsh, Diana (August 3, 2004)]
"THE PETERSON TRIAL / Credit-card debt takes center stage / Couple appeared to be living beyond means, says auditor"
''San Francisco Chronicle''. Laci's family, including her mother and younger sister, related that she worked enthusiastically at being the perfect housewife, enjoying cooking and entertaining, and that she and her family welcomed the news in 2002 that she was pregnant.[ Laci's due date was February 10, 2003.][Walsh, Diana; St. John, Kelly (September 17, 2004)]
"THE PETERSON TRIAL / Pathologist: Baby was protected by uterus / Tiny body was more intact than mother's"
''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved February 7, 2019.["Laci Peterson's due date arrives"]
CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
. February 10, 2003. Retrieved February 3, 2019. The couple had planned to name their son Conner.[ In November 2002, when Laci was seven months pregnant, Scott was introduced by a friend to a Fresno massage therapist named Amber Frey. In later public statements, Frey said Scott told her he was single, and the two began a romantic relationship. The last time Scott's parents saw Laci was during a three-day weekend they spent together in ]Carmel, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea (), often simply called Carmel, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated on October 31, 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel is known for its natural scenery and ric ...
the week before Christmas 2002.[
]
Disappearance
On December 23, 2002, at 5:45 p.m., Laci and Scott went to Salon Salon, the workplace of Laci's sister Amy Rocha, where Amy cut Scott's hair as she did each month. As they spoke, Scott offered to pick up a fruit basket that Amy had ordered for her grandfather as a Christmas gift the next day because he would be playing golf at a course nearby. Prosecutors say Scott also told other people he would play golf on the day of Christmas Eve.["Stepsister describes last sighting of Laci Peterson"]
CNN. June 7, 2004. Her mother Sharon spoke with Laci on the telephone around 8:30 that evening. Apart from her husband Scott, the last two people known to have spoken to Laci before she disappeared were her half-sister, Amy, and her mother, Sharon.
Scott later told police that he last saw his wife about 9:30am on December 24, when he left to go fishing at the Berkeley Marina. He said Laci was watching a cooking television show, preparing to mop the floor, bake cookies, and walk the family dog to a nearby park. At the time of her disappearance, Laci was 7 1/2 months pregnant. Later that morning Karen Servas, a neighbor of the Petersons, stated that around 10:30am she found the Petersons' dog, a golden retriever
The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. It is characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat. It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered breeds ...
named McKenzie, alone outside the home and returned him to the Petersons' back yard. Another neighbor named Mike Chiavetta said he saw McKenzie at about 10:45am as he played catch with his own dog.[ ''The Modesto Bee'' also reported an unnamed female neighbor who found the dog with muddy leash, wandering in the neighborhood. That neighbor put the dog in the Petersons' yard, not observing that anything was out of place. Scott said he returned home that afternoon to find the house empty. Peterson said Laci's 1996 ]Land Rover Discovery
Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various isla ...
SE was in the driveway. Peterson also stated that he found McKenzie in their back yard, and that he related this to Laci's mother, Sharon, though she later denied this in her book. He showered and washed his clothes because he got wet during his fishing trip "from the bay and being rained on", as Brocchini later testified. He then ate some pizza with milk.[
]
Reported missing and initial investigation
According to ABC News
ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
, Laci's mother Sharon Rocha, stated that Scott called her to ask if Laci was with her, which was the first time Sharon learned that Laci was missing.[ Later that evening Ron Grantski called the police to report Laci missing. After police arrived at the Peterson home, Laci's keys, wallet and sunglasses were found in her purse in a closet at the home that evening.
Modesto police detectives Jon Buehler and Allen Brocchini, the lead investigators on the case, questioned Scott Peterson that evening.][ Buehler told ]ABC News
ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
in 2017, "I suspected Scott when I first met him. Didn't mean he did it, but I was a little bit thrown off by his calm, cool demeanor and his lack of questioning ... he wasn't, 'Will you call me back? Can I have one of your cards? What are you guys doing now?'"[ Buehler further described Scott's behavior as "a strange combination of polite and arrogant, disaffectedly distant and impatiently irritable. He just didn't seem like a man who was crushed or even greatly disturbed by his wife's disappearance and possible death." Although Scott initially said he had spent the day golfing, he later told the police that he had gone to fish for sturgeon at the Berkeley Marina. At 2:15 p.m., he left a message for Laci, stating, "Hey, Beautiful. It's 2:15. I'm leaving Berkeley." Scott stated that he went fishing about 90 miles from the couple's Modesto home. Detectives immediately launched a search.][ Sharon Rocha immediately hurried to the park to search for her daughter. She stated that when she saw Scott about 20-30 feet away she repeatedly called him by name, but he did not acknowledge her, and was distant when she approached him back at his house, angling away from her when she attempted to hug him.
