On November 12, 2004, Scott Lee Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife Laci and their unborn son, Conner. On December 13, 2004, the same Jury recommended the death penalty. On March 16, 2005, Judge Al Delucchi sentenced Scott to death row at San Quentin.  

The State of California argued that Scott strangled or suffocated Laci either on the night of the December 23 or the morning of December 24, 2002.

He wrapped her in a blue tarp, removed her from the house to his Ford pickup truck, put some market umbrellas on top of her, and transported her to the Warehouse.

Once at the Warehouse, he unwrapped her from the tarp and put her into the boat, tied weights around her, and attached the boat cover so she could not be seen.

His next stop was the Berkeley Marina, the small boat launch ramp. He stuffed the boat cover around Laci and motored out towards Brooks Island. There he dumped Laci's pregnant body into the Bay, expecting it to never surface.

Then, on April 13 and April 14, respectively, Conner and Laci washed ashore in the same spot where Scott said he was fishing. 

The only elements of this theory that the State proved are the location where Scott said he was fishing on December 24, 2002, and where the bodies were found on April 13 and 14, 2003.

First, Scott freely and completely admitted to the fishing route when first questioned by responding officers about his whereabouts that day.

Second, the bodies were not found in the exact same area  where Scott was fishing. This is only one of the many misrepresentations of the evidence that Prosecutor Rick Distaso made to the Jury. More

Third, the State provided no credible evidence that the bodies washed ashore from where Scott was fishing. Its expert witness, Dr. Ralph Cheng, relied on incorrect information and untested theories.  More

Scott is fully accounted for at all times during the investigation.  Therefore, if he did not put pregnant Laci into the Bay on or before December 24, he had no opportunity to do so.

More than enough evidence exists to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Scott did not murder Laci and Conner. 

First, we have strong, certain evidence that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24. 
 

Conner did not wash ashore.
Substantial evidence exists, and was available to both the State and the Defense team, that Conner did not wash ashore.  This proves that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24.   More 

Conner lived beyond December 24, 2002.
Sufficient testimony was given, from Lacis own doctors and from the forensic pathologist, all State witnesses, to conclude Conner did not die until well after December 24, 2002.  The witness employed by the State to prove otherwise used an untested theory and misapplied the information in order to achieve his incorrect conclusion. This proves that Scott did not put a pregnant Laci into the Bay on December 24. More

The twine did not wrap around Conners neck accidentally.
Sufficient testimony was given, from the criminologist and medical examiner, both State witnesses, to conclude that the twine could not have wrapped around Conners neck accidentally. As Dr. Cyril Wecht noted, "never in a million years." This proves that Conner was handled outside the womb, and therefore, Scott did not put a pregnant Laci in the Bay on December 24, 2002 More

Second, we have a multi-million dollar investigation that failed to produce the expected evidence because it targeted the wrong person.

No trace evidence at any of the alleged crime scenes.

In spite of using every modern investigative tool available, and employing the help of the FBI and the CADOJ, the State could not produce any trace evidence of Laci's murder or dead body from any of the multiple crime scenes .  Nor could the State produce any evidence of a clean-up.  More 

No cadaver scent at any of the crime scenes.

Nor could it produce any evidence of a cadaver scent, even though Laci would have been dead at least 6 hours before the alleged dumping in the Bay on the 24th, and cadaver scent can be picked up consistently 2 1/2 to 3 hours after death.  More

No incriminating statements.

In spite of using trusted friends and family members to spy on Scott, taping over 3000 calls on Scott's phones, and using Amber Frey to tape record personal conversations, the State could not produce a single incriminating statement.

No eye witnesses.

Nor could the State produce a single eye witness that saw Scott Peterson committing any part of this crime, in spite of the fact that the crime occurred over several hours, in broad daylight, and in public places. 

No financial motive.

In spite of extensive investigation into Scott Petersons financial records, including those of his employer, Trade Corps, the State could not present a credible financial motive for the murder of Laci and Conner. 

No lover motive.

In spite of hours and hours of prejudicial taped conversations between Scott Peterson and Amber Frey, the State could not present a credible love-motive for the murder of Laci and Conner. More

Rick Distaso said it was ridiculous for anyone to consider that Laci was abducted in an effort to frame Scott Peterson.  He is absolutely right, the State's multi-million dollar effort to convict Scott Peterson could produce no evidence that anyone had any grudge against Scott Peterson, or had any involvement with Scott Peterson that could have resulted in a plan to abduct his wife.  It could produce no drug connection, no jewelry fencing operation, no insurance fraud attempt, no illegal activity of any kind.  And, it could produce no evidence of an accomplice that turned against Scott for lack of pay-off or other reason.  Obviously, Scott had nothing at all to do with Laci's disappearance.

Moreover, the States theory requires us to accept a bungling idiot committing the perfect crime.

Allegedly, Scott Peterson purchased a boat, leaving a paper trail and spending $1400, just so he could use it to dispose of Lacis pregnant body, when he had easy vehicle access to bridges over area lakes.

Allegedly, Scott Peterson researched the San Francisco Bay for just the right place to dump Laci so she would either never surface or wash out to sea (this argument is itself a gross contradiction, to ensure the one would make the other impossible), and then chose a shallow area, only 5 feet deep most of the time, ensuring she would be found.

Allegedly, Scott Petersons motive was freedom from marriage and fatherhood, and yet he committed the crime in such a way as to keep himself entangled with Laci for years.

 

The State ignored valid leads and tips

The State argued that an abduction by any one other than Scott had to occur between 10:08-10:18 a.m.  Karen Servas is the only witness to establish the 10:18 part of the time.  Servas changed her story multiple times and her 10:18 time is challenged by other witnesses and events. 

Yet, the State relied on her to rule out any other possible explanation for Laci's disappearance.   More  The truth is, the lead detectives were not looking for a live Laci -- Al Brocchini concluded she was dead on the night of the 24th, and Craig Grogan arrived at the same conclusion on Christmas Day.  This irresponsible and incompetent tunnel vision may well have cost Laci and Conner their lives.
 

Why this Conviction must be overturned

Obviously, this conviction must be overturned because an innocent man is sitting on death row for the sin of adultery.  That's what it amounts to -- Scott Peterson was sent to death row for adultery.

But, it's not just about Scott Peterson. 

• It's about the eroding standard of evidence used to convict 

• It's about the growing menace of a strong presumption of guilt mentality among the people 

• It's about the increasing irresponsibility of various media who care more for ratings and exclusives than for justice

It's not just for Scott Petersons sake, but for the sake of all who have been and who may yet be wrongfully convicted.

Not just for the wrongfully convicted, but for the victims of crime, and their families, who are deceived into believing Justice has been served.

Not just for the victims of crimes that have already been committed, but for all those who will yet become victims unnecessarily, because when the innocent are convicted, the guilty are free to commit more crimes.