Laci Peterson

[MavsFanFinley]

Not sure how many of you have followed the case of the missing pregnant woman from Modesto, CA, but there was breaking news in the case tonight.

Yesterday afternoon they found a newborn baby boy washed ashore in Richmond, CA. Today, not even a mile away, they found a body of a female that washed ashore.

The Modesto Police Department was flown in, as this was an area that they searced thoroughly about a month ago, I guess.

It's only a couple miles away from the marina where Scott Peterson, the husband that is suspected in the case, said he was fishing on Christmas Eve, the night she was last seen.

The father of Laci, Dan Rocha, told the media he hoped it was her so they could have closure. It's the not knowing that is killing them.

It should be known that nothing has been proven/tested yet, but it certainly has shaken up our town tonight.

Here's a story from the AP:

Police in Laci Peterson Case View Unidentified Body

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Police in a San Francisco Bay-area town tried to determine on Monday whether bodies of a headless woman and a fetus that washed ashore were Laci Peterson and her unborn child, whose disappearance last Christmas Eve became a national mystery.

"There was a fetus found yesterday and today there was a female body found," Richmond police officer Hector Esparza said. "It was washed up from the bay."

The baby's body was still attached to an umbilical cord, a news report said.

Asked if the badly decomposed body was that of Peterson, Esparza said: "We don't know that."

Police have found no trace of the 27-year-old since she was reported missing by her husband, Scott, on Christmas Eve, despite a huge police effort, extensive national news coverage and a $500,000 reward. She was due to have the baby in February.

Peterson was from the central California city of Modesto, and Modesto police helicoptered to the scene in Richmond, just north across the bay from San Francisco, to assist in the investigation on Monday.

Police said an autopsy would be needed to determine the cause of death of the corpses, but did not say how long that would take.

The Contra Costa Times reported that the head and legs of the body found on Monday were missing and said it was apparent that the woman had been pregnant,

Peterson's husband Scott, who has been described by police as less than helpful in the investigation, has said he learned of his wife's disappearance after he had returned late in the day on Christmas eve from fishing in the same bay where the bodies were found.

In January, Scott Peterson admitted publicly that he had been having an affair with another woman.

The Laci Peterson case reminded many of the story of another Modesto resident, Chandra Levy, who had just completed an internship in Washington D.C. when she vanished on May 1, 2001. Her skeletal remains were found more than a year later in a Washington park.

The disappearance of Levy, 24, dominated the U.S. news for much of the summer after links surfaced between the dark-haired intern and Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Condit. The Modesto congressman lost his bid for reelection despite police assurances that he was not a suspect in her death.

[Drbio]

I saw this. On one hand you hope with all your heart it's not her, but that poor family deserves some closure. I cannot imagine a way that she survived this. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[Rhylan]

I'd like to go ahead and be the first to volunteer to take Scott Peterson on a little fishing trip, myself. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

[Drbio]

That is my first instinct as well Rhylan, but I have seen too many times a close family member wrongly accused. Still...it's pretty damning against him.

[Rhylan]

Even if he didn't actually kill them, he deserves some sort of beating for going fishing on Christmas Eve with a pregnant wife at home. That's like a bad episode of The Man Show right there.

[Drbio]

You do raise a valid point there.

[LRB]

<< Even if he didn't actually kill them, he deserves some sort of beating for going fishing on Christmas Eve with a pregnant wife at home. That's like a bad episode of The Man Show right there. >>



Not to mention having affair while his wife was pregnant.

[Drbio]

I forgot about that. He should be flogged.

[veruca salt]

I remember seeing this on the news a couple months ago.
Any further news on the indentity of the body?

[LRB]

<< I remember seeing this on the news a couple months ago.
Any further news on the indentity of the body? >>



I heard that they are waiting on DNA tests which usually take about 3 days.

[Dooby]

Apparently the husband has disappeared.

BTW, I know a guy that had an affair on his wife while she was pregnant. In case you couldn't guess, he is a miserable SOB.

[MavsFanFinley]

Here's one of the latest articles.

Prosecutor: Body Is Probably Laci Peterson

By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Calif. - The county prosecutor in Modesto says he feels &quot;pretty strongly&quot; that the body of a woman that washed up on shore this week is the missing Laci Peterson.

&quot;If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it,&quot; Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton told the Modesto Bee for a story published Thursday.

A state crime lab was working to determine whether two bodies found on the shores of the San Francisco Bay were Peterson and the baby she was carrying when she vanished Dec. 24. She was eight months pregnant at the time.

&quot;I feel pretty strongly it is (Peterson),&quot; said Brazelton, whose jurisdiction includes Modesto. &quot;It's too much of a coincidence to have a female and a baby found close to each other a day apart and no others were reported missing.&quot;

Asked about Brazelton's comments, Laci Peterson's stepfather, Ron Grantski, said Thursday that he had not been told that personally. &quot;Our family is waiting until we are told personally, not told by the press,&quot; he said.