]
Search
Modesto police and firefighters carried out an extensive search along Dry Creek the day after Laci's disappearance. The search came to include helicopters equipped with searchlights, police mounted on horseback and bicycles, canine units,[ and water-rescue units on rafts. A total of 30 officers were involved in the search, as well as Laci's loved ones and volunteers, who posted fliers to raise awareness of her disappearance. At a ]press conference
A press conference or news conference is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicians, corporations, non-governmental organ ...
, detective Al Brocchini said that police did not believe that Laci decided to leave without contacting her family, commenting, "That is completely out of character for her."[ The initial search and later vigil were organized by the immediate family and friends. In the first two days, up to 900 people were involved in looking for Laci, before community officials or police directly participated in the search, and prior to significant media coverage.][ Eventually, the story attracted nationwide media interest.
A $25,000 reward was offered, later increased to $250,000, and finally to $500,000 for any information leading to Laci's safe return. Posters, ]blue
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when ...
and yellow ribbon
The yellow ribbon is used for various purposes. It may be worn on a person, placed on a vehicle, around a tree, or for a neck tie.
History and etymology
Early Puritan history
The song/poem ''"She wore a yellow ribbon"'' has appeared in variou ...
s, and fliers were circulated, and the original, basic version of the ''LaciPeterson.com'' website was launched by the husband of one of her friends. Friends, family, and volunteers set up a command center at a nearby Red Lion Hotel to record developments and circulate information. Over 1,500 volunteers signed up to distribute information and to help search for her.
Discovery of bodies
On April 13, 2003, a couple walking their dog found the decomposing
Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is e ...
, but well-preserved body of a late-term male fetus in a marshy area of the San Francisco Bay shore in Richmond's Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California, is operated by East Bay Regional Park District, and is a multi-use park for joggers, windsurfers, kayakers, photographers, picnickers, and people walking dogs. It has access for pedestrians ...
park, north of Berkeley. Its umbilical cord
In placental mammals, the umbilical cord (also called the navel string, birth cord or ''funiculus umbilicalis'') is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. During prenatal development, the umbilical cord is physiologi ...
was still attached, appearing to have been torn, not cut or clamped, as is the normal practice after birth.[ Although a judge sealed the autopsy results, an anonymous ]Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...
source revealed that 1.5 loops of nylon tape were found around the fetus' neck and a significant cut was on the fetus' body.
One day later, a passerby found the body of a recently pregnant woman, wearing beige pants and a maternity bra, washed up on the eastern[DeFao, Janine; May, Meredith; Lee, Henry K.; (April 15, 2003)]
"Bodies of fetus, woman found by bay / Cops investigating Laci Peterson case summoned to site"
''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved February 7, 2019. rocky shoreline of the bay,[ one mile away from where the baby's body was found.][ The corpse was decomposed to the point of being almost unrecognizable as a human body. The woman had been decapitated and her limbs were missing,][ including most of her legs.][ On April 18, 2003, the results of DNA tests verified that they were the bodies of Laci and her unborn son,][ who was to be named Conner.]
Autopsies
The autopsies on both bodies were performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Brian Peterson (no relation).[ Conner's skin was not decomposed at all, though the right side of his body was mutilated.][ An April 24 ]ABC News
ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
report stated his umbilical cord
In placental mammals, the umbilical cord (also called the navel string, birth cord or ''funiculus umbilicalis'') is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. During prenatal development, the umbilical cord is physiologi ...
was still attached, and the ''San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...
'' reported that it appeared torn, rather than cut or clamped, as is the normal practice following birth.[ However, ABC News later reported on May 30 that according to the autopsy, the placenta and umbilical cord were ''not'' found with the body.][
The exact date and cause of Laci's death were never determined. Her cervix was intact.][Taupin, Jane Moira (July 31, 2013)]
''Introduction to Forensic DNA Evidence for Criminal Justice Professionals''
Routledge
Routledge () is a British multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanities, behavioural science, education, law ...
. p. 122. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved February 3, 2019.[ She had suffered two cracked ribs, but Dr. Peterson could not determine if this occurred before or after her death. Laci's upper torso had been emptied of internal organs except for the uterus, which protected the fetus, explaining the lower level of decomposition it experienced.][ Dr. Peterson concluded that the fetus had died in utero,][ and determined he had been expelled from Laci's decaying body, though when cross-examined in court, he conceded that he could not determine whether he had been born alive when this occurred.][ Dr. Peterson also found meconium in the fetus's bowels, which is the first stool passed after birth.][
]
Investigation and trial
On January 17, 2003, it became known that Peterson had engaged in two other extramarital affair
An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of ...
s prior to an affair with a woman named Amber Frey. Frey informed police of their relationship on December 30, 2002, shortly after discovering he was a person of interest in Peterson's disappearance, She told detectives that she met Peterson on November 20, and that he had initially told her he was single. After they had begun dating, however, she came to suspect that he was married, and confronted him on December 9 about this. Frey said to Brocchini, "He said he lost his wife, this would be the first holiday he was without his wife." She informed police that Scott had told her on December 9, two weeks before Peterson's disappearance, he was a widow
A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died.