State Department of Justice (news - web sites) spokesman Nathan Barankin told the paper that lab technicians had determined that samples from the infant's body, found Sunday, contained enough intact DNA to be used for testing. A determination was expected Thursday on whether enough DNA could be extracted from the woman's body, found Monday.

&quot;We've determined that we can yield a usable DNA profile from the fetus sample,&quot; Barankin said. &quot;We're doing a little more work on the adult sample to finally determine whether we will be able to get a usable DNA profile.&quot;

Earlier, lab supervisor John Tonkyn had said, &quot;We don't have another person in mind&quot; other than Peterson.

When asked why dental records weren't being used, Tonkyn said the lab wasn't provided with teeth. Published reports have said the woman's body was headless. The full-term baby still had an umbilical cord attached.

The 27-year-old substitute teacher vanished on Christmas Eve from her home in Modesto, 90 miles southeast of Richmond. She was eight months pregnant. Her husband, Scott Peterson, said he saw her as he left to go fishing that morning in Berkeley, not far from where the bodies were found.

Scott Peterson, 30, a fertilizer salesman, hasn't surfaced publicly since the bodies were discovered by people walking dogs. His in-laws stood by him early in the investigation, but a rift developed after he acknowledged having an affair with a Fresno woman.

Scott Peterson has not been named as a suspect in his wife's disappearance, but police have seized his boat, truck and nearly 100 items from his house.

His father, Lee Peterson, said Tuesday at his house north of San Diego that he didn't know where his son was.

&quot;What if Scott were here?&quot; he said. &quot;Is that a big deal?&quot;

The property manager of the building where Scott Peterson rented an office, who identified himself only as Mark, said Peterson moved out earlier this year and is trying to find someone to take over the lease.

If the woman's body is not identified as Peterson's, the lab will begin comparing the samples with likely matches in a database of 100 DNA samples of other missing people or their relatives. The state has more than 25,000 active missing person cases.

[MavsFanFinley]

The Modesto Police Department will hold a press conference today at 6:00 o'clock to announce a major change in the case. Fox News has reported (confirmed by our local radio stations) that Scott Peterson was arrested today in San Diego, CA. More details to come later.

[LRB]

<< The Modesto Police Department will hold a press conference today at 6:00 o'clock to announce a major change in the case. Fox News has reported (confirmed by our local radio stations) that Scott Peterson was arrested today in San Diego, CA. More details to come later. >>



Wonder if the scumbag was trying to leave the country since San Diego is right near the border?

[MavsFanFinley]

Update:

2 press conferences just ended in the last half hour or so. You might have seen them as it's been on CNN, Fox News, and obviously our local stations.

If not, heres the latest details that were announced.

Richmond County officials have confirmed that without a shadow of a doubt that the bodies found are Laci Peterson and her baby through DNA samples taken from the bodies, her parents, and Scott Peterson.

The Modesto Police Department announced that they have arrested Scott Peterson. He's in the custody of Modesto Detectives right now and is being driven back here to Modesto to be booked into jail. The warrant was issued yesterday afternoon. They were planning to arrest him before Richmond county contacted them and confirmed that bodies are that of Laci and her unborn child. He was arrested in San Diego, CA while he was driving. The chief of police admitted that they were told through sources that Scott Peterson planned on fleeing to Mexico, although they couldn't confirm any plans, etc...

DA Brazleton announced he will be charged with Capital Murder among other special circumstances. He will not receive any special treatment, he will be housed with the general public over the weekend. He'll be arrainged either Monday or Tuesday.

The family spokesperson read a statement from Laci's family. I can't remember it all, but this is a bit of it. They wanted to thank all officials involved. Hoped the media would put themselves in there shoes and give them some space at this time. They wanted to thank the communtity and nationally all the support from familes, friends, and strangers. They will give a press conference at 4 o'clock Monday.

At the Peterson home, people have come to place flowers, candles, and pay respect.

It's been a sad day for our town.

[Drbio]

Sad that it's confirmed, but I am glad to see that moron arrested. I hope the family can finally attempt to reach some level of peace now.

[Caliente]

Peterson jurors could be deadlocked

01:42 PM CST on Monday, November 8, 2004

Associated Press

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Jurors in Scott Peterson's double murder trial have told the judge they may be unable to reach a verdict.

Judge Alfred Delucci summoned jurors to the courtroom after they resumed deliberations for a fourth day. Delucci told the panel he wanted to reissue instructions to them on several key points.

"Do not hesitate to change your opinion for the purpose of reaching a verdict if you can do so," the judge said. "The attitude and conduct of jurors at all times is very important," he added. "It is rarely helpful for a juror at the beginning of deliberations to express an emphatic opinion on the case."

But the jury indicated that it could be deadlocked as it reviews the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn child.

Earlier today, the jurors got to see up-close the boat prosecutors claim Peterson used to dispose of his wife's body.

After that examination, defense lawyer Mark Geragos sought a mistrial. He claimed jurors violated the judge's order by doing "a juror experiment" when several of the panelists got inside the boat and rocked it from side to side.

The judge quickly denied the motion.