Terminology
The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can so ...
er, and it would be the first Christmas without his wife. Police considered whether this was an indication that Peterson had already decided to kill Laci, which Sharon Rocha agreed was a possibility.
Scott was arrested on April 18, 2003, near a La Jolla
La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781.
La Jolla is surrounded on ...
golf course.[ He claimed to be meeting his father and brother for a game of golf.][Miller, Wilbur R. (July 20, 2012)]
''The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia''
Archived at Google Books
Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical ...
. Retrieved September 8, 2017. His naturally dark brown hair had been dyed blond,["Laci Peterson case: Key players in the trial"]
CNN. 2004. and his Mercedes was "overstuffed" with miscellaneous items, including nearly $15,000 in cash, 12 Viagra
Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in women. It is taken by ...
tablets, survival gear, camping equipment,[Vries, Lloyd (October 26, 2004)]
"Scott Peterson's Parents Testify"
CBS News. several changes of clothes, four cell phones,[ and two driver's licenses, his and his brother's.][ Scott's father, Lee Peterson, explained that Scott had used his brother's license the day before to get a San Diego resident discount at the golf course, and that Scott had been living out of his car because of the media attention.][ Police and prosecutors, however, saw these items as an indication that Peterson had planned to flee to Mexico.][
On April 21, 2003, Scott was arraigned in Stanislaus County Superior Court before Judge Nancy Ashley. He was charged with two felony counts of murder with premeditation and special circumstances. He pleaded not guilty. 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, Scott Peterson was convicted of ]first degree murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the ...
for his wife's death and second degree murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the ...
for Conner's death. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi sentenced Scott to death, calling the murder of Laci "cruel, uncaring, heartless, and callous".
In March 2019, California Governor
The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard.
Established in the Constitution of California, the g ...
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman who has been the 40th governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California f ...
issued a moratorium for all 737 prisoners on death row in California, including Peterson. The order postponed all executions for the duration of Newsom's tenure as governor. California had not executed a prisoner since 2006 due to legal challenges to the state's execution protocol. Newsom's order spared the approximately 25 prisoners on death row who had exhausted their legal appeals and could have had their executions move forward once the legal challenge was resolved. Peterson's sister-in-law Janey Peterson welcomed Newsom's decision but noted that his case was likely to be unaffected by it, and did not believe Peterson would exhaust all of his legal challenges by January 2027, when Newsom would be leaving office, assuming his re-election in 2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...
.[
]
Aftermath
Laci and Conner were buried at Burwood Cemetery on August 30, 2003. The death of Laci and Conner Peterson led to the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-212) is a United States law that recognizes an embryo or fetus in utero as a legal victim, if they are injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of ...
, which is also known as Laci and Conner's Law. On April 1, 2004, Sharon Rocha and her husband Ron Grantski were in attendance at the White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
when President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
signed the bill into law. The Act provides that, under federal law, any person who causes death or injury to an unborn child while in the commission of a crime upon a pregnant woman will be charged with a separate offense.
On October 21, 2005, Stanislaus County, California, Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled that Scott was not entitled to collect on Laci's $250,000 life insurance policy, having been convicted of her murder. Under California state law, criminals may not profit from insurance policies. On December 19, 2005, the money was given to her mother, Sharon Rocha, as the executor of her estate. The California Fifth District Court of Appeals in Fresno later affirmed the trial court's decision on October 31, 2007.
In 2006, Sharon wrote ''For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice'', a biography and memoir about Laci's life and death. All proceeds are used to fund the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund, which she had founded. On January 29, 2006, it was listed at No. 1 on ''The New York Times'' Non-Fiction Best Seller list.
Laci's stepfather, Ron Grantski, died in his sleep at his Modesto home on April 8, 2018, at age 71, after a lengthy period of failing health. He was buried next to Laci and Conner.[ Laci's father, Dennis Rocha, died December 9, 2018, at the age of 72.
On August 24, 2020, in a 7-0 decision, the Supreme Court of California upheld Peterson's conviction, but overturned his death sentence, because Peterson's trial judge,][ Alfred Delucchi, who had died on February 26, 2008, had dismissed jurors who opposed capital punishment without asking them whether they could put their views aside. Justice Leondra Kruger explained that per U.S. Supreme Court rulings since 1968, "Jurors may not be excused merely for opposition to the death penalty, but only for views rendering them unable to fairly consider imposing that penalty in accordance with their oath. This is the meaning of the guarantee of an impartial jury."][ Prosecutors initially stated that they would retry the penalty phase, but reversed that decision in June 2021.
On September 22, 2021, California Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo scheduled Peterson to be re-sentenced that November to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On December 8, Massullo re-sentenced Peterson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of Laci, and a concurrent sentence of 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of Conner.][
]
Depiction in media
* In 2004, USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...
aired the television film '' The Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story''.
* In 2004, E! aired an episode of ''The E! True Hollywood Story
''E! True Hollywood Story'' is an American television documentary series on E! that pulls back the curtain and highlights some of pop culture's most fascinating people, moments and trends. The series offers exclusive interviews with new insigh ...
'' on Laci Peterson.
* In 2005, the case was covered in the TV movie, ''Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution''.
* In 2010, the Peterson case was the topic of the eponymous premiere episode of Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (stylized and branded on-air as ID since 2008) is an American multinational pay television network dedicated to true crime documentaries owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. As of February 2015, approximately 86 million Amer ...
's '' True Crime with Aphrodite Jones''.
* Although the case had been compared to the plot of Gillian Flynn
Gillian Schieber Flynn (; born February 24, 1971) is an American author, screenwriter, and producer. She is known for writing the thriller and mystery novels, ''Sharp Objects'' (2006), '' Dark Places'' (2009), and '' Gone Girl'' (2012), which are ...
's 2012 novel '' Gone Girl'', Flynn refuted the notion her book was inspired by the Petersons, saying that although she saw parallels between the two, she made a point not to rely on any specific true account for her fiction.[ Rather, her portrayal of her characters as out-of-work writers was derived from her own experience being laid off from her job as a writer for '']Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
''.
* In 2015, the series ''Murder Made Me Famous'' covered the story in its second episode, which premiered August 22. It re-aired in 2017 on the American cable channel Reelz
Reelz (formerly known as Reelz Channel) is an American digital cable and satellite television network owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The network's programming was formerly devoted to entertainment-oriented programming focusing on the Hollywood ...
as ''Scott Peterson: What Happened?''
* In April 2017, '' Crime Junkie Podcast'' produced two episodes detailing Peterson's murder.
* On April 21, 2017, the NBC news magazine ''Dateline
A dateline is a brief piece of text included in news articles that describes where and when the story was written or filed, though the date is often omitted. In the case of articles reprinted from wire services, the distributing organization i ...
'' aired the two-hour special, ''The Laci Peterson Story: A Dateline Investigation''.
*In May 2017, the Peterson case was the main focus of "Notorious: Scott Peterson", the Season 20 premiere of the Oxygen TV series ''Snapped
''Snapped'' is an American true crime television series produced by Jupiter Entertainment. The series depicts high profile or bizarre cases of women accused of murder. Each episode outlines the motivation for murder, whether it be revenge agai ...
''.
* In June 2017, ABC aired a two-hour documentary on the case titled ''Truth and Lies: The Murder of Laci Peterson''.
* In July 2017, HLN aired a two-hour program on the case titled ''How It Really Happened''.
* In August 2017, the case was covered in A&E's six part series, ''The Murder of Laci Peterson''.
* In November 2017, Investigation Discovery aired a two-hour documentary titled ''Scott Peterson: An American Murder Mystery''.
* In December 2018, the case was discussed on the talk show '' Dr. Phil''.
* In May 2021, the case was covered in the '' 48 Hours'' episode "Scott Peterson: Case in Question".
* In May 2021, the case was covered in the '' 20/20'' episode "One Last Chance".
See also
*List of solved missing person cases
Lists of solved missing person cases include:
* List of solved missing person cases: pre-2000
* List of solved missing person cases: post-2000
See also
* List of kidnappings
* List of murder convictions without a body
* List of people who di ...
References
External links
"Links to past coverage of the murder of Laci Peterson"
''The Modesto Bee
''The Modesto Bee'' is a California newspaper, founded in 1884 as the ''Daily Evening News'' and published continuously as a daily under a variety of names. Before its purchase by Charles K. McClatchy and McClatchy Newspapers in 1924, it merged ...
''.
"Phone transcript: Peterson tells mistress of missing wife"
Court TV. January 6, 2003.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Laci
2000s missing person cases
2002 in California
2002 murders in the United States
Capital murder cases
Crime in California
Deaths by person in California
December 2002 events in the United States
Familicides
Female murder victims
Formerly missing people
Incidents of violence against women
Missing person cases in California
Murder in the San Francisco Bay Area
Violence against women in the United States
History of women in